Over the last few months I’ve published a number of ‘successful blogging guides’ in the form of a series of blog posts. I like to think most have been well received.
My first covered the subject of “The Bloggers Mindset”.
Other topics I’ve covered include:
Building and creating a blog for the long term
Now I want to cover another topic in a series of blog posts. The topic is: Successful Corporate Blogs.
In 2009, research showed that small businesses with corporate blogs experience 55% more visitors than those that don’t.
That’s real proof, blogging works…if you get it right!
Of course, even if you have a corporate blog, you may not get any more visitors than those that don’t.
But the research shows…get it right and it’s worth it.
I’m still shocked by the number of small businesses that don’t have corporate blogs.
Each Wednesday I attend a networking group along with numerous others covering a vast range of trades. 90% of them have websites but not one has a blog (and it’s my job to try and persuade them otherwise).
So in this next series aimed at creating successful corporate blogs I’m going to cover:
- Know Your Audience
- Use Your Strengths
- Avoid Your Weaknesses
- Empower Your Visitors
- Promote Others
- Be Yourself…Only Bigger
- Share Your Mistakes
- Use Different Media
- Grow a Thick Skin
- Content, Content, Content
Get these things right and you are well on your way to building a successful corporate blog.
Of course, we could add 10 more things like design, colors, fonts, seo, social networking, blog promotion, relationships, blog stats, keyword research and list building.
But let’s start with the first 10 and perhaps, we can explore the second 10 in the next series.
Watch out for the first post in the series, this Wednesday. I hope you like it!
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Hi, Andrew Rondeau here and this blog, my blog, will not lie to you. I will give it to you straight.This blog is about blogging, the Internet and sharing my experiences and advice on
Many small business owners don’t get the difference between a website and a blog. They think both are same, and create a website with a few pages and leave it at that! The fact that they can get leads from online sources is not fully highlighted to them.
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Twitter: blogstashdotcom
I totally agree with that. I see it all the time.
Although lots of small businesses are slowly catching up with the blogging and social media craze. They better do though, since I think having a blog and a presence in social media is going to be a major factor in small business success and even big businesses for that matter.
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Having a corporate blog will definitely give you that extra edge over your competitors, and also introduce a whole new range of visitors to your site which you can convert. I believe your last point no10 “Content” is the most important, as you can do all the above, but if your blog is not publishing regular content, it would be no use. For business one thing is to have a blog, but secondly its imperative to keep it live and updated.
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It’s true…many small business don’t have a blog.
I admit, I have a small business regarding health, but I didn’t start a blog yet.
Maybe it’s time to change my mind.
Thanks for info,
Marius
Twitter: happmakernowco
Hi Andrew,
You really need to get busy and convince these people. Let them know that people really like knowing who they are doing business with. it is like having a good conversation with your customers.
Anyway number 6. Be yourself—only bigger. I am working on that one. nice list and you are off to one great start with this one.
Blessing to you and keep up the great way you have of teaching other.
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Andrew
Look forward to it. My experience with small businesses is that they may believe in the concept, but are unwilling to invest the time or turn over the control to others (like me!). Maybe I’m approaching it wrong
Mark
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I’m so looking forward to this series. I’ve been reading a lot on what takes a corporate blog to be successful but I think yours is more informative. I think every business, big or small should have a blog. Internet is the most powerful marketing and business tool for it is accessible 24/7, internationally and domestically. Knowing the basics would really help a lot.
I agree, lots of small businesses do not bother to put up a website, or if they do have a website, they do not have a blog. They just think it is just futile to do so.
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I have noticed many small business simply having an information websites. They don’t realize the importance of a blog. Some end up having a facebook page, yet the power of a blog should not be underestimated.
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All points are excellent but Andrew please explain the 8# point ‘Use Different Media’?? is that you meant social media?
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abhiz
Check out this post within the series:
http://www.webuildyourblog.com/6011/successful-corporate-blogs-media/
Andrew
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