Small Business Marketing
Increasing Traffic to Your Company Blog
Written by Amy Bax for Gaebler Ventures
So, you have decided to start social networking online to promote your business. Now how do you attract readers? We've got some great tips on how to create awareness and get people to read what you have to say.
You've got a company blog. Congratulations!
Let's assume you understand how starting a blog can help to increase awareness about your company and what you offer. Now, the most important thing is to figure out ways to make sure people know about it and see value in visiting your blog.
There are many ways to get started in attracting a target audience and getting them to log in without having to spend a lot of money. Here are a few ideas that are inexpensive or free to get started.
Be a Resource for Industry News
Pay attention to what is going on in your industry. If something relevant in the news or industry happens, make sure to comment on it. It will call other bloggers in the industry to respond. People who may read other blogs, but do not know about yours, may find themselves clicking to your page to get additional information and like what they see.
Search Engine Optimize Your Blog
Use tags and keywords from the text of your blog. This increases the searchability of what you are writing in search engines. So when someone is looking for advice or specific information, your blog may pop up in their search results.
Teach and Teach Well
Simplify concepts. People will appreciate the steps you take to explain and make sure they understand new concepts and technologies. If you are trying to position yourself as an industry leader, this is an easy way to get people to realize it. They will be grateful for extra steps you take to make sure they understand a why something happens or a process that causes it. Because they know you can explain it to them, they may go back to read more about it or come to you with questions in the future.
Engage Your Audience
Ask questions in your blog that will call readers to action and respond. Engaging conversations on your own site, not only just other's sites, will keep people coming back to respond not only to you, but what others have to say on the topic.
They will appreciate the fact you want to hear from them and encourage feedback. Creating a dialogue will not only help you find out more about your target audience, but can lead to better customer relationships, improved customer service, and an overall more personal experience that can be attached to the product or service you provide.
Participate and Promote
Join online communities that are relevant to your blog or target audience. By doing so, you are surrounding yourself with people who are already interested in and passionate about the industry or subject you are addressing.
Include your blog address on all of your email signatures, offline advertising, marketing, and literature that you pass out. People may become interested to see what you have to say. For example, if people visit your physical store, attach a card with your blog address to their receipt or leave it with their bill in a restaurant. They'll be sure to notice it. By going offline, you may attract a whole new audience to the online world of blogging. People who had never used blogs before as a way to find more information may start to log on and find out how useful they can be.
Amy Bax is interested in providing innovative informational resources to entrepreneurs. She is currently an MBA student at the University of Missouri - Columbia.
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