Find out what makes blogging important for your business, how you can gain followers and what kind of content to consider. Use it to build your brand, your relationships and over time, build your business.

1. April 8 & 9, 2013
Julie Kittredge
Business Services Advisor
jkittredge@ahml.info

2. What is a Blog?
 Online journal
 A tool for getting a message out
 A way to promote products and services
 An avenue for developing your brand
 Can be used instead of a website with ongoing content
 Can have links, resources, and tools that are of value to
your audience.

3. Popular Blogging Platforms
 Blogger
 Wordpress.com
 Wordpress.org (free self-hosted blog,
$6.95/month for web hosting = more
freedom to customize)
 Typepad ($8.95/month)

4. Why Should I Blog?
 If your Website is the first impression, your blog is how
they get to know what you’re passionate about.
 It’s the personality of the company. It’s your voice.
 It’s a reflection of you and your brand.
 Gives you an opportunity to influence people.
 Helps establish a relationship with your ‘tribe’ based on
trust. When they know you and like you they will want to
follow you.
 Gives you visibility.
 Establishes you as an expert in your field.
 Gives you an online presence

5. How Do People Find My Blog?
 Tell your family and friends
 Send a link on social media, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn
 Include a link at the bottom of every email in your
signature
 Include an invitation and link in your email newsletter
 Link to it from your website
 If you don’t have a website address, use your blog address
on your business cards
 Comment on other people’s blogs – it’s all about building
relationships

6. Developing Content
 Your readers want to hear your voice when you write
 Establish a theme and a focus, determine your purpose
 Trends, insider tips, share why you do what you do, resources, a
story behind a photo, reviews of a book, opinions regarding current
events related to your field, self reflection
 Newsworthy info regarding your company
 Photos
 http://biznik.com/articles/50-blog-topics-for-small-business-
owners
 Readers connect with stories and experiences they can relate to
 Be authentic, transparent, and real
 Be generous with your information
 If you want to quote another blogger, do so properly

7. What is My Focus?
 Determining a focus can help you stay on target and attract
the right audience
 According to Publish & Prosper Business blogs can be
broken down into three primary categories
 Marketing focused blogs are designed to build traffic,
awareness, and sales
 Public relations focused blogs enhance image and influence
public perception
 Customer service focused blogs assist and inform customers
or potential customers.
 You can write posts on all of these topics, but it’s good to
have a core focus

8. Why visuals are important
 Each post should have one pin-able image (Pinterest helps
drive traffic)
 Not a photographer? Use stock photography
 istockphoto.com
 gettyimages.com
 stockfreeimages.com
 Take your own pictures – take a photography class
 Videos, close ups, diagrams, screen-shots
 Pictures do a great job of illustrating a point and evoking
emotion or a connection.

9. Organizing Your Blog Posts
 Categories
 Tags
 Archives
 You can post certain content on specific days to help
you focus and maintain a theme.
 Monday: Customer service, business info, sale event, etc.
 Wednesday: Book review, best tips, or expert advise
 Friday: Personal reflections, what you’re learning,
relational

10. Frequency
 Should be regular or people will lose interest. Ideally
no less than 2x per week.
 The idea is that you are engaging your audience;
customers, followers, & others you inspire.
 Think of it as an ongoing conversation
 Be generous

11. Promoting Your Blog
 Each post has it’s own url.
 You can promote individual posts with links on twitter,
Facebook, LinkedIn, email newsletters, etc.
 A link can automatically be posted to Facebook or
LinkedIn every time you post using apps
 Encourage readers to subscribe to your blog with an
RSS feature.
 Comment on other blogs
 Link from your website

12. Time Management
 Create a blog calendar
 Organize content around seasons or holidays
 Plan posts around major events that your company is
hosting
 Keep a running list of blog ideas
 Designate one morning a week to drafting blog posts
 Schedule them to post throughout the week
 Schedule time off – stay fresh

13. Quote
“People don’t buy what you do. They
buy why you do it.”
~ Simon Sinek

14. Additional resources
 http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/26-essentials-for-blogging-
success-what-you-need-to-know/
 http://www.copyblogger.com/30-know-like-trust-actions/
 http://www.copyblogger.com/spreadable-content/
 http://www.copyblogger.com/love-your-business/finding inspiration/
 http://www.globalstudio.com/blog-strategies-blogging-for-business-
success/
 http://heidicohen.com/social-media-23-ways-to-promote-your-blog/
 http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/26-tips-visual-social-media-
marketing-strategy/
 http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/how-to-improve-your-social-
media-marketing-with-blogging/