Despite facing competition from commercial giants, many small businesses can grow and profit by taking advantage of today’s latest Internet technology. A corporate blog, in particular, provides the marketing tools small businesses need to stand up to industry leaders.
Blogs allow small businesses owners to:
- Build brand awareness. Brand awareness is a key element for the growth of any small business. Unlike expensive advertising campaigns that provided only limited media exposure, a blog gets a brand name out on the Internet where millions of users everywhere can see it 24/7. A blog can generate high visitor traffic to the corporate Website as well as gain a high ranking within Internet search engines like Yahoo! and Google. By publishing current information and continually updating the blog, a small business owner can promote the business and build credibility with consumers. Additionally, search engines escalate sites that are updated often, as well as ones that link to other sites or contain inbound links. This means that individuals searching for information relating to a business or product are more likely to find a company with a current blog than blog-less competitors.
- Reach their target market. Blogs provide consumers with a smart and convenient forum that allows them to become informed about a business and talk about important issues accessible at the click of a mouse. Blogs provide small business owners with a fast way to interact with the key public by joining customer discussion, providing expert insight, and receiving feedback. The advantage of a blog over an intranet or extranet is that individuals can leave comments and express themselves directly on the site without having to go through a Webmaster or administrator. Companies can involve a larger audience through a blog without limiting who can participate, forming a more personal relationship with consumers, vendors, and employees. The two-way communication that blogging offers allows businesses to build strong connections with important target groups.
- Test products and ideas. Blogging is a resourceful alternative to holding a focus group. It allows you to post an idea and see if it generates interest before spending time and money to implement it. The public can log on, read the latest updates about future products and plans, and comment directly on the site. From there, small business owners can adjust their strategy accordingly. Many times, companies utilize surveys, focus groups, and questionnaires to measure the success of a product or determine corporate value, but these tactics are more costly and they keep the business at a distance from the consumer. Blogs provide a relaxed environment for consumers to make evaluations directly in an informal, conversational manner.
- Become the expert. A blog allows a small business owner to establish himself as the expert in his field and to position the company as a reliable source in the industry. Businesses can publish their latest news and provide an easy way for readers to find what they want through automatic archiving and searching features. For example, innovative uses of Really Simple Syndication feeds found in software like Blogfusion allow users to receive updates from individual posts, a community, category, or specific keywords. Small businesses can also use a blog to drive conversation about products or services. Keeping it updated and well written can help create a following of devoted readers and potentially loyal customers.
Building credibility, fostering communication, testing new products, and promoting the brand name are important ways in which small businesses can use blogs to promote growth and increase sales. So what are you waiting for? Join the 21st century and get a jump on your competition—embrace this innovative, cutting-edge marketing technology now.