Starting a business blog isn’t something we do because it’s expected. Blogging, when done right, is a cheap and easy marketing opportunity. It’s a way to open new doors and connect with your target market on a new level.
It’s actually called content marketing, which means creating the type of content that engages consumers. and it’s a great way to improve your PR and increase your community. Plus, it’s on a platform that you own and control.
If you’re not convinced that blogging is right for your eStore, here are 4 reasons you should start a business blog today.
Easy, Simple & Smart Marketing
Blogging is an extremely cheap way to communicate directly with your customers. You can write a blog post, then share it directly with your email list and on your social media channels. No one will share your sales page, but they will share good content from your blog.
For example, let’s say you sell organic gardening supplies. Your blog could give tips on choosing the right seeds for your location, or the quickest way to dry fresh herbs. This is the type of information your readers would gladly share on their friends on Facebook! This is how you bring new social media customers to your store.
Selling online can be challenging, that’s why it’s so important to take advantage of the tools eCommerce platforms provide. Selz, an eCommerce platform, is a great example of how easy it is to add a blog to an online store. They have a simple app that can be added to any Selz eStore, and allows you to quickly
Write Copy Your Customers Want to Read
Let’s face facts – no one wants to read your sales pitch. But they will read information that’s helpful, funny, informative or interesting.
Your blog gives you the perfect opportunity to share helpful how-to’s, fun tips & tricks, or the latest industry news. It lets you build a relationship with your market while creating trust. Adding a blog allows you to start a conversation in a new and unique way. Since it’s not selling but adding value, your customers will actually look forward to reading your blog!
Plus, you don’t have to limit the content to written articles. You can add videos, infographics, and even share other people’s awesome content. It’s a great place to create buzz!
Pro4mance is an Australian sports nutrition company that sells athletic endurance products online. Their blog has articles like Training with Limited Bottles and How to Train Your Stomach. Since their niche is endurance athletes, posts like Pro Focus: Tips of a Pro Triathlete allows Pro4mance to increase their authority and share valuable information their customers need.
Blogging opens the door to entirely new topics. You can share testimonials, personal stories and even support important issues. A great example of this is Lush, a handmade cosmetic company. One of Lush’s cornerstones is their cruelty-free products and their commitment to environmental causes. A recent blog post, Vegan fashions for fall, highlights their stance on these issues. The post shared retailers who specialize in vegan fashions and educated consumers on what types of materials to avoid if you want to keep to a vegan lifestyle.
Although Lush is a larger online retailer, the principle is the same. Having a blog allows businesses to share their passions and build their brand image. However, this can be tricky depending on what passions you want to share. Taking a controversial stance on any issue can be a challenge. You don’t want to lose customers because you publically support a hot-topic. Instead, really think about what your company stands for and then create blog posts that explain why you support that specific issue. You’ll just offend customers if you’re righteous and judgmental. But done right, you’ll build your community and strengthen your brand.
Grow Your Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest Followers
After writing interesting blog posts, on a variety of different subjects, its time to put your new blog to work. This is where you’ll capture new prospects, reach new markets, and draw new visitors to your site. You probably won’t get instant sales, but you’ll start building up your social media presence and brand image. You’ll slowly build a loyal following, and that will translate into sales.
Choosing the right social media channel may be the biggest challenge, as they’re certainly not created equal. Do a little research and choose the best social media platform to build your unique business. And just focus on building a strong following on a few, and not the hot new thing. Ana White, a blogger turned building diva, uses social media to share pictures of her latest building projects (mostly furniture), and her followers can also share their projects. But Ana’s popularity isn’t the same across social media.
Here’s the number of followers she has on a few different social media channels:
- Twitter: 12.7k
- Pinterest: 120k
- Instagram: 45.4k
Obviously Ana’s biggest following is on Pinterest, which isn’t surprising as it’s for posting projects. That’s why it’s important to choose to invest your time and energy into the social media platform that best suits your target market.
Sell Without Selling
Adding a blog shouldn’t just be another to-do task. Instead, it should be part of your overall content marketing plan. It’s a way to get your message across in a new and engaging way. It’s a simple way to share information, and build value and credibility. It’s a great way to showcase your passions and share information about your business without the universally hated sales pitch.
In fact, it’s the perfect example of selling without selling. Don’t overlook this opportunity to connect with your customers in a way that is engaging and fun. Think of blogging as a marketing tool that is stress-free and cheap. And in the marketing world, you can’t get any better than that.
Images: “Author’s Own / Shutterstock.com“
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