Welcome to Part 3 of a continuing series on small business blogging. Part 1 answers the question, "What is a business blog?" Part 2 describes business blogging benefits and risks. In this part, I'll help you start your business blog.
You CAN Have A Successful Business Blog
You will achieve top results if you launch your new business blog carefully. However, if you've already started your blog and things are not going as well as you had hoped, it's okay - don't panic! You can improve your blog quickly and make its birth (or rebirth) a success.
What to Do BEFORE You Start A Small Business Blog
1. Read the first two parts of this series to make sure you understand what a business blog is and can identify some major blogging risks / benefits.
2. Read all you can about how to start a blog. There are many online articles on this topic. There are also many excellent published books and articles you should consider reading. A simple Google search for articles about starting blogs or a quick Amazon search for books on the subject will reveal many good sources of relevant information. You can't do what you don't know, so make a habit out of reading regularly about what you're getting into.
3. Start a practice blog. Get a free Blogger account, for example, or a free WordPress.com blog and put it through its paces. Play around a bit - learn what you can about blog design and publishing. How long does each task take you?
4. Join conversations and form relationships. Find blogs and websites that relate to your business and start leaving comments and contacting bloggers and webmasters alike. Get to know people who matter in the niche you'll be joining.
How to Launch A Business Blog The Right Way
1. Choose a URL. Either give your small business blog its own domain or set it up on a subdomain of your company website. Whatever you do, make the name unique and don't feel obligated to actually call it a "blog."
2. Install blogging software. I recommend WordPress.
3. Set up a clean, presentable design. Simple is fine.
4. Write an initial batch of posts. 10 or 20 is enough. Publish them quietly when you are about to launch.
5. Call and email your friends in high places. Get a launch posse ready to tell the world the moment you've launched.
6. Launch the sucker. Put out a press release, email everyone else you know, knock doors in the neighborhood, etc.
7. Stand in the doorway and welcome new visitors. Answer blog comments promptly. Start getting to know your new readers. Respond to blog posts and articles about your launch and your company. Be cordial; be quick.
You did it. Now all you have left is to keep things humming. :)
Start A Business Blog: Related Articles
- 21 Surefire Tips for a Successful Blog Launch
- How Not to Launch a Blog
- How To Launch a New Blog The Easy Way
Get Small Business Blog Help From Know More Media
Would you like some help with your business blog? Please leave a comment below or contact me directly (call eight zero one, nine three eight, seven thousand or email easton at knowmoremedia dot youknowwhat) to get personalized business blogging help!
Comments/questions are welcome below!
Good post! Small businesses who are just setting up their blogs for the first time will certainly benefit from this series.
Posted by: Laura | September 19, 2007 9:24 AM | Permalink to Comment