Blogging Effectively for your Business

Lorna Sixsmith

What is a Blog?• Weblog = diary for

business or personal

• Inform, educate, entertain, promote, enjoy....

• Hosted by wordpress / blogger or self hosted and integrated

Why Write A Blog?

• SEO• Sales/Traffic• Brand awareness• Communication Tool• Passion/Enthusiasm• Credibility• Trustworthiness

What a Blog Can Do• Show you are open for

business• Demonstrate the

presence of other customers

• Demonstrate your customer service

• Showcase your products• Announce new

brands/products/services• Cost Effective• Promotions• Tell your story• Benefits to Customers

How Much Time? How Many Words?

• Consistency is the key – decide how often and stick to it

• 10-90 mins per post • Images / Links / Research / Quotes• Average 400 words

What Makes A Good Business Post?

• Title• Images• Hyperlinks• Research/Knowledge• Well written / Engaging• Clear Presentation• Call to Action• Keywords / Tags/ Categories

Calls to Action

• Short• Simple• Friendly tone• Clear• Only one request/question/command• Try to include a keyword in the clickable link

Examples of Calls to Action

• Invite interaction – ask for comments• Prompt action with news of Special Offers• Encourage return visits• Ask for shares / facebook likes / twitter follows• Encourage sales• Building communities

How to Prevent Bloggers’ Block• Have clear aims & objectives• Idea pad / mind map• Brainstorm• Interviews• Guest posts• Showcasing• Regular slots e.g. Wallpaper

Wednesday• Consistency

What Can You Expect With A New Blog

Traffic / Sales / Community

Keyword Google Tool

• Google – keyword research tool (set up gmail account)

• 2 or 3 terms – then look for number of searches

• It will also give you ideas for key terms• Tick the ‘broad’ and then the ‘exact’ boxes.

Irish Farmerette Blog

• Personal blog• Once a week• Enjoyment• Small community• No use of Keyword tool• No calls to action• Recipes

Irish Farmerette - Stats

Irish Farmerette – Average Visits

Wallpaper Review Blog

• Experimental Blog• No community• No interaction• No requests for comments• Keyword Research Tool• Strong calls to action• Consistent?!• Delivers sales

Wallpaper Review - Stats

Wallpaper Review – Average Visits

How to Get Free PR

• Newsworthy Topics• New products/exclusivity• Report on important events• Be Interesting – slightly controversial• Use Good Images• Answer questions• Contact Information• Be helpful, be friendly and say Thank You

What Will Blogging Bring?

• Friends• Brand Awareness• Traffic• Sales• Credibility• Core of Your Social Media Strategy• Awards

What Next?

• A wordpress/blogger/tumblr hosted blog?• Self hosted blog?• Integrated blog?

• Don’t waste time deciding – ask for advice and Start Blogging for Your Business

• Lorna Sixsmith 086 1051007• www.write-on-track.com