Yep. You heard right. If you want to drive more traffic to your website, start a blog. I was initially averse to the idea of blogging. I used to think blogging was stupid. I thought all blogs are just some hack who can’t get a real job writing wrote stuff that created controversy and made money advertising all over there pages.
Now, before anyone gets all fired up, I wrote that because I’ve changed my mind. Truth is, blogs really can add value to the world. They are a great outlet for non-professionals to state ideas and get feedback. They are a great outlet for those who feel like they have no voice. They are a great way of keeping friends and family updated on your life. They are also a great way to get in touch with people you may not know, but that you share something in common with. I started this blog just for that purpose: to share what I know about internet marketing with those who can really use it. I doubt very much that a company out there would pay me to write this sort of stuff, but as a company owner myself, I can help people I’ve never met with something they may have great need, but no real access to advice on (at least not for free).
Obviously, although I write this blog to help business owners market their companies online, I also hope that they will take a moment to pop over to my business site and see if we have something to offer. At times, even having the knowledge doesn’t give you the time to properly implement the methods I discuss. Sometimes it is a better use of your resources (time, money, stress) to just hire a professional. When that is not the case, technical blogs like this come in and can help fill in the gap.
What do you need to write a blog? There’s a few things, first of all, someone with the ability to coherently write in plain language exactly what it is you wish to convey. I would recommend trying to find someone that represents your company well though. Also, make sure this person has the time to devote to blogging. It may not take 40 hours a week, but it does take time. In addition to writing, this person must also come up with topics and research those topics to write well. Another option is to have a team of staff that regularly contribute to the blog.
The second is a host, of which there are many free ones available such as WordPress and Blogger. I don’t know that one is going to be any better than another. They all have benefits and they all have drawbacks. Many have options that you can turn on for an extra fee through upgrades. One option to consider is using your own domain name, a subdomain, or using the address given to you by the service. This is a decision that includes many variables that must all be carefully considered before deciding. Have no fear, though, since you can always change your mind!
Another thing you need to know is what you want to write about. Not all blogs give advice. Some are purely for entertainment, some have political underpinnings, some discuss technical issues, and some discuss all of the above in turn. I would recommend finding something that fits both your company and the person who will be doing the blogging.
As mentioned above, you also must make time for this endeavor. Since a well followed blog is updated regularly (preferably at least once a week!), you want to have fresh content that can be interesting to your readers. If you only post a few times a year, chances are your readers will forget about your blog between posts. If you pick a good general topic, you should have fresh material indefinitely!
After you get your blog set up, you must market it. I will introduce the basics of marketing a blog in my next post. This will also include tips of how your blog can help you publicize your website and your company in general. Stay tuned for more tips!
I realize this is only my third post and for this reason there isn’t a lot of background information to look at, but I would like you to think about other blogs you have read on this topic and comment below. Tell everyone what you find helpful. What would you like me to explain? Is there a specific method you would like to implement, but just don’t know how? Where do you get your ideas for internet marketing? Do you separate your online marketing from your traditional marketing? Why or why not?
I am really hoping for lots of responses on this! And as always, if you like these free tips, please tell your friends about this blog and help EightOSeven Website & Graphic Design grow! Please subscribe to get updates whenever I post!
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