Are You Ready to Blog?
July 21 One of the challenges of being in business is finding a way to get exposure. Much the same way that bulletin boards, community centers, and business networking groups provides a way to exchange information in traditional network marketing, blogs can be used to give information and value over the internet to those who are interested.
Most people in network marketing don’t have a personal website. Many of the companies they represent either frown on, or downright prevent distributors from creating a unique retail site. This is especially true for those companies who are under the scrutiny of government agencies regarding claims and content that is regulated. So, most of us are offered a replicated website that neither provides adequate exposure or effective conversion of product sales or enrollments. We have no control over the content and, in some cases, it can actually turn away prospective customers who want the product, but run when they see it’s network marketing.
A blog could be the perfect solution. A blog is an easy and inexpensive way to build an instant website that can attract people to you and allow for the interaction that builds relationship first.
- A blog introduces people to your “personal “ side. A potential customer does business with you or joins your team because they are attracted to you. Blogging allows you to share opinions, give recommendations, and provide valuable tips and insights into the things your clients are interested in. It makes you “human” to your readers.
- Blogs keep you updated on industry trends. You can join in blogs that keep you on top of what’s going on regarding your products, industry, and marketing to your niche. Blogs can be a great resource for training, information, and balanced research. Getting into the blogging world and reading other blogs can be one of the perks that push you to become an expert and develop your leadership skills.
- Blogging allows you to promote other products alongside your primary business. If you agree with the monetization philosophy that Ann Sieg promotes in her e-course, The Renegade Network Marketer, you will probably be adding other sources of income while you are generating leads and customers for your primary company. A blog is the perfect place to promote those things you are sharing with your potential business partners. For network marketers it’s a place you can provide value and create profit whether or not a person joins you in your business.
- Blogging potential is unlimited. Many business networking sites have blogging as an option within the network. Use it to draw other merchants and customers to you. Link your blogs for better optimization and exposure. If your primary company has a product or service, create a blog that communicates related information to your target market. You can add video, links to other web content, and customize your blog to fit your personality and image. With today’s Web 2.0 technology it’s easy to build a blog for fun and profit. With new postings regularly, it becomes an attraction magnet for guests to frequent.
- Blogging builds community. Whether it is a personal journal, a training site, full of opinions and recommendations, or a place people come for reviews, it is interactive. People can respond immediately, agree or disagree, and actually create quite a buzz about some subjects.
If you aren’t blogging, now is a great time to start. If you need an easy to use professional template for getting started I recommend Squarespace. For step by step video tutorials on how to build a blog, Renegade University will guide you through every phase including selecting domain names, search engine optimization, and writing quality content using good keywords.
Blogging is just one of the social network tools you will want to add to your “Online by Design” toolbox. Once you get going, you’ll wish you had started a long time ago.
Happy Blogging!