Business Blog Marketing - Step 1: Do Something!

Stop me when this sounds familiar. You’ve created a new blog for your business, as a way to attract customers online. Now you’re ready to start your blog marketing program to kick things into high gear.

The only problem is, you’re not sure where or how to begin. This guy says one thing, that guy says something else, and nobody seems to agree which business blog marketing techniques work the best.

If you can relate to this, let me offer some helpful advice. Starting your blog marketing program is more important anything else, so feel free to jump in anywhere. Seriously. There is no perfect plan for business blog marketing, nor is there a “one-size-fits-all” technique that works best across the board. Every business is different, and every blogger has different goals. So a marketing technique that works great for one company might be a flop for another company.

In other words, don’t succumb to analysis paralysis! And don’t let somebody tell you what will or won’t work for you, based solely on their own business blog marketing experience. Experiment for yourself. Be bold. Put an idea down on paper, give it some thought, and then go for it. You’ll make some mistakes along the way, I guarantee that much. But you’ll also learn a lot as you go. And anything is better than just sitting there, scratching your head and analyzing your options to death.

Some Blog Marketing Ideas to Start With

There are more business blog marketing techniques than you can possibly use. So instead of bogging yourself down with the minutia of every possible scenario, choose a handful of the techniques that interest you, and then go for it. Here are a few blog marketing ideas to get you started.

1. Create Valuable Content

It all starts by having great content that your target audience finds useful and interesting. If you fail in this regard, all of the business blog marketing techniques in the world can’t save you. Start by creating a blogging content plan to hone in on your key message, topics, etc.

2. Network With Others

Once you’ve got plenty of great content on your blog (see item #1), you should share it with others in your industry. Direct competitors probably won’t link to your blog — unless it’s really interesting. But many others will. These links you acquire from your networking efforts will help you boost your blog rankings and traffic levels at the same time.

3. Send a News Blast

While you’re telling the world about your blog, why not send a press release about it as well? You can use a website like PRWeb.com to publish a press release online, and it will probably get picked up by Google News, Yahoo News, and other channels. After the initial blast, you can seek out industry websites that cover your field or industry, and you can send the release to the editors of those websites as well. Public relations is a highly effective but often-overlooked aspect of business blog marketing, so experiment with it for yourself.

4. Focus On Usability

There are thousands of widgets, gadgets, plugins, and other bells and whistles available for blogs these days. But just because a certain tool exists doesn’t mean you need it on your business blog. Exercise restraint. Keep your blog clean and inviting. If you put so many “toys” on your blog that it hurts your readers’ eyeballs, then there’s no point worrying about your business blog marketing efforts … nobody will spend much time on your site anyway.

5. Keep it Fresh and Current

If somebody visits your blog and sees that the most “recent” post is a month old. They won’t be inclined to (A) stick around, (B) tell others about the blog, or (C) participate in any way. So keep your blog relatively current. Post something new and useful at least once a week, or more often if you can manage it. The same goes for the quality of your content too. So write about interesting topics, and write in a clear and engaging manner. I’m not saying you have to write like Faulkner — in fact, it’s better if you don’t. I’m just saying your blog should be interesting and easy to read.

So there you have it, an initial plan-of-attack for your business blog marketing program. Like I said, it doesn’t really matter how you get started as long as you start somewhere. Don’t be a victim of analysis paralysis, and don’t be afraid to blaze a new path with your blog. The best business blogs are often created by people with the courage to try something new. So go get ‘em, tiger!

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