I’ll admit it: I have a thing for blogging. Not just writing my own blog posts, which I find completely exhilarating, but reading others. One of the first things I do each morning is log on to see if my favorite bloggers have left me something tantalizing. I follow bloggers on a range of topics–from personal interest to business–and I’m always interested to see what they have to say next.
Why is that? I also follow these companies or personalities on Facebook and Twitter, so can’t I see what they’re up to there? Or I could find critical information about a company on their website. But here’s the thing: Facebook and Twitter updates can only tell you so much, and a website is full of facts, but doesn’t give you the “behind the scenes” look at what’s really happening.
A blog does all that and more. Here’s five reasons why you should be blogging:
- Blogging gives you the option of disseminating information to your customers in a way no other platform offers. Blogging lets you communicate directly with your audience in a very personal and real way.
- Blogging is more current than a newsletter, longer than a social media post, and more personal than a website.
- Blogging complements your other social media messages; Expands on them. A good blog is an authority on a subject–an authority your audience trusts.
- Blogging is a great way to show your company culture, so customers get to know you on a more one to one basis.
- Best of all, blogging is free, so your return on investment is huge.
So how often should you blog? The best time to blog is when you have something to say. It’s fine to aim for a certain number of blog posts per quarter, for example, but there’s no need to stick to an exact schedule, just to say you have a schedule.
And don’t forget to add your social media buttons to your blog, so someone who finds your post interesting can continue to follow you on other platforms. Likewise, provide links to your blog posts on your social media sites.
If you don’t have a company blog already, where do you start? Blog platforms like WordPress and Blogger are easy to use and can be updated with the click of a mouse–no graphic knowledge required. Give us a shout–we’d be happy to help you start your blog!
For content development, check out these resources:
Content Rules: How to Create Killer Blogs, Podcasts, Videos, Ebooks, Webinars (and More) That Engage Customers and Ignite Your Business , by Ann Handley and C.C. Chapman
You can learn more about the book here: http://www.contentrulesbook.com/about/
Also check out Inbox Orange’s Content Webinar Recap and Resources
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