Blogging is like everything else, it’s an acquired taste. There are some people that are really good at it and there are others that think there is nothing worse than blogging. No matter how business owners feel about it, it’s a very important part of online marketing. No matter where most online entrepreneurs turn, almost all are faced with the challenge of blogging.
Now that blogging is almost a requirement, most small business owners are wondering what they have to do and how can they make it as painless as possible. Blogging isn’t as hard as most people assume. It’s not as easy as saying but it is something that can be learned without having to take expensive classes and buying software for.
Tools for the Blog
As with anything else, there are specific tools that a small business owner has to have for a blog. It’s not an expensive set of tools that one has to have and this is a list that’s fairly simple to get.
The Blog Page- Small business owners that have a website already have most of their battle already done. The website is up and running so all that needs to be added is the blog page. If the website was built by someone else, business owners should call them back and asked about adding a blog to the site and the expense of that. For those that are happy to do it yourself, great. It’s time to add that blog.
For those that don’t have a website, now is the time to think about it. There are easy ways to accomplish this on different budgets. For those that have the money to spend and no patience to do it, hire a professional. For those that don’t have a huge budget but willing to do the work, it’s time to buy a domain, find a host and start crafting a website that includes a blog. For everyone else, there are wonderful spaces like Shopify or Squarespace that will do the work and hosting with very little effort and an affordable monthly fee.
Motivation- If writing isn’t a business owner’s favorite thing to do, motivation in huge doses is necessary. Business owners should understand that blogging has benefits.
- Increased organic traffic
- Increased traffic leads to more opportunities to make money
- Establishing the business as an industry leader and expert
With those thoughts in mind, the motivation for blogging is there. All business owners should remember the reason they are willing to blog regularly for their business.
Calendar- As with everything else a business owner has to address, blogging should be scheduled. There is nothing wrong with updating when it’s convenient but when blogging isn’t a priority and done consistently, the benefits of blogging won’t be as obvious. Small business owners should take the time to blog at least once a week.
Topics- Sure, a blog can be about anything but a business blog should NEVER be unprofessional or stray away from the industry. There are many things a business owner can write about in their industry. Most business owners like to discuss the trends in their niche, what works well, how to guides and many other things. These types of blog entries will help a business owner establish themselves as an expert as well as give useful information to those that are looking for the help.
Writers or PLR Websites- Writing isn’t something that comes natural for everyone. The idea of being responsible for a blog can be overwhelming but it shouldn’t stop any business owner from going forward. For those that don’t have the time, skill or desire to write each individual blog post, there are options available to get it done. For those with the budget, hiring a writer to create custom content for their business is a great way to go. Business owners that don’t have the budget should look into purchasing their blog content from PLR sites. These sites offer prewritten, quality content that can be easily edited and added to blogs.
As a business owner, there is always a lot to do during the course of the day. There are meetings to attend, prices to change, products to create and promote. Many don’t like the idea of having to blog and do it consistently. Those that like the idea of blogging and the benefits it brings but don’t want to do it can always hire someone to write their posts. But for those on a budget, it’s time to set aside a block of time each week to blog.
A good blog post is like good gossip. It will be on everyone’s mind and everyone will want to know where to go for the juiciest tidbits in the industry.