4 Steps To Start Your Own Business Blog

2 min read
May 26, 2016 2:12:20 PM

In the past we’ve talked about how the fact that anyone can have a blog is a double-edged sword—it opens the doors of opportunity for many, but also floods the marketplace. As a business owner or leader looking to start a business blog, you must you stand out from the competition by making your mark.

business blog1. Setting the Stage

A business blog is a great way for you to draw attention to your company or service. It is particularly helpful for small or emerging business who are looking to build their audience and client base. Blogs help you earn trust by presenting a polished, professional front. Plus, they are free (or cheap) and easy to update.

Before you launch your blog, you need to have some basics in order, such as what is the purpose of the blog, what the major themes are, who—if anyone besides you—will be writing the posts, and how often you will update the content. According to Social Media Examiner, the ideal frequency is two to three times a week for posting updates.

2. Get Real

Can you actually commit to updating your blog content two to three times a week? Be honest about the amount of time you can devote to your blog and set a realistic schedule. It is better to update your business blog with high-quality content once or twice a week than to set an implausible goal and fail to achieve it. Not being able to keep up with your calendar is bad, but so is writing every single day for the first few weeks until you get overwhelmed and abandon ship.

Create a realistic editorial calendar and stick with it. Reliability is vital to earning trust and looking professional. It is a good idea to have 5-10 categories (topics) and a list of keywords that you want to include in your posts. Think like your readers—what are they interested in and what can you offer that they need to know.

3. Get Interactive

Blogs help you increase your exposure and lend themselves interactions—readers can pose questions and leave comments. This allows you to interact easily with prospects and begin nurturing leads. And, unlike a static site, a business blog encourages readers to return often for new information. Plus, it is easy to link to and from your social media pages.

4. Nuts and Bolts

Once you cover your bases and do you research it is time to actually build your blog. There are many user-friendly programs available, but you can also hire someone to create the blog template for you. Here is another place for self-honesty—if you enjoy a challenge and like to jump in, go for it; but if the idea of building a blog intimidates and will hold you back, enlist the help of an expert.

The visual appeal of your business blog is equally as important as what you are saying. It should be bright, clean and easy to read. Obviously, the balance of words and images will depend on your industry and audience; a graphic designer will have a more photo-heavy blog than others.

Remember, your business blog can be the strategic exposure that you need to increase sales, so don’t go it alone. Download our free guide to business blogging and get started.

introduction to business blogging

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