If you’re not using a blog to communicate with your market, create relationships with your customers, and generate income for your business, you’re leaving a lot of money on the table. Yet I still see businesses who are building their entire company on a Facebook page or a static website builder. What's holding you back?
Each of these misconceptions will result in you failing to engage your audience in a way that helps you build your credibility and trust with your audience. And more importantly -- build it on your site. Why? Think about the business owners in Russia who had built their entire portfolios on Instagram or Facebook -- but now those two apps are blocked in their country.
Even before we had to worry about governmental bans, blogging has been a key player in promoting your business to the people who need your products and services, much like email marketing and publicity. By communicating regularly, you're building a relationship with your readers that will enable you to generate income over time. But it can be confusing trying to figure out everything you need in order to setup and manage a blog on your site and your hands are already full. Is it really worth it? Yes!
I've developed a list of ways that a WordPress blog can help you manage your site and your content marketing so you can consistently generate income with your blog.
- 1Content management system (CMS) – By using blog software, you can efficiently mange the content of your website. Good content management system software allows you to add multiple authors, multiple blogs (if needed) and static pages to the website. It enhances readability and encourages readers to stay on your website. (Software I recommend is WordPress.org)
- 2Organizational updates/events – Blog software enables you to sort blog entries chronologically. The latest entry is given first place for better readability. You can also post to company blogs via email or right from your phone. The news and updates for your blog can also be displayed on a separate page from your home page.
- 3Develop effective customer relationships – A blog increases credibility and boosts customer relationships with your business. A well-written blog provides a means of two-way communication. As the blog author, you present ideas, new concepts, provide information, and education in each post. The users can ask questions and clarify doubts through the blog. A knowledgeable blog plays the role of ideal public relations. It allows customers to retrieve information easily by using a properly categorized system or search function.
- 4Boost sales – A blog demonstrating the awesomeness of your product and giving examples of its usage attracts customers to your website. Showing your services, can, as well. Simultaneously, posting about your products and services -- from case studies to demonstrations and updates -- keeps customers informed on the latest developments about the products or services of your business.
- 5Press/news releases – You can use the blogs to boost the public relations efforts of your company. You can write informational blogs catering to your specific consumers as well as prospective clients. One colleague started a Doing Business in Your Bathrobe Day and reaped press coverage for this across the Internet for years.
- 6Education based marketing – Blogs serve the role of a teacher, wherein the customers learn more about your products and services. They can interact with your and send their queries to your company in a very interactive way. Feedback from you can then increase their interest in your product. People want to buy from people they know, like, and trust. Blogs are also perfect for capturing the interest of those who may be interested in what you offer, but are not ready to buy the specific product or service yet.
- 7Blogs for limited community – Blogs written by an individual or a small businessman to market its services or products can also create a small community. If you have a product or service that people are raving about, they will often congregate on your website to discuss the product, if you provide a place for them. The aim of such blogs is to focus on a specific and limited audience. While Facebook groups have been used for this purpose in recent years, the shifting algorithm has made groups much less effective.
- 8Blogs enhance expertise – Blogs giving relevant and detailed technical information on various issues are invariably used by service professionals. These blogs enhance their expertise and credibility in the eyes of those who seek to hire them.
As you can see, blogs can be used in different applications, often simultaneously, to enhance customer experience, bring in new customers and ultimately generate income for your business.
WordPress Skills
You have a great idea for your own online business. You can see exactly what it will look like in your head -- but your WordPress skills are a little rusty. And you know that the best way to get things done is do them yourself. Check out my course that will hone your skills in no time!
