Attention Business Owners: Start Blogging!

As a customer, how likely are you to purchase something in a store with someone breathing a sales pitch down your neck?

What if you read a review on it?

What if the review was simple, enjoyable, and engaging, and most of all something to which you could relate?  

This is how business owners are gaining a bigger footprint in the virtual world: Blogging.  Whether it's a Mommy blog or a small business selling t-shirts, I'd be more inclined to purchase based on the latter.   I have to feel some sort of connection that draws me to the blog, and essentially to the product.

Just recently, I was talking with a friend over the difference of the sales associate's perspective versus the blogger's perspective.  Doesn't it make sense that you would listen to a parent who not only writes the review but uses the product? 

Blogging is a great way to connect with your readers and potential customers.  For a small business, it's a way for you to show them a different side of you.  There are many ways, through social media, advertisement, and the traditional brick-and-mortar sales tactics.
 Read this next line carefully: Blogging adds value to a business.

How can this be?

When you think about it, a blog is merely another way to engage with their readers and/or potential customers. 

Isn't that what social media is for as well?

How much can you really say to your followers in 140 characters?  Just enough.  Do you really want to expound on product reviews or DIY tutorials on Facebook?  The answer is no.

You need more meat to your why.  Social media is powerful, but imagine having the bulk of your business landing on a web page.  There is so much more potential! 

This is why blogs are great.  You use your social media to draw in the readers.  Point them to your blog, where you put all of the meat and potatoes.  The concept is really as simple as that.

Blogs give business owners the ability to let readers into their "every day."  To invite them inside, beyond the brick-and-mortar walls of the business, to show something to the readers that not everyone gets to see.  

Business owners need to become bloggers, or become better bloggers.  Rebekah Radice wrote an excellent blog post on why blog-less business owners may be left behind coughing on their competition's dust.  I could not agree with her more.  Check out her post and take her advice.  Don't get left behind.