Yes, that’s what I say to people all the time, and I am not sorry. I get on the case of everyone I know who is trying to build something—a business, brand, event, etc. Whether you don’t know what a blog is or are just afraid you have nothing to say, let me explain why I think it’s a must-have marketing tool.
- Your story gets told correctly.
- Your message gets out.
- Your audience will find you if hit publish. Here are some tips to blog for SEO.
- It’s free or low cost.
- If you stick with it and do a good job, media outlets will contact you (doesn’t that sound better than begging someone to write about you or paying someone to beg for you?)
- It compliments your website and provides valuable content for your Facebook page and Twitter feed.
- If you link to your website, it will increase your search engine rankings.
- Be visual and you’ll likely get pinned. (See Pinterest.)
- A post may be as simple as a photo with a caption so don’t let time be an excuse not to blog.
- It’s an instant focus group. When you’re unsure of a new business decision, ask your readers for their input.
- If you can't afford a website a blog site is a great short term solution. Most visitors may not realize it's not your website.
Here are some free blogging platforms to explore:
- Google Plus: Think of it as Facebook meets Twitter, powered by the rocket fuel of Google! This is ideal for anyone who will post short, highly visual content.
- Blogger: Another Google owned company with an easy to use interface. Great for beginners.
- Word Press: A little more challenging to use, but an excellent platform that will work well with your website and they are always offering valuable new themes and plug-ins (free and paid for). Ideal for the beginner with strong computer skills.
- Tumblr: This popular platform combines the power of blogging with social networking. It’s highly visual and easy to use. I am not using it currently, but I appreciate its social value. (If you are using Tumblr share your feedback in the comments.)
No matter which platform you select, the important thing to remember is to be yourself. Write in the first person and engage your readers. If you’re having writers block, imagine you’re .
