There’s a shop, which has opened recently, very near to where I live. I pass it every day during my walks and not once have I seen a customer in there. Not once!
The shop in question is a clothes hire shop. You can hire ball-gowns, dinner suits, kilts, wedding dresses…that sort of thing.
I think they are in the wrong location but they need to start marketing and I think blogging would be a great way to start. They have a website. The domain name is underneath the shop front logo.
I looked at the website today. They’ve signed up with one of these companies that offer web design and complete everything for you. I’ve talked about these companies before – see my rant by clicking on this link: Get yourself a FREE website
I don’t like these companies! I’ve had many clients who wish they never signed up with such companies. They tie you in and grab as much money from you as they can.
Anyhow…rant over…back to having a blog if you are a business.
Blogs are now recognized as very affordable marketing tools, especially for businesses. Apart from monetizing the blog with advertisements, there are several other ways in which your blog can help in increasing your businesses income, creating more opportunities and generating more customers.
Advantages of blogging for your business.
If you still have not started a blog for your business, then here are some of the reasons why you should do that quickly:
Blogs are simple to use and gets your business in front of customers and leaders in your industry, from all over the world.
There is almost no limit to what you can add to your business blog. You can publish photos and videos of your service, customers’ testimonials, advice, instructions. Imagine if the clothes hire shop had photos of happy customers in their hired clothes and customers testimonials. That would really help the marketing.
You reputation as an industry expert can grow by giving free tips, advice and other relevant information. The readers can learn from your tips and apply them to their own businesses. In this way, you establish yourself in the industry as a market guru.
A blog will be a great addition to your business website, especially if it becomes successful at providing information about your company news, new services, events, special discounts and partnerships. Your blog is an extension of your existing website.
Your blog can also be used as a support site to your clients. You may create a helpdesk system allow customers to send in a support ticket through your blog so that your clients get whatever answers they need quickly.
When good content is posted on your blog regularly, you build a community of loyal readers who know what your services are and how good you are in the industry. These readers will provide leads and referrals, thus increasing your business.
You could add a forum whereby customers can discuss points and help each other. You would be building your own customer community.
If you are a small business, for under $100 you could have your own line presence with a blog.
Anyone seen small businesses make blogging work? Share your views in the comments below.
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Andrew is a website builder and helps small businesses with their on-line presence…so they can grow their customer list and increase sales. That’s it! That’s what we do each and every day.
I definitely think most if not all businesses should have a blog as well as a Twitter account. The day of relying on your customer coming to you are over along with only providing a phone number for your customers to contact you through.
.-= Ms. Freeman´s last blog ..Do You Have Permission To Use That Photo? =-.
Ms. Freeman
Excellent point about Twitter as well. Thanks.
Andrew
Having a website underneath their shopfront logo is a way to stop them from entering the shop, they are afraid of being hounded by someone to buy something so they think, nah i’ll just go to check out their website instead! Nice site!
Dan
Nice to see you here.
That’s a really good point you made. I’ve never looked at it like that but it makes total sense to me.
Andrew
Nice point Andrew. Even blogging can improve our creativity. Most of people blogging for money, when our blog come to track then we can really enjoy the pour of money by blogging
.-= chandan@work at home´s last blog ..How to submit article to article directories =-.
You must already hear about this: “The fall of advertisement, the rise of PR” and now it’s “The fall of PR, the rise of Blogging”.
.-= Phaoloo´s last blog ..How To Build A Remarkable Career In Computer Programming =-.
I definitely agree that every business can benefit from having a blog – IF they’ll use it or have someone who will at least create some quality content for them. Regular updates and being active on Social Networks is best; however, even static quality content is useful.
While Dan is right that some people may opt not to enter and will visit the site instead it is also possible that busy people who don’t have time to enter then will check out the Web site.
Either way the better the site and the more information is provided there the more likely they are to make a sale – especially if they have a less than optimum location. Someone is more likely to visit their site repeatedly than their shop.
Not all blogs are equally effective. The best options are to use WordPress installed on your own domain using a professionally designed, tested and supported Theme like Thesis that is SEO optimized.
I’m glad I found your blog, probably through a comment at Dennis Edell’s and will be sharing and linking to your content. More businesses need to learn how to grow using the Internet and they can use all the cheerleaders to that cause that they can find.
.-= Internet Strategist @GrowMap´s last blog ..Blog Outreach: 8 Compelling Reasons Why You Should Be Doing It Now =-.
I’m glad you found my site as well – your added value with your comments is excellent.
You are right – it’s about catering for all. Some customers will want to see it, feel it and visit the shop. Others just want to order on-line. Business have to cater for both types.
Andrew
This is why I’m here! My niche will become much clearer after I move.
Essentially though, Direct Sales/MLM reps have a huge problem in this area. Not only are they given those useless “cookie cutter” websites, but still don’t know about adding blogs.
.-= Dennis Edell´s last blog ..Whoopsy Commentluv Is Busted! You Have Permission To Leave ONE Link. =-.
Dennis,
I think there is a big market out there for your services – go get them!
Andrew
I definitely heard many business owners complaining about how “they need a website, but it’s so hard to do..” blah-blah.
I rarely see them actually acting on it and start advertising for FREE to millions of folks online?
Doesn’t add up, does it? Human nature? Bad businessmen?
Good points, Andrew.
Ana Hoffman
http://www.TrafficGenerationCafe.com
PS Got here via Cori’s blog carnival!
Hi Ana,
Thanks for coming across.
Many people talk…only a few of them take action!
Andrew
Great article, as always, Andrew.
I think any business can benefit from having a blog attached to it’s website and as you say, it’s really not difficult. The potential for attracting new customers and establishing an online income to boot, is very real.
Thanks for sharing this post on the latest edition of the Blogs With Wings Blog Carnival. We were happy to have you.
Thanks, Joella.
Perhaps there is opportunity for us all to start marketing to website owners who don;t yet have a blog!
Andrew
Hey Andrew,
Was I scared of websites when I started online? You bet! But thanks to the blogging platform I can at least compete while seeking ways to improve myself.
The online community is a brand new world altogether and I advice people to have an online presence even if it is just to protect their efforts offline because that is exactly what the competitors are doing.
Like Denis Whitley said:
“”Unless you join the generation of the future, you will be relegated to living in the past. Unless you’re comfortable with the information superhighway, you’ll be road kill on it.”
Thanks for sharing your insights, Andrew!
Tosin
Tosin
Yep…I agree!
All small businesses should have a presence on-line.
That’s is where people go now to seek information and if you are no there…you will be left behind.
Andrew
Hi Andrew,
Thanks for posting such an important topic beneficial specially for the business community. Here we are talking about running a blog but some businesses do not even have a website. The business community should take advantage of the internet.
Gary
I agree. All businesses these days should have a web page (and a blog!).
Andrew