>> Now
that you have got a basic understanding of the ins and
outs of blogs, and some options available, you're
probably wondering: How does this help my business? How
does it help me to stand out?
1. Team Communication. Companies use blogs internally to
communicate project status to stakeholders and managers.
It beats clogging everybody's email with mass broadcasts.
It allows these missives to be archived, indexed and
easily searched.
2. Enrich Your Clients. You can easily link to articles
and resources relevant to your readers and their needs.
You can more easily attract experts to provide
value-added content to your audience.
3. Get to Know Your Customer. Nobody buys from someone
they don't know. Blogging allows you to demonstrate your
expertise and point-of-view quickly and easily. In
addition, blogs allow the customers to receive your
updates in the format they choose.
4. Collaborate. You can create your own marketing buzz
to drive attention and buyers to your products and
services. Some companies use internal blogs to report on
projects or to track work groups distributed around the
world.
5. Research and Development. Weblogs are the perfect
forum to test out new ideas and receive instant
feedback. You can allow others to see how you develop
your products and services, and at the same time, they
can tell you how best to serve them.
6. Go Global. Blogs, like other online media, allow you
to take your business and ideas to a global market.
Translation services are getting better every day,
allowing more people to read online content in different
languages. I've helped bloggers from New York to New
Zealand, from Indiana to India.
7. Hidden Entrance to the Press. Journalists are busier
than ever and blogs provide a virtual directory of
pundits on any topic. You and your company can be the
content expert they're looking for. Furthermore, if your
company is talked about in the blogosphere it could end
up using that exposure as a back door to the press.
8. Get Published. Publishers are turning to blogs to
find new writing talent. Blogs can give a publisher a
taste of your writing style as well as a sample of your
depth of knowledge. Content specific blogs show a a
commitment to a certain topic or subject matter.
9. Write your book. Let your readers help you write your
latest book or article. Post chapters or ideas, then let
readers help you in researching, testing and suggesting
ideas. Or, use a blog after your book is published to
update the material or to answer questions from readers.
10. Success Stories. Invite clients to blog about their
successes with your products and services - it's like a
living testimonial that never ends. As clients share
their experiences, your prospects can see first-hand how
you can help them, too. << |
