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Weigh in on the blog debate!

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CraigL

posts: 9051

Jan 21, 2008 5:52 PM ET Quote Report Abuse

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Liz, I think the comprehensive point you`re making is good, and based on a combination of variables. 1) IF a small business has a Web site, 2) IF that Web site is well-made and functional, and 3) IF that site is mostly static, then a blog could probably help a lot.

On the other hand, a psychological question comes to mind. *Why* does the business owner have a static site, and no blog?

Maybe we could draw a correllation between small-business owners who like to sell, promote, and market, and their having a successful blog? Then there would be other small-business owners who don`t know how, or don`t like to promote themselves, and so they have no blog.

If so, then the question would be what is causing the success of the first type: the blog, or their personal interest in self-promotion, sales, and marketing?

LizFuller

posts: 7

Jan 21, 2008 7:06 PM ET Quote Report Abuse

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Hi Craig

Those are good points - some small business owners are going to be more adept at self-promotion and their business goals are going to align more with a blog. It`s a point I make in my post - no business should take on a one-size fits all marketing strategy. There are some that would be successful with a variety of marketing strategies, due to their nature. And there are some that are not going to be successful with a blog no matter how much it "aligns" with their business.

I worry about the businesses that feel they have to have a traditional website because "everyone does" and then they don`t get much value out of it because it just sort of sits there. I think that is Nikole`s concern as well - that busines owners will just jump on the blogging bandwagon without stopping to consider whether it is right for them.

My problem is the number of people discouraging business owners from blogging unless they fit a preconceived notion of the type of business that would benefit from a blog. I think it is too new and has too many creative angles - for us to be limiting it at this point. And, it is so cheap - if you can`t try out a blog for free or nearly free - then you just aren`t doing it right. So to me, it`s worth the experiment - who are we trying to protect? and from what?

Liz

vwebworld

posts: 1237

Jan 21, 2008 10:04 PM ET Quote Report Abuse

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It doesn`t matter if 1, 10, or 500 gas stations have a blog. Just because most do not have a blog, does that mean you (as a gas station owner) should not have one?

Perhaps it is another reason to have a blog? Beating your competition; connecting with your customer; and finding new customers.

~Roland

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Web Design | Best Beef Jerky | ecommerce articles | Follow vwebworld on Twitter

LizFuller

posts: 7

Jan 21, 2008 10:28 PM ET Quote Report Abuse

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I agree Craig - there will come a time when having a blog will be the norm - or at least nothing remarkable. But right now, with so few doing it - the fact of having a blog is remarkable in and of itself - then if it can generate a sense of community and increased sales - it will get even more publicity.

nhgnikole

posts: 2660

Jan 22, 2008 1:16 PM ET Quote Report Abuse

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Hey Liz, welcome to SuN! I`m glad this has become such a fun debate. I`m loving all the opinions from both sides.

This notion keeps coming up about static sites vs blogs, and really ... I don`t think that distinction is there anymore. I saw this in a comment on the businessandblogging site too ... about building a blog vs building a static site. That doesn`t exist. You can build the whole website in WordPress as your CMS and whether or not you use the blogging feature, it`s there.

Which also gets me into the point of free blogs vs not free blogs ... for example, I am currently using WordPress to build a site for 2 different customers. One will use it for a mostly static site that will also have a newsletter feeds, and the other will have a static site with a Q&A feed. Would you call either of them a blog? No, but they do have easily updated content thanks to WordPress as a CMS, they both have RSS feeds, and they both can be maintained by their respective owners. So I hear the argument of "if you have a site already, why not just link to a free blog?" And to that I say, "You bought your site already, why not just put it into WordPress and manage your own content and feeds from the same admin?" There is NO REASON why a WordPress site would cost you any more than a static website ... if I am already building something in templates, it is no different to build it in WP templates.

LizFuller

posts: 7

Jan 22, 2008 1:26 PM ET Quote Report Abuse

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Hi Nikole

I absolutley agree and that was what I was trying to express.

Unfortunately what I am seeing on gas station sites (and what I have seen from some of my clients) is that people are investing considerable sums of money in a site because they think they should have one - but they don`t even have an internet strategy or understand what one will do for them.

I would much prefer to see them try it out with a free wordpress site (whether they use the blog option or not) and grow it organically as they find what fits with them. I also find that a lot of people don`t really understand websites in the abstract, so the idea of building one (at minimal cost) and showing them what it can do, will help them make a better decision.

If as part of that, they want to experiment with a blog, they can - but it is at very low risk.

Liz

studiocherie

posts: 68

Jan 22, 2008 2:43 PM ET Quote Report Abuse

Points: 0 Vote

As a business owner and someone who does market products on the web as well as in brick and mortar stores, my issues with blogging are time and image.

You say it costs little to create and maintain a blog, do you not value your time?

I do touch down on blogs written by people in my industry and I think that some of them bring down the value of their product by sounding unprofessional. The blogs I like to read are written and maintained by professionals like Nikole. I love all of the relevant links she posts on her blog. She could call it "The Encyclopedia of Marketing According to Nikole."

I do not think having a blog is for every business owner, but I do think being mentioned on other peoples blogs (OPB) is a viable solution for popping up on the search engines. When I google myself, much of what I see popping up is mentions on OPB. I have no idea who most of these people are, but I am glad they are talking about my products. I think that will probably be better for my business in the long run than if I put time into blogging myself. That frees me up to expand my line, and my brick and mortar contacts.

I received an email this morning from a professional blogger who mentioned one of my products today. Here is the link.

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Warm Regards,
Cherie

Quality accessories for you and baby, made in USA
Studio Cherie

LizFuller

posts: 7

Jan 22, 2008 2:58 PM ET Quote Report Abuse

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To clarify - I never said every business needs a blog. I did object to "experts" stating that blogging was not suitable for the majority of businesses. I think there is a lot greater opportunity than is currently being used (estimates for small business is 5%, for large businesses is 8%).

I did also say that it is something that all businesses should consider before dismissing out of hand. They should take it in context of their own business goals,budget and opportunity cost. I do not propose one size fits all marketing - or unilateral dismissal of marketing techniques, either.

There are many ways to increase visibility via blogging - having your own, commenting on others, having your products reviewed by others, posting flickrs, podcasts, videos, etc. I think more businesses should consider these in their overall marketing strategy.

studiocherie

posts: 68

Jan 22, 2008 5:44 PM ET Quote Report Abuse

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Liz,

I think your last paragraph says it all. Blogging can be a very powerful tool and there are more ways to use it than having your own. I agree that more businesses could use it in their marketing strategy.

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Warm Regards,
Cherie

Quality accessories for you and baby, made in USA
Studio Cherie

LizFuller

posts: 7

Jan 22, 2008 7:57 PM ET Quote Report Abuse

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Hi Cherie

I took a look at the link you provided to ClassyMommy - her blog is a great way for small businesses to get more exposure. I like that term as well - OPB - Other People`s Blogs -catchy!

Thanks for sharing.

Liz

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