Originally written largely as online diaries, blogs have become an important way for businesses to increase their visibility — establishing credibility in their industry and building a network of potential clients and partners in the process. Even small businesses have hopped on the blogging bandwagon.
At The Web Guys, we often receive inquiries like those below from beginning business bloggers looking for direction. Getting started may seem daunting, but these simple steps will have you on the path to becoming a blogging pro in no time.
1.) What do I need to set up a blog?
First things first: You’ll need a computer. Laptops are especially great for bloggers who are always on the go. Then, it’s important that you’re posting on a website that is designed with blog functionality and the latest blogging software. Website mobility is also essential for your readers who browse company news on their mobile device.
2.) How do I develop a writing voice?
When developing a voice, determine who your target audience is so that you can speak to them in a direct manner. Are you addressing customers? Fellow industry professionals? If your goal is to spark the interest of customers, sharing business success stories and answering frequently asked questions may be a good approach. If you want to establish authority in the industry, then your blog is a good place to demonstrate your expertise. And don’t forget to engage other experts by asking for their opinions.
Memorable posts tend to make an impact, whether they are informative, insightful, or intriguing. Carving out time to write helps, since incomplete or error-riddled posts have the opposite effect.
3.) How do I come up with a topic?
If you find that writing isn’t your strong suit, that’s OK! The more you write for the blog, the better you’ll become at generating new topics. The following are just a few ideas for professional posts:
- Answering customers’ FAQs
- Discussing future plans for the business
- Posting a video
- Giving a behind-the-scenes tour
- Showing charity work and events
- Breaking a complex concept down into bite-sized explanations in a blog series (Part 1, Part 2, etc.)
- Sharing company milestones
Another way to brainstorm ideas is to ask yourself, “What do I want to learn?” If you find the topic interesting, it will show in your writing.
4.) OK, I’ve got a post. Now what?
Share! The more people who know about your post, the more who may read it. Business owners have had success posting blog links to their company’s Facebook page, especially if the page already has a strong following, and it never hurts for the author to share links with their personal networks too.
And don’t overlook other popular social media sites like Google+, Twitter, and LinkedIn, as well as online directories, such as Digg and StumbleUpon. To schedule several posts at once, create a Buffer account or use a similar service to link your business’ social profiles in one easy-to-access dashboard.
We hope these tips help start your blogging journey! What other ideas and tricks do you find useful for creating blog posts? Let us know in the comments below.
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