How to start a business blog

You want to start a business blog, but you can’t quite get a handle on what type of blog it should be.

Start by working out why you want/ need a blog, and what you hope the blog will achieve.

Your reasons for starting a business blog could include:

* To drive more traffic to your Web site – blogs are great little traffic generators. Start a Web site, and you’ll be lucky to be indexed in Google within a year. Add a blog to your Web site, and hey presto, just like magic you’re in Google and people are visiting your site;

* To become known; you want to use a blog to promote yourself or your business;

* Turn a blog into a business. Over the past several months, I’ve had many messages from people who are launching new careers and want their blog to become a business. You can certainly turn your blog into a business, whether as the front-end of a Web store, or whether as a standalone publication.

Once you know the reason you want to start a blog, you can think about your audience. What would appeal to your readers?

If you’ve been in business, perhaps you want to share what you know about your industry – to give an insider’s view. A “____-industry confidential” is very appealing to readers.

You blog could simply be the News section of your Web site: cover what’s new in your business and on your site. This is a great way to build a relationship with your current customers, and to attract new ones.

Once you’ve discovered both why you want to blog, and what benefits your blog gives to your readers, you’re good to go. Happy blogging.

Need more help with your blog? Get up to speed on blogging with my Blogging For Dollars ebook; it includes coaching.

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