During the month of May, we are accepting guest posts from the Womeneur community and this has been republished with permission from Charrish Ferguson of Bout Your Biz.
Nowadays it seems like everyone has a blog, whether its for personal or professional purposes. For that reason alone you might think it doesn’t make sense to have a blog for your business. After all, if the internet is flooded with blogs then it’s not like yours will make a difference, right? WRONG!
Blogging is still effective and I see no signs of it ceasing. If you don’t believe me here’s five reasons why you should be blogging right now.
1. Blogging is an easy way to connect with your customers/clients
This is one of the most obvious reasons as to why you should have a blog for your business. A great entrepreneur should want to connect with their followers and a blog is an easy way to do it. You don’t have to stick to words alone on your blog, if you’re worried about becoming too stale you can add videos or galleries, interviews and so much more.
Also, every time you publish a post you’re boosting your presence online. Each blog post transforms itself into content that people can share on other social sites like Pinterest, Facebook or Twitter. If you’re supplying great content and you build a following of people who love to share, you can literally sit back and watch as your readers help you expand your reach online. It’s a little circle that never stops rolling once it starts.
2. Blogging establishes you as an expert in your field
Having a blog forces you to stay current and educated about your particular field. The last thing you want to do is share incorrect or outdated info to your readers. Think about it, for someone out there you are becoming their ‘go-to guru’. The last thing you want to do is let that person down, or steer them in the wrong direction with bad info.
I’m currently drafting a few blog posts on Periscope (follow me to catch my live weekly scopes!). In order for me to give accurate information and ensure my readers are confident in what I’m sharing with them about this trending app, I have to educate myself about it. For all the topics I cover (Social Media, Blogging, Branding) I have to constantly research, review and try new things to give valuable information to my followers.
BE BOUT IT: Think of three topics you could write about if you were to start a blog today. Write them down so you have a head start when you’re ready to begin.
3. Having a blog helps you sharpen your focus
If you’ve heard me talk on Periscope you know I talk a lot about strategies and knowing your audience. When you get serious about blogging you get serious about who you’re blogging for – that’s part of your branding basics! I often tell people if they’re still unsure of who they’re targeting and who their key audience is, a blog is a will force them to find out.
4. A business blog can lead to more opportunities
No matter the focus of your blog, if you’re committed and doing it right it could lead to some amazing opportunities. A few ideas that I can think of are:
- Speaking opportunities
- Sponsors for your business
- New business partners
- Endorsement deals for you
- New clients
5. A blog makes you face your fears
This might not seem as serious as the other reasons but sometimes the truth is we just punk out. So stop being a punk. It’s not as hard as you’re convincing yourself. If after you’ve given it a legitimate try and you realize blogging isn’t for you, aim to hire a full time blogger. Oh you thought I was going to tell you to give up? You really don’t know me.
These are things entrepreneurs dream of, regardless of what field their business is in. So if you own a gym, a blog can help bring new customers in. If you a stylist, a blog could connect you with a celebrity or it could help you decide to raise your prices. I wouldn’t focus on when it the opportunities will happen, but more onensuring you’re blogging correctly to make them happen.