8 Hour Blogging Bootcamp

Are you marketing your business on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, or any of the other social networking sites? Google+ is the newest social network to hit the Internet and it hit hard too! Over 10 million users in about three weeks time and these users are posting approximately one billion posts per day!  But if you’re not taking advantage of these tools are you losing out and falling behind? How are you telling people about your website and blog?

In mid-July I facilitated my 8 Hour Blogging Bootcamp and had a healthy number of business owners in the class. I taught, they asked questions, I answered them, they learned. Everything went according to MY plan – until the last segment of the class.

Here’s what happened.  As I began talking about sharing your blog links with your Facebook friends, one student said, “But, I’m not on Facebook”.  As it turned out, he wasn’t using ANY social networking sites.  My life flashed in front of my eyes! What? You’re not networking online?  I understand that not every business owner is marketing their business online; what I don’t understand is WHY they’re not taking advantage of this FREE tool which gives each and every business owner the opportunity to build trusting relationships with potential customers they’ve haven’t even met yet, and solidifying relationships with those who have already made purchases.

I do have to commend my student for at least understanding that he needed to have a business blog, and that learning how to build his website on a blog platform is the way to go. Websites built on blog platforms are highly optimized for search engines. Plus the consistent engagement with readers via blog posts and comments not only help to rank you higher on search pages, but help you be seen as the expert, or thought leader, in your industry.

But just because you have a business blog and you write amazing, valuable blog content doesn’t mean people are going to find your blog. You have to tell people you have a blog.  And what’s the best way to tell people? By talking to your online community, of course!

You want your blog to be read by people who are interested in what you have to say. The easiest way to drive quality traffic to your value-filled blog posts would be to announce them to your Facebook friends and “Likers”, Twitter followers and Linkedin network connections – for starters.

Please don’t think I’m telling you that you need to be on every social network on the planet. However; you do need to have an internet presence.  Yes, you ARE losing out if you don’t get on board – and soon.

My suggestion is to choose one venue to start and become familiar with it. Generally, I suggest Facebook, but it really depends on the business you’re in. If you’re more likely to find your target market on LinkedIn, the professional networking site, then by all means get yourself a Linkedin account.

Remember that famous line in Field of Dreams? “If you build it, they will come”. NOT TRUE! No one will come if they don’t know you’re out there. Be present, build authentic relationships, and monitor what’s being said about you and your business.

As you are building up your online community share the links to your blog posts. Ask your online community to post comments on your blog and encourage them to share your blog with their community.  Tell them and they will come!

How are you telling people about your blog?

Eydie
Next 8 Hour Blogging Bootcamp will be on September 16, 2011. Register Here!