7 Reasons For Small Business Blogging

In a great article by Church of the Customer they propose 7 reasons why small businesses should be blogging.

They state two very key phrases that online businesses should grasp when trying to understand the importance of blogging.

Blogs may provide companies that primarily sell to other companies better benefits because they easily bridge the feedback loop between end customers and channels. That bridge is often missing or difficult to create using existing tools. Like focus groups. Or the telephone.

and...

For any organization, a blog is part of a long-term customer evangelism strategy. Since blogs are easy to set up and pay for (some are free), launching a blog should be at the top of your to-do list.

Blogs can definitely allow you to connect with your audience in much more personally powerful ways that provide opportunities to build that volunteer sales force you want and need.

This is not an exhaustive list and certainly more reasons for business blogging can be added but here are the 7 reasons listed by Church of the Customer:

1. They fan the flames of customer evangelism. Their personal nature helps humanize you and your organization.

2. They function as an instant-feedback mechanism. Most blogs allow readers to respond to your posts or link to them on their own blogs. These features provide almost real-time feedback on ideas and issues that strike a chord, or highlight new or existing problems. A blog can help reveal a little problem before it becomes a big one.

3. They compel you to Napsterize more of your knowledge more often. A blog is about sharing what you know, think and believe; search engines index your ongoing knowledge-sharing, making it easier for customers and prospects to find you. Attraction is always easier than hunting.

4. They facilitate the spread of buzz. Honest, informative or thought-provoking posts about issues important to customers and prospects tend to be spread more often.

5. They allow you to have more simultaneous conversations. It's more than you could ever do in person.

6. Most blog service providers offer good-looking templates to use if your existing website design is embarrassing or non-existent.

7. They help position you as a knowledgeable expert in your industry.

In the following days, I will expand on each of these excellent points to help further flesh out the case for blogs in business.

© 2004 T. L. Pakii Pierce
Publisher: The 'RSS-Powered' Report
Layman's Guide to RSS Channel Publishing and Communications