Blogs and social media are valuable marketing tools. But these things are new in the world, and many would-be internet entrepreneurs have not yet identified the fine line between using them to gain business and using them to alienate friends and drive away potential customers and allies. To that end, here are some simple tips that can help you distinguish the difference.
What a Business Blog Is
If your product had a voice and a personality, it’s that voice and personality that have a chance to shine through in your blog. Whether you sell funny hats or funeral home services, your blog provides a place for web travelers to pause for a minute before moving on. Effective keyword strategy can help potential visitors find you, but once they’ve been drawn to your door, you want to offer the warm reception and lively conversation that will make them stay. Think of your blog as a comfortable place of relaxation and personal connection between you and your internet guests.
What a Blog is Not
A business blog is not a great place to directly pitch products and services. While the rest of your website is a place of business, your blog is something more like a salon, in the Victorian sense. Visitors should be able to linger there without feeling pushed or rushed. The kind of people who read long, bossy blogs are the kind of people who would rather watch infomercials than movies, and who do not exist.
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