Creating value is key to an online marketing strategy. Most Web sites are sales pitches, and what’s the value in that? Some businesses look at their Web sites like they’re electronic billboards. You can do that to your Web site if you want to, but the problem with doing that is that once your [...]

Yesterday, I wrote about why small businesses should blog, and said that one of the primary benefits of blogging was the ability to reach specific consumers. Blogging also provides a great opportunity for small businesses because many big competitors don’t take advantage of social media. The opportunity isn’t limited to writing blogs, either. Blog advertising [...]

Blogging is one of the best things to happen to small businesses. Why? Internet marketing isn’t so much about being the biggest business in your field, or spending the most on your advertising and marketing. It is about being found in the right place at the right time.
How many times have you eaten [...]

There’s a (long!) blog written by Amanda Lewis on the Yale Herald site regarding self-promotion as it relates to blogs. Although she takes her time, she does a decent job of covering the basics of self-promotion and the benefits that come from doing it well.
The piece is written from a student perspective, but don’t discard [...]

Business blogging shouldn’t ever be confused with advertising. They’re two different animals with two different goals. The goal of advertising is to raise awareness. The goal of business blogging is to develop a long-term relationship with a consumer based upon an area of mutual interest.
If you’re using your blog like an advertisement, chances are good [...]

There’s no way around it: blogging takes time. When it comes to blog marketing, one question that comes up a great deal is authenticity. Can a blog authored by a professional writer achieve the same authenticity as one written by the CEO?
Yes. The perspective of the writer may be different, but that’s true regardless of [...]

If your blog is focused on you and your business, chances are good that your customers aren’t as interested in it as you think they are. The trick to successful corporate blogging is to see your blog as your customers see it. Your customers will appreciate valuable blog content. They won’t spend a whole lot [...]

One of the mistakes bloggers make concerns the frequency of their posts. Your blog traffic will increase substantially if you post consistently. Some bloggers choose the daily posting schedule; others post less frequently, but still manage to maintain a regular posting schedule.
Your best bet is to be consistent, regardless of the posting schedule you [...]

It sounds like strange question for a business blogger, but many business bloggers don’t know who their ideal customers are. Not knowing your ideal customer can lead you to make serious errors in your blog marketing strategy, and can cause all kinds of grief in the long term.
Knowing your ideal customer will help you fine-tune [...]