“Blogging just ain’t as easy as Momma always said…” croons the small-town country singer, accompanied by the gentle strums of a guitar. But, before you go getting all watery-eyed on me, starting a blog for your small business website shouldn’t be a sad affair. When things get a bit rough, you need to buck up and work smarter and harder on your business blog.
Don't Send Your Small Business Website To The Morgue! Keep Up With Your Business Blog.
Quitting On Your Business Blog Is Like Sleeping At The Morgue
Giving up on writing fresh new website content for your business blog is akin to taking a long nap on the cold floor of the morgue. And nothing good ever happens at the morgue.
Just as starting a blog will not turn your small business website into an overnight sensation; you need to be consistent and committed to your business blog’s long-term success. The gains that you make with an increase in search engine rank, greater online exposure and social media marketing of your small business website will atrophy and die without adding a steady and consistent stream of new website content to your business blog. The benefits of a business blog are cumulative. So don’t quit on yourself before you reach first gear!
5 Business Blog Recommendations
For those of you that have decided to take the plunge and will be starting a blog for your small business website – congratulations! The following are a few basic blog recommendations to help you increase your search engine rank, optimize your website for search engines, market your business blog more effectively and improve website content.
Five recommendations for better blogging:
1. Host Your Business Blog On Your Small Business Website Domain
Have your web designer setup your business blog on your website domain name instead of hosting your blog with one of the free service options, such as Blogger.com. This ensures all of the search engine benefits of starting a blog are passed directly to your website.
2. Install Blog SEO Plugins
Ask your web designer to install the latest search engine optimization plugins, sitemaps, and to setup permalinks for your business blog. These are two free options that will greatly improve your blog’s SEO. SEO options are built into my blog’s theme, but for blog sitemaps I use Google XML Sitemaps.
3. Activate Blog RSS And E-mail Subscription Options
Provide your business blog’s readers with the option to subscribe to your website content via RSS feed and e-mail subscription. RSS (Real Simple Syndication) is built into blog platforms like WordPress, but you’ll need to look into adding e-mail subscription capabilities. Feedburner (owned by Google) is a great option that allows you to provide both RSS and e-mail, while managing functions on their website.
4. Promote Your Business Blog With Social Media
From an online marketing standpoint, be sure to incorporate social media and other marketing options into your business blog. You’ll find that starting a blog opens up a great big window for you to network online like never before. So, if you’re using services like Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, blend those social media touch points into your blog. And if you’re not using them, spend some time and investigate social media.
5. You Are Your Own Best Salesman
Be you! For small businesses and especially small business owners starting a blog… let your personality, humor, professionalism and individuality show through on your business blog. A blog provides you with an easy way to differentiate and brand your small business.
Got something to say? We want to hear it! If you found this article on starting a small business blog enjoyable, or you have questions and concerns, drop us a line. We’d appreciate you leaving a comment below. Thanks for reading!
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks for writing. I am very interested in starting my blog soon and need help anywhere I can find it. Thanks
Laurie,
Thank you for reading and posting a comment. Let me know if and when you have questions about setting up your own business blog. And be sure to sign up for our RSS feed or e-mail updates. Thanks!
Michael