Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

I would be curious to see if anyone has had success with using a blog to support or generate business.  I would also appreciate any feedback on my blog:

www.daily-business-life.blogspot.com

Thanks!

RobZ -

Here`s some suggestions you might consider:

• Use press releases to announce your blog - submit to sites like PRWeb, PRLeap and to editors of magazines, newspapers, and webzines in your industry. Also include your blog URL in any other press missives being sent from your firm.

• Register or submit your blog to industry-specific or regional directories.  For example, my blog is listed at Designers Who Blog, OrBlogs (a directory of blogs by Oregonians) and many more.

• Make use of blog resource sites such as Technorati
or Blog Flux (there are many other such sites) and make use of appropriate "tags" in your blog formatting for greater search engine capabilities (I just did a Google search for "blog-omotives" and got 63,000 link findings)

• Use your blog URL in your forum and email signatures and all printed materials going out of your office

• Include your blog URL in any online profiles

• Submit your blog entries to other related blog sites and publications.  If I submit something to another resource I make sure it includes the credit line "Originally appeared on http://blog-omotives.blogspot.com/"

• If you`ve written articles for other publications or sites post blog entries with the appropriate links to the article - and include your blog URL in any bio information submitted to publications or sites publishing your articles.

• Link to other blogs or web sites related to your industry

• Posting my blog entries within my MySpace profile brings a lot of additional traffic to my blog and web site.

My blog has resulted in numerous potential clients coming my way either via my blog or website, publications and writers contacting me for input for articles or books, and other interesting business proposals.  It also receives additional attention from the media that I`m sometimes not even aware of taking place.  Just this weekend another designer made me aware of a local business publication writing about my blog.

I took a look at your blog and found it to be a great start.  If I were to have any initial criticism it`s that I find the Google ads at the top of the blog page distracting.  Having opted to not have ads on my blog, I don`t know if it`s possible for you to move the ads to a side column allowing the focus to be more on what you have to say/write.

Good luck in the blog-o-sphere!

- J.






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Jeff Fisher | Jeff Fisher LogoMotives | Tweet! Tweet!

I have a hobby blog (see my sigfile below), and it would certainly be nice to get some business out of it. But my interest in spending money on promoting my hobbies is down there between slim and none.

So, here`s how I`ve promoted my blog without spending any money:

1. I created a flyer and took it around to groups where people might be interested. And I`m not too picky about these. I figure that if the people there know me, then they might be interested in my blog.

2. I placed a free ad in the local food co-op newspaper. I`m a longtime co-op member, and know for a fact that quite a few of my fellow co-opers are interested in things like water harvesting.

3. I`ve sent news releases, but can`t report any publicity. Yet.

4. I went to the major search sites, found the "submit URL" links, and registered my blog. I`m currently #1 in Google for water harvesting blogs.

5. I tell people and organizations I`ve blogged about that they`re in my blog.

Hope this helps!


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Design & Consulting | | Water Harvesting

My blog is an important part of my marketing plan.  Not only does it bring me business from time to time, but it positions me in the industry.  I don`t do an "opt-in" newsletters for non-ScrapBiz members, instead, I use my blog to tell them about me, my business and my opinions on the scrapbook industry.  It`s my newsletter substitute. 

~Kim

ScrapBiz

 

Thank you all for your very helpful replies!  I am in the process of following up on your suggestions.

Thanks again,

Rob Zelikson