ask the expert | How often should I post to my blog?

today we have a guest post from our expert partner in coywriting: anne maybus from clever streak, answering a very common question...

This is a question that I am often asked especially by new bloggers.  Often they’ve been freaked out by professional bloggers who recommend posting a couple of times a day.  Can you imagine doing that and running a business at the same time?  We’d get nothing else done.

The first thing I want to make clear is that professional bloggers do it for a living.  That’s often their only business.  They have to post frequently so they can build up their blog content and reputation to earn revenue.

Most of us aren’t professional bloggers.  We don’t rely on them solely for income.   That means that our blog plan needs to be different to theirs.  You can stop panicking now.

The answer to the question of how often you should blog comes down to the “S” word – strategy.  If your reason for blogging isn’t solely for income, what is it? 

Before you go into meltdown, take a breath and start thinking it through.  The answer is there if you just look.  Have a think about these things:

Why are you blogging?

We all use a blog for different reasons.  Some of us want to build up relationships, some to boost readership and some for SEO purposes.  Some of us want to spread information to help others.  Some of us just can’t help but spill our thoughts out all over the interwebs but that’s another story…

What do you want your blog to do for you?

When your blog is working the way you hope it will, what do you expect it will do for your business?  Is your blog there to encourage sales or send traffic to your site?  Is it there to help position you as an expert in your field?  Is it there to support the conversation on other social media sites?  Is it there as a way for your client to talk with you?

Who is your target market?

What do you know about your target market?  Are they the kind of people who read blogs?  How much time do they have?  What does their week look like?  How often are they online?  By working out who your client is and what sort of life they lead, you can begin to guess when or if they will be online.

What do you want your blog to offer to your target market?

If you look around the blogosphere (and I hope you do) you’ll see blogs that offer many different things to their readers.  Some turn their blogs into a little rest space in a busy day by sharing funny pictures and stories.  Some share personal experiences and offer a way to connect.  Others give advice or answer client questions.  The ones that bore me silly are those that do nothing but promote their products.  What will your blog give to your readers to make it worth spending their time on?

How much will they read?

Busy people don’t have time to read long posts.   If your market is into research they will expect detailed content.  Mums who are juggling family demands might like regular short bursts of content.  Some markets won’t want text at all; they prefer video or audio.

When you work out the answers to these questions, you will begin to get a sense of what might work for you.  Draw up your plan and have a go. Your statistics will soon show what works and what doesn’t.  Remember that you aren’t pinned to a schedule.  Try posting on different days and at different times.  Try posting different types of content.  You’ll soon find the right pace.

And one more piece of advice…

When we begin blogging we often have the wrong focus.  When we ask “how often should we blog?” we are thinking of ourselves and not of our target market.  We’re seeing our blogs as something to benefit ourselves, which they will in the long run, but we should be looking at them as something that is of benefit to our market.  Look again at your answers to the questions above and make sure you are considering your target market. 

Focus on your clients.  If you are offering useful and interesting content on a regular basis, you’ll soon achieve your blogging goals.  

Need help with your blog? Anne Maybus can help you! She has a mission to banish the dullness from business writing. She believes that your business deserves to have personality shining out of every word. She writes content that catches your reader by the eye and pulls them pupil-first into the wonderful world of your business. Visit cleverstreak.com and on facebook and twitter too.

want to get started blogging? click here and have a look at the blueprints to build a blog. it is the perfect resource - step by step instructions on starting a blog for your little biz that rocks!

what is holding you back from blogging for your biz?

one of the questions i get asked the most at build a little biz is “what are some inexpensive ways i can promote my business?” and one of my most common answers is “start blogging.” to read more about why i think you should start a blog, click here.

the main thing i always tell little biz builders is this:

having a blog is like getting to stand at the front counter of your shop, chatting with the customers. it is a chance to TALK to them: to help them, answer questions, ease concerns, demonstrate expertise, tell stories, share your passion & brand message…

every business owner should take the opportunity to ‘front counter chat’ with customers. a blog is your chance to do that. (click here to tweet that!)

but even if i have you convinced that blogging is great for any biz, i do realize there are still a number of things that hold little biz builders back. so i am going to try to ease your concerns and change your mindset.

NOTE: i have pulled all of these comments straight of my facebook page and email. see how i have turned the common objections of my customers into a blog post? if i could chat with people at the front counter of my shop, this is what i would tell them…

i don’t have the time.

yes. i say this too, all of the time. it is my first ‘jump to’ reason for anything – it is one of my mindsets. but you know, i have the same number of minutes each day as anyone else. it is all about how i chose to spend them!

most of the people i chat with are sinking time into one strategy or another that is not actually bringing traffic to their biz, or turning that traffic into sales. i know i spend all sorts of my daily minutes checking my email compulsively, reading ‘helpful’ resources, wandering around on social media, fiddling with my website… i tell myself i am ‘working’ but really it is just bizzy work. it makes me feel like i am working but really i am avoiding the harder, scarier work i need to do.

blogging is marketing. if you need a way to market your business that does not cost a lot of money, then blogging is a fantastic option. blogging is great because you get to do it your way, make it “you”, make it awesome, make it something you love. but you have to get ‘real’ about it, and invest the time. that means giving up bizzy work. that means investing in expertise to help you with things that are time sinks for your biz, that you don’t enjoy, or that you are plain not good at.

plus, keep in mind that blogging is not a stand-alone task. it ties in really well with facebook, twitter, pinterest, email marketing and more. what you share & talk about in one place you can do in the other. it is not necessarily a task you must add to everything else, it can be a natural extension of what you are already doing.

you need to market your business. you need to budget your time wisely, and include time to market your business. if you can’t make time to do that, then please don’t tell me "i need free ways to promote my business." they will cost you time or money. so get serious about investing.

i am not a writer.

i totally get this belief. i am not a writer either. i have a bachelor degree in science! and i went on to become a science teacher. i was a substitute teacher for a high school english class once and i was terrified that i would pass on my bad grammer, spelling & slang habits to those kids!

but i can talk. i can very easily talk about the stuff i am passionate about, the stuff i believe in. and that is what you do with your blog. you talk. write like you talk. pretend a customer has asked you a question or commented on something that interests you up at that front counter. answer them. write that.

the more you write the better you will get. and there aren’t really any rules when blogging, there are no blogging police who will tell you that you are doing it wrong. it’s yours. you are the boss of your blog, just write for your right people. the rest don’t matter.

by the way, in 18 months i have had maybe 5 people tell me they can’t stand the way i write with no capitals. and i think 3 people have told me they don’t like me because i say stuff like ‘kick ass’. i have had more readers than i can count tell me they love the way i write, that i am approachable and i make things make sense for them. those people are my right people. the rest can go eff off and find some other blogger to nitpick about grammar and swear words.

i am not a writer but i do have something to say. my blog, my way.

i don’t know what to blog about.

yep, this one feels tricky too, because we tend to think of our business as being about what we sell (and what else could we possibly say about what we sell?) but it is not, it is actually about who we help; the people whose problems are solved and needs met by our products.

your website is for your products. your blog is for your people. (click here to tweet that.)

i could go on and on about all of the things you can blog about. in fact i do in the blueprints for building a blog, where i take readers through a number of brainstorms to come up with a huge list of topic ideas and post types. but quickly, here are some ideas to get you started…

be helpful. tell stories. demonstrate your expertise. share your passion. share your interests & talents. spread your brand message. solve problems. be funny. be entertaining. be controversial. answer questions. ease concerns. provide additional support. comment on trends/news items etc. oh, did i mention, be helpful?

i would just use it for specials or to show new products.

your blog is not really the place you sell your stuff. that is what your website (shop) is for. your blog is the front counter. and just as you (hopefully) wouldn’t stand at the counter shouting to the customers – “hey! look! here is this new thing!” or “hey, guys! this item is for sale!” – don’t do that with your blog.

if people want to look at your products they will go to the shop and do so. your blog is to let those people know they are in the right place to have their problems solved. that you understand their dreams and their fears. that you are the ‘go to girl’ to help them.

i don’t know how to keep it fresh.

your blog does not have to be the same style of written paragraphs every time. you can share images, videos, infographics, music, or inspirational quotes. you can post tutorials, instructions, check lists, links to other blogs, polls, reader submissions… the sky is the limit really.

to come up with fresh ideas, look outside of your niche and your marketplace to see what bloggers in other circles are doing. and look at what is popular on your facebook page, twitter, pinterest or other spots where you interact with fans. take the conversation from one of those spots onto your blog!

to see 15 inspiring examples of blogs run by little businesses click here.

i don’t think anyone would read it.

yep, i can relate to this one too. when i first started blogging the only reader i had was my mom. i thought no one would read my blog. i wasn’t sure i even had anything to say that wasn’t already being said by a number of other bloggers, with way more experience than me.

but i listened to my gut and just decided to try it. i gave myself 6 months to see if i had something of value to offer and if there were people out there who cared.  i shared my posts on facebook and twitter. i commented on other blogs and found other blogs to guest post on. i asked other bloggers to guest post for me.

at first i didn’t have many readers, but slowly i gained more. i kept at it, found my groove, and found things to write about that people really needed. when i get it right, my posts get shared and I gain more readers.

if you just pop up your blog posts and don’t do anything to share those posts then no one will read them. if you don’t practice and try out different things until you find your ‘sweet spot’ then you might not find many readers. but if you keep at it, and listen to your fans, and treat your blog as your way to interact with them, you will find readers. if you believe in the value of what your business has to offer then you have something valuable to offer them.

i can’t make money blogging, it is a waste of my time.

the second most common question i get asked by readers is “how do i turn traffic into sales”. your blog can help you do that, your blog can help you increase sales. you can use it to ease fears, answer objections, demonstrate your expertise & build trust, show that you ‘get’ what your right people need. you can even use it to help you come up with new ideas for products to sell.

your blog will also help you gain traffic to your site. a blog can improve your search engine optimization so your website will show up in online searches. and a blog post can easily be shared by fans on facebook, twitter, pinterest, google+, and email – so if you write something helpful or entertaining it can ‘go viral’!

lastly, you can use your blog to add additional income streams to your business. you can become an affiliate for other products and use your blogs to introduce those products to your fans. you can do sponsored posts or paid advertorials for products & services. and you can use your best, most informative posts to create an ebook, ecourse, or tutorial that you can add to your product line.

note: if you do add affiliate sales or sponsored reviews to your blog, be sure that you do so with the best interests of your reader in mind. you don’t want to lose their trust and readership that you have worked hard to gain!

i tried using my blog to answer customer questions, but i still get contacted with the same questions. it is a waste of time!

you know this happens to me too – i get asked questions all the time that i have already addressed on my blog, sometimes a number of times. i wonder actually if anyone uses the search box i included on the blog!  but i get it, people are busy, or they know what they are looking for but don’t know how to find it, or they don’t realize they can search the blog… or maybe it is just easier to ask than to do a search. and for me, it is a lot easier to answer the question with a link to a well written, well thought out blog post than to try to type out a quick response while my kids are screaming for a snack. my blog makes it easier to help my right people.

the thing about blogs is that the newer, fresher content seems to get ‘seen’ and promoted the most and the older stuff can be a bit forgotten. but it is still there, and it is still very valuable to you. you can refer the old links to customers, you can repurpose and republish them as guest posts on other sites, or as i suggested above you can compile them into an ebook which you could sell or give away.

i don’t know how to get started.

there is a lot of information out there on blogging  for business – two of my favorite sites are copyblogger and problogger. plus, i often share helpful posts on blogging in the toolbox each week.

but i know how hard it is to find the right information, in a simple format, which is why i wrote the build a blog blueprint. whether you haven’t started blogging yet or you have a blog but feel stuck with what to do with it, the blueprints have all of the information you need, in one spot, so that you can make blogging a successful strategy for your biz.

you know what i always say: do what you love. and then kick ass with it. blogging certainly isn’t for everyone. but it is one strategy that you can be creative with and turn into something you love. and for a low cost marketing option, it is a pretty fantastic choice. if you are going to blog, make a real go of it. don’t just let it sit there, saying “i have no time” or “i don’t know what to write”. get serious about it! your business deserves it. 

click here to have a look at the build a blog blueprint. you can read the contents and introduction to see if it is right for you. 

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5 reasons you need a blog

i have mentioned this before on this blog and on the build a little biz facebook page. i think blogging is a great marketing strategy for all of us little biz builders.

you might be thinking "i already have a website. or a facebook page. or a newsletter. (or whatever online marketing you are already doing). why do i need a blog?”

here's why:

1. connecting.

if you think of your website as your “shop” blogging is the equivalent of wandering around the shop and chatting up the customers. this is your chance to connect with people. your website has all the stuff about what you sell, but your blog can have the stuff about who you are, why you do it, how you do it and why your stuff is awesome.

2. story telling.

people love a good story. and people love to pass on a good story about something they bought. and people don’t mind paying for something if there is an awesome story to go with it. if you knit baby products using the finest organic enviro-friendly non-allergenic softest-ever fibres, then write about it. show people why your thing is so fantastic they just have to have it.

3. get exposure.

think about your ideal customer. what would they love to read about every day? now start writing about that thing. if you are selling handmade wooden toys for little boys and your ideal customer has wild little boys who seem to get into trouble, then why not start telling those stories on your blog? or ones about little girls. or mums. or friendship. or travelling. or baby stories. or birth stories. or wedding stories. you get the idea.

4. search engine optimization (SEO)

SEO is basically how to get your site to move higher on the list when someone does a search for your thing. blogs are great for SEO because you can write posts each day that focus on the key words people are searching for. if you sell beaded jewellery and you want people who are searching for ‘bridesmaid gifts’ to find your website then write a post about why your beaded jewellery is the perfect thing for a bride to give to her bridesmaids. include photos and examples and link to information on your site. this is how you build your SEO.

5. stand out.

i talk about this all the time. how are you going to stand out among the crowd? blogs are a great way to really start rocking your brand by developing your writing voice, showing your style and personality, and posting about things you love that maybe don’t fit on your website but will make you stand out. if you sell handbags and absolutely love all things fashion, then use your blog to talk about handbags and shoes and jewellery and clothes and post outfits so people can see how you put it all together. become the go-to for fashion advice and people will buy your handbags. be you. be real. be memorable!

bonus reason.

if you don’t have a website yet, even more reason to have a blog. start a blog now and later you can grow it into a full biz website. 

i bet you are wondering:

what do i blog about? who will read my blog? where do i get started? how do i write the posts? when should i be posting? how do i track my results? 

i can help you with all of those things. the build a blog blueprint will take you step by step through starting your blog and making it an awesome asset to your little biz. find out more about the blueprint here and read the contents and introduction here.

(and if you have already started a blog, awesome! the build a blog blueprint can help you make it an effective and fun marketing strategy for your biz. it will help you with content ideas, targeting your ideal customers, and rocking their world with fabulous posts.)

do you need some inspiration?

here are 15 inspiring examples of blogs run by a little biz. go have a look and get some ideas!

by the way, i am not the only one telling you that you need a blog... (just in case i haven't convinced you yet...)

• 5 reasons your business should be blogging
• 6 reasons every small business should be blogging... have you missed the boat?
• Businesses urged to create blogs, online video as Google changes algorithm to emphasise new, relevant content

what questions do you have about blogging? what is holding you back? leave a comment, i would love to hear from you!

guest post | What to do when you want to keep all the good content for yourself!

today we have a guest post from alli price of motivatingmum.com.

this is a great post for anyone who has a blog and is considering doing guest posts, is thinking of starting a blog, or is thinking of submitting articles to other blogs or publications.

I don’t know about you but all this constant thinking of new ideas required for writing for business is a huge strain. If it’s not articles, then it’s guest blogs, press releases, manuals and more. And that’s just for your business. What do you do when you want to try and gain exposure through writing for others?

This is the difficulty I encountered when considering what to write for Build a Little Biz. Every topic that excited me, I then promptly added to the list of things I wanted to cover on my blog or articles and features page.

A full list of topics for me, and not a single written word for Build A Little Biz later, I had to ask myself what was going on? I realised that I was acting this way because it’s scary giving away great blogs and articles when there’s a pressure on you to create these things for your site on a weekly basis. Not to mention the time and energy it takes to craft these written pieces for others when you have your own work to do.

So how did I get to a place where I was able to start typing? I made it more compelling for myself to do it than not. This included:

• Reminding myself that a blog on Build a Little Biz was going to be seen and read by mums that maybe weren’t aware of Motivating Mum, and now would be
• Reminding myself that I always manage to find different topics to write on and this won’t change just because I write once or twice a month for others
• Implementing a plan to get guest bloggers for my site, that way the impetus wasn’t always on me to come up with new stuff
• Deciding that I will only write blogs for others as articles tend to be longer and be more formal, and
• Determining that the pay-off of increased exposure was definitely worth the time and energy it took to write this blog.

And so here I am. At the end of my first blog for someone else and you know what, I’m sure it’ll be worth it.

Cheers! Alli x

Motivating Mum is a website and events service offering support and advice to mums in business, or those wanting to be. Phone mentoring, networking and brainstorm events in Melbourne, Sydney and Perth (with the Gold Coast and Bendigo to come), online forum for asking your biz questions, articles and features, Biz Mums Blogging Carnival and much more. www.motivatingmum.com

note from karen:

i struggle with this too! i write a guest posts/articles just about every week and i used to want to keep all of the ‘good stuff’ for my own readers. then i realized that sharing my best content with other sites was actually the most beneficial thing i could do to establish myself as a leader in my niche. plus i still do get to share that content with my readers, and share new fabulous sites with them as well! i believe that the more you put out into the world the more you get back in return.

for those of you who don’t have a blog or haven’t been sharing content yet, a common fear is that you are just giving away your best expertise. the stuff you want people to pay you for! remember, sharing content is marketing, it is letting people know about what you do. you want to share your best stuff, you want people to know how awesome you are. establish your expertise, demonstrate how you can help people; your right people will stick around and buy from you. don’t be afraid of sharing the good stuff!

15 inspiring examples of blogs run by a little biz

last week i put the call out to find some examples of blogs that are fantastic additions to a little biz. i received an overwhelming number of submissions and i thoroughly enjoyed looking through each and every one of them. i narrowed them down to 15 blogs that i hope will give you some real life examples of how you can use a blog as a marketing tool for your biz.

what i looked for in the examples:

• blogs that are run in conjunction with a business and that are related to the products/services sold by the business
• blogs that do not just post photos of the business products and try to sell their item repeatedly
• established blogs so we can see a variety of post types and examples of awesomeness
• blogs by a variety of business types: handcrafted goods, visual art/design, sourced/manufactured products, and services

note: i looked at a number of blogs that are not on this list only because they didn’t fit this criteria, not because they weren’t fabulous! in fact i encourage you all to follow all types of blogs for inspiration =)

characteristics of a blog that will enhance your biz:

tells stories - perhaps about the products/services being offered, the creative process, the clients you have, inspiration for products, meanings behind your products

demonstrates expertise - provides tips, advice, instructions, additional resources, solves customers problems, helps people!

entertains - is funny, quirky, interesting, shocking, shows personality, inspires or motivates

connects - Q/A type posts from reader questions, features photos & images from customers, includes polls or voting that encourage reader participation, 

re-inforces brand message - eg if the brand message is 'funky' or 'eco-friendly' or 'elegant' or whatever... and that is clearly reflected in the types of blog posts, if the blog directly speaks to a specific 'ideal client'

stands out - really if the blog does more than just try to sell the same thing being sold on the website/online shop/market stall, if it stands out and is memorable and is something you want to go back to again and again!

a few tips for your blog:

as i was looking through the blog submissions i noticed that a number of blogs were missing a couple of key ingredients. remember that many people will happen upon your blog because of a google search or a link shared; they will visit a blog post first before they have seen your business site so they have no idea what you do, what you sell, or the point of your blog. make it easy on them!

- clearly show new visitors what the purpose of your blog is. what is your passion, your interest, your intent? have a clear tagline, an excellent about page or an info section in your sidebar.

- have obvious and direct links to your business: your website, your online marketplace, or your products page. your blog posts should entice readers to like you and trust you enough to want to buy your thing. make it easy for them!

- keep it clear and simple. have a call to action (to visit your website, sign up for your newsletter, send you an email or whatever) so that people have something they can do after they fall in love with you. keep the rest of your page clutter free. some blogs are so full of ads and links and categories i have no idea what i am supposed to look at!

- don’t just promote your product over and over. customers can look at your shop to see those same products. use your blog to engage with me as the customer: tell me a story, offer assistance, appeal to my emotions... you can do so much more with your posts than sell, sell, sell!

15 fabulous blogs to inspire you:

blog: megan auman

products: handcrafted metal jewelry

why i like it: tells a story about the products, the inspiration behind them, the process and passion behind the design. the brand message stands out clearly and is so consistent; the passion of the designer just shines through in every post, every image, every interaction.

blog: Wood’n’Piece

product: handcrafted wooden jewelry

why i like it: doesn’t just show photos of the products, you find out about the wood used, the meaning of the shapes etc, the symbolism or inspiration behind the designs. i like the comparisons to ‘what’s in fashion’ and i like that you get to know the designers themselves.

blog: TrashN2Tees

product: custom handmade clothing & accessories

why i like it: this blog really gives you a sense of the interest and passion of the designer and every post really exemplifies the brand message. there is a nice mix of how too, inspiration, new product ideas, tips & advice etc.

blog: Ric-Rac

product: handcrafted toys, patterns, craft classes

why i like it: this blog is so entertaining! the personality of the designer shines through, the photos are fun, the posts are funny & quirky & interesting. i love the stories that are linked and there are some great freebies for crafty types too!

blog: Lunch Boxes with Love

product: lunch boxes

why i like it: very simple connection between the products and the blog posts, but so fabulous. the images, recipes, lunch box ideas – i want to come back for more and more. when i want to buy a new lunch box for the kids i will remember this site. simple & so effective.

blog: You and Baby 

product: baby products

why i like it: shares tips, advice, support for new mums/families without being preachy or know it all. you feel like you are on the journey with the author, via story telling. it is a new blog but with further growth and genuine interaction with readers it could become a go to spot for mums to get some advice or support, and that in turn could cause it to become the go to spot to buy baby products.

blog: Retro Chick

product: vintage clothing, accessories & books

why i like it: the brand message is just so freaking consistent. every single post supports the passion & interest of the author and the products that are being sold. it speaks to the ‘ideal customer’ so clearly; there would be no mistaking you were in the right place!

blog: leaf journals

product: journals, stationary, story starters

why i like it: the posts themselves are inspiration for using the products – ideas for journal entries, sharing your stories, writing with kids. you don’t have to purchase their products to make use of these ideas, but i would bet that if you fall in love with the inspiration here you would fall in love with the products too.

blog: kids travel 2

product: kids travel gear

why i like it: immensely helpful (and free!) advice, tips, tricks, information, how to’s and activities for travelling with kids. if this was your go to spot anytime you had to travel with kids you would very likely end up making a purchase there too. i would visit this blog over and over again and share it with every parent i know. isn’t that the whole point of adding a blog to your biz?

blog: little sooti

product: party supplies, stationary, event styling

why i like it: the images are stunning and found in large numbers! you don’t just get a taste of the parties described, you get to see every detail. i like that the author is not afraid to share these party concepts, for fear of someone just copying the idea to DIY. those people would probably not make a purchase anyways. but the ideal clients, the ones that love these exquisite parties, would be so inspired by the ideas here that i would bet they remember this site for the future!

blog: frangipani designs

product: photography, graphic design, custom art work, invitations

why i like it: i like seeing ‘artist’ blogs that are not just about showing samples of the artists work. (as a photographer i get guilty of that, just showing client images over and over…) this blog has a mix of inspiration, testing out new ideas, inspiration for home décor/fashion, and fun point & shoot images from home. you get a sense of the artist and what her style is, and i think these posts would appeal to her ideal clients.

blog: Easy Peasy Kids

product: child behavior consulting

why i like it: this blog offers great advice for raising children, dealing with behavior, communicating, motherhood and more. this advice demonstrates expertise, builds trusts, and lets people know they are in the right place for solutions to their problems. parents who have found the free advice helpful will be very likely to go to these ladies for further help when they need it.

blog: copywrite matters

product: copywriting services

why i like it: the branding is so fabulous! i love that the blog has it’s own name “the copywrite detective”; it is memorable, fun and completely exemplifies the purpose of the blog. the target audience of the business will be attracted to the helpful, free content and again this will build trust & loyalty which leads to readers becoming clients.

blog: Bridie’s Typing Service

product: typing services

why i like it: this is another blog directed towards businesses but i chose it as an example of how a blog can attract the target audience by addressing other needs of your readers, besides just the service the business supplies. in this case all kinds of biz topics are covered, knowing that the target audience is looking for information in all of these areas, as a way of attracting the right people to their site.

blog: Styling You

product: one-on-one personal styling sessions & online styling memberships

why i like it: again, another great example of offering free, helpful information as a way of demonstrating expertise, attracting the right people, building trust and loyalty. it has been nominated and won awards for best blog a number of times, so clearly this author is doing a fantastic job!

3 bonus blogs:

these are not blogs that are run by little businesses, though some have evolved over time to sell stuff too (even though they didn’t start that way.) i wanted to share them because i think they can give you great ideas for your own blogs:

blog: Rants From Mommyland

why i like it: this is one of the funniest and most entertaining blogs i have ever read, and i am not alone as it has a huge following. i love the inclusion of ‘is this blog right for you’ – very clear target audience! these posts resonate with so many mums; if you can write posts that generate this kind of interest then way to go! this is also an example of how you can start out with a blog and then later turn it into a business selling something that your readers need from you.

blog: I Heart Faces

why i like it: this blog is a great example of really engaging with readers. the weekly photo challenges are hugely popular and a lot of fun, generating traffic for both the blog and the participants, and creating a real community amongst readers. if you can engage your fans in any way (having challenges, contests, buttons to display, reader submissions etc.) it can be a great way to grow your blog and your biz!

blog: I Love Pretty Things

why i like it: this blog is just plain pretty! each post is like a little treasure to open and discover. the branding is so consistent, the purpose of the blog and the target audience so clear. if you know your right people this well and create blog posts that are this appealing to readers you could generate a loyal and avid group of customers!

well - that is quite a list, no? i had a lot of fun looking through all of the submissions and i hope these blogs inspire you and give you ideas, as that is my goal in doing this post. if you all enjoy it please let me know, i will do it again. i am thinking next we might do 'awesome newsletters'. any other 'awesome' examples you would like to see? 

blogging | use your blog to help me out!

i am loving the fact that i am seeing many little biz builders adding a blog to their marketing plan. you know i am a big proponent of this (if you want to know why, go read the 5 reasons why you need a blog for your biz.)

but i have to admit, i have visited a number of little biz blogs lately and am saddened that this awesome resource is often wasted. if all you are doing with your blog is popping up photos of the products you are trying to sell, then i am not sticking around to read. if i wanted to see what you have for sale then i would click on your catalogue, shopping cart or product album.

• use your blog to stand out!
• use your blog to solve a problem your clients have!
• use your blog to demonstrate your expertise!
• use your blog to show your personality, your passion, your opinion!
• use your blog to tell an interesting story!

but for the love of god, please don’t waste my time or yours using it to tell me over and over again what you sell. if i wasn’t going to buy it before, a new picture isn’t going to make me buy it now.

try instead to get into the head of your ideal client. what might they need help with? an answer too? more information about?

if you sell hairclips, and post lovely pictures of your cute hairclips in every colour of the rainbow – great. lovely. boring. what i would really love to know is how the frick did you make that cute little twisty ponytail? give me the instructions and i would probably buy the hairclip! or tell me what product you use to make that hair stay in place. or give me tips about how to get my kid to sit still long enough to do their hair like that.

seriously, if you solve a problem for me, not only will i probably buy your thing, i will be a fan for life. i will visit your blog over and over again to see what other little helpful tidbits you are sharing. and i will also probably share those awesomely helpful blog posts with all of my friends. just sayin’...

have you read an awesome blog post that you just had to share? have you written one that was shared by others? what were those posts about? add your comment below, i would love to hear from you.