Write an Effective Business Blog to Share
Your Expertise and Connect with Customers
by Alice osborne
E
veryone knows blogging can connect us to others Investing in a digital recorder is a huge time-saver and will
who share our passions. Did you know that effec- allow you to record your ideas while driving or walking. You
tive blogging can also increase your website’s page can then play it back when you return to your computer.
ranking, build your brand, and bring additional visitors and Remember to educate your audience and to freely give away
customers to your website and business? If you are a small information. If your blog provides useful content, you will be
business owner, blogging is a low-cost avenue to grow your rewarded with comments, views and increased web traffic.
business and become a sought-after expert. Search engines A good rule of thumb for maintaining consistency is to
such as Google and Yahoo love fresh content, and with post a minimum of twice a month and always on the same
each new blog you will attract visitors – many of whom will days – on the first and third Saturdays, for example. Bear in
become loyal followers who will spread the word about your mind that blog posts are generally 300 to 600 words. Write
blog via their networks. These followers will also make com- a strong headline and use short paragraphs so you don’t
ments about your blog, but only if you consistently provide overwhelm your reader with type, which, by the way, should
them with fresh, interesting content. be 12 point font. Use bullets whenever possible to make the
Setting up a blog is easy. The hard part for many is writ- copy more readable and always proof your work by using
ing the content and being consistent with their postings. The spell-check and then printing a copy and reviewing it before
main reason blogs fail is that the blog owner doesn’t provide you post. Reading it aloud is a great way to improve grammar
content on a regular basis. A good first step for generat- and syntax.
ing content is to ask yourself what are the challenges of While it does take effort to build an effective blog, you
your particular industry. You can also brainstorm with other will be rewarded. No one else can write about your business
professionals in your field, as well as talk to your clients and as well as you can, so get started today!
customers. Study trade magazines and read for ideas. If you
do not like to write, find other blogs that have the “third party Alice Osborn, M.A. is a professional editor, freelance
content” you need and secure permission to use it. Be sure to writer and speaker offering services to small businesses and
hyperlink your source so that it can be quickly picked up on creative writers. Alice is passionate about helping creative
Google. writers get published through editing and mentoring. She also
Act like a reporter and interview professionals with helps small business owners find the right words every time
expertise in areas you wish you knew more about. Keep a for their profiles, blogs and web content. 919-971-9414. Visit
notebook or index cards with you so you can capture ideas. her website at http://aliceosborn.com. See ad on this page.
Learn To Write From Your Heart
Interested in Do-it-Yourself Writing?
Relive your memories and honor your life with Alice's creative writing workshops.
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Alice teaches you how to harness your inner voice so you'll achieve your writing dreams.
Alice Osborn also offers writing help with:
Call
or
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� Mentoring for Aspiring Writers � Website Copy
Alice
toda
y to
� Blogs (Personal/Business) � Articles
create
the
book
in
your
hear
t
� E-newsletters & Brochure Copy � Profiles/Bios
919-971-9414 • Website: www.aliceosborn.com
Blog: www.aliceosborn.com/blog • Email: alice@aliceosborn.com
WRITE FROM THE INSIDE OUT
natural awakenings march 2010 39
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