The importance of blogging in business

The Internet has revolutionized the world and blogging has revolutionized the online world.  While blogging can seem like a daunting task, there’s no need to worry – it’s easy to get the hang of it.

A blog is essentially on online diary and helps you reach out to consumers by talking about things that are of interest to them and will peak their curiosity.  Speaking of topics that are important to them creates an online dialogue with your readers.

Blogging is a good way to keep your web presence relevant and current.  Additionally, it’s free and cheap.

A blog is a great way to get the word out about your business or upcoming sales or events you may be hosting.  In essence, it’s a great public relations solution that is quick, effective and inexpensive.  You can also highlight your current inventory.

A blog also offers a chance for free feedback from your customers.  By leaving comments on your blog, consumers tell you how you are helping them and what they want to hear about in future blogs.  Who doesn't want to know what customers are thinking?  A blog also gives you the opportunity to respond directly to customers' comments and questions, making it easy build a relationship with them.

Setting up a blog can help you build customer loyalty and increase your site traffic because it keeps them coming back for new content and information.  Give your customers a reason to stay engaged with your business by keeping them apprised on new products and services.

A blog can also help you introduce your business to new customers that you weren’t reaching before.  “When you blog about your company and its products you are increasing your web presence and making it easier for search engines to find your products and include them in search results.  Organic search is an excellent way to reach new customers who wouldn't have found you otherwise.”

Additionally, blogging can add revenue.  Once you’ve become a blogging expert, you can set up an account with online advertising to sell space on your blog.  You’ve seen ads before on others websites.  They show up on pages you visit and are relevant to your initial search.  “Once the ad code is set up on your blog, you just sit back and watch the clicks earn money.”

Blogging has its own unique style and voice.  Be a reader of other blogs to grab inspiration.  Blogging is like having a conversation with your readers; it’s different than the way one might write an article so feel free to communicate in a relaxed way.

Add personal touches to your blog because it humanizes you.  Talk to your readers rather than lecturing them with boring statistics.

Additionally, blogs give you a personality.  “What better way to humanize your company than a blog that talks and interacts like a human being?”  Blogs are an excellent way to brand your company.  They aren’t corporate websites; they are meant to be more casual and engaging.  Bloggers relate to their customers and their unique struggles and share solutions to said problems.

Blogs allow you to become a thought-leader for your industry.  Strong bloggers update their readers with cutting edge information about their industry and give them useful tips accordingly. 

Additionally, blogs are very cost effective.  They take little time and money to set up and since a blog is conversational in tone they are usually easy to write – one can see it as a sort of stream of consciousness.

Here are some articles about why blogging in business is indeed a good idea:

“5 Reasons Your Business Should Be Blogging”: http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/5-reasons-your-business-should-be-blogging/

“3 reasons Blogging is Important for Your Business”: http://propelmarketing.com/blog/2012/3-reasons-blogging-important-your-business/

“5 reasons Why Blogging is Better for Your Business than Social Networking”: http://inspirationfeed.com/articles/blogging/5-reasons-why-blogging-is-better-for-your-business-than-social-networking/

“6 Reasons a Blog should be the Center of any Social Content Strategy”: http://www.business2community.com/blogging/6-reasons-a-blog-should-be-the-center-of-any-social-content-strategy-0189727

Until next time…

Staying motivated in business...

As a small business owner it’s easy to become frustrated and lose some of that initial motivation you had at the start of your new venture.  Trying to be successful can put a lot of pressure on you to the point where you might even want to give up.  That said, keeping your business motivation is vital for keeping you on the path to success.  So how exactly does one stay motivated in business?

Keep track of your progress and set goals for yourself.  If you want to run a top-notch business, you have to set clear goals for yourself and work to achieve them.  Keeping tabs on yourself along the way will help ensure that you’re staying the course.  You need both long- and short-term goals for yourself.

Keep the big picture in mind.  Remind yourself why you started your company to begin with and what you’re looking to achieve in the long run.  Keep your eye on the finish line.

Set rewards for your achievements.  This is a great way to motivate employees as well.  For each goal you meet, set a reward so that you can continue to incentive yourself and your co-workers.  This will keep everyone pushing forwards to make your more company successful.  Set a timeline for these said goals and keep revisiting them.  Make adjustments as needed and stay focused on crossing each one off your list.

Find businesses to network with regularly.  Look for other small businesses that complement yours and form a relationship with them.  You can bounce ideas of one another and motivate each other as a way to keep your ideas fresh.  Having someone to turn to who has been through the same struggles can be liberating.

Remind yourself why you started your business in the first place.  Re-find that passion you had initially that led you to starting up your own venture.  Get back to basics.  

Stay organized.  Set a daily routine and stick to it.  If you have a to-do list to check off, you will feel motivated to do so and feel accomplished each time you do.  A messy schedule can leave you feeling confused and ready to throw in the towel and makes concentration more difficult.  Avoid feeling overwhelmed at all costs.

Look for motivational aids.  Attend seminars, read business books, listen to motivational speakers.  “These are good at increasing your interest and getting you pumped up for tackling any obstacles” that might come your way.  Maybe even try picking your favorite motivational quote and looking at it daily to derive inspiration.

Develop successful habits.  Sit down at the start of every day and plan your schedule so you know what to expect.  Eliminate stress and keep things simples.  “The more complicated things get, the more stressed out you will be and stress can kill your motivation quickly.”

Remind yourself that a lack of motivation is simply a temporary state.  Nothing lasts forever.  The universe is constantly shifting and changing.  Remember that there’s light at the end of the tunnel.

Keep in mind what you’re fighting for.  Sometimes it’s helpful to create tangible reminders of why you started your business in the first place.  Focus on the reasons you started your business to begin with.

Get help before you go into crisis mode.  Reach out to friends and family for emotional support.  Keep a strong head on your shoulders and your wits about you.

Lastly and most importantly, believe in yourself!  Sometimes you lose faith in your ability to achieve something or see it through to the end.  Don’t give up!  Keep fighting!  Don’t think about your failures; remind yourself of your successes.

Here are some articles you might want to check out for keeping yourself motivated in business:

Staying Motivated: Find the energy you need to succeed with strong goals and clear vision”: http://www.business.com/guides/staying-motivated-1359/

“5 Easy Ways to Stay Motivated”: http://www.inc.com/geoffrey-james/5-easy-ways-to-stay-motivated.html

How To Stay Motivated When Business Is Slow”: http://www.streetdirectory.com/travel_guide/1629/business_and_finance/how_to_stay_motivated_when_business_is_slow.html

“5 Essential Ways Entrepreneurs Can Stay Motivated & Win”: http://www.newbizblogger.com/online-business-chat/entrepreneurs-can-stay-motivated-and-win

Until next time…

 

 

Keeping your customer happy...

Keeping customers happy is the key to keeping your business alive and profitable.  Effective, responsive and proactive customer service could mean the difference between success and failure for your business. Companies lose billions of dollars a year because unhappy patrons take their business elsewhere after a bad experience.  “At its core, excellent customer service is really about meeting a consumer’s needs with a quality product and exceeding their service expectations in a memorable way.  Today these efforts are no longer optional; they’re imperative for business survival.”  So how to keep your customers happy and coming back for more?

Stand out.  Think critically about what separates you from the competition and how you can better capitalize on that to meet your customer’s demands.

Constantly communicate to your clients.  Engage them.  Be attentive.  It costs five times as much to attract a new customer as it does to keep an existing one.  Almost 70% of customers stop doing business if they receive poor service.  Experts say that a happy customer will tell at least five people about your company if they are pleased and that number has grown exponentially with the rise in social media.

Always keep your promises.  There’s nothing worse than being lied to.  If you promise something to a customer, follow through.  Do whatever you have to to make good on your word.  It only takes one mistake to lose all credibility with a consumer.

Exceed expectations.  Take things a step further and go beyond what your customer originally expected from you in terms of service.  “Your goal is to make the customer pause for a moment to say ‘Wow. This company really went the extra mile for me.’”

Reward loyalty.  Think about giving repeat customers special discounts.  Even sending a special gift card or thank you note can go a long way and make them feel appreciated so they keep coming back for more.

Be consistently great.  “Consistency is one of the most overlooked aspects in achieving customer satisfaction.”  Customers want to know exactly what they’re going to get from you when they buy your products and services.  Don’t make them doubt you by being inconsistent.  Strive to be great every time.

Ask for feedback.  Be upfront with your customers.  If you really have an interest in keeping them happy, go right out and ask them what it is they need, want and expect from you.  Try sending them satisfaction surveys where they can grade your performance and make suggestions on how to improve the overall customer experience.  Make sure you actually listen to your customer and take their comments into consideration.

Be prepared to solve problems immediately.  When a customer complains, you should always have a plan in place to satisfy their concerns and appease them.  Don’t waste time trying to pass blame on someone else or by arguing with the customer.  Your customers want to be validated for their loyalty.  Don’t forget that.

Make yourself accessible to your customer or in essence, be easy to contact.  Nothing is more frustrating for a consumer than when they can’t get a hold of you for a question or complaint.  Publish contact information, store locators and business hours on your website and do your best to respond to phone calls and emails quickly.

Hire properly.  Good staff can be the difference between excellent customer service and a poor customer experience.  Especially if you own a store, hire employees that are friendly and personable and willing to go the extra mile to improve a customer’s overall experience.

Lastly and quite possibly most important: Stay consistent.  Make sure everything, including the overall experience, maintains your standards – and is something people will want to return for.

Here are some articles you might want to check out on keeping your customer happy:

“Keep your Customers happy and they’ll keep you in business!”: http://www.zoho.com/crm/blog/keep-your-customers-happy-and-theyll-keep-you-in-business.html

“Your Customers are Cranky! 6 Proven Ways to Fix Their Frowns!” http://www.businessknowhow.com/marketing/satisfaction.htm

“Keep Your Customers Happy – The Customer Service Infographic”: http://itthing.com/keep-your-customers-happy-the-customer-service-infographic

Until next time…