You started that business that you have been dreaming about for a while. A passion of yours is finally fulfilled and you are ready to take it to the next level. You are wondering how to build your brand, how to showcase your brand and how to become an expert in your field.

You have spent hours and hours designing the perfect product and service. The time and dedication it takes to be a small business owner fills you up because you are now producing something that means the world to you. You now want to get it out into the world in an even bigger way that you already have.

But how do you do that?

How do you share your passion in a world that already feels like it is full of everything?

I felt that way when I first started. When I had finally figured out what I wanted to do and how to do it, I felt small compared to the other businesses already out there. (There is that word again, compared.)

I know that I needed to realize that my business may have been similar to others around me but we were all different. Whether that difference was in our whys or small differences in what we offered, there is a reason that I stood out and attracted the clients that I did. That goes for my current business. My story, my why and my business is different from EVERY other blogging coach out there.

It just means having a plan to showcase that difference.

HOW BLOGGING IS THE KEY TO YOUR BUSINESS SUCCESS

Oh there she goes again, talking about blogging but hey, that is kind of my business. I tell every person that I meet that they should have a blog. Starting a blog when you already have a business established is different than starting a blog when you are starting it for a personal journey. (Now that doesn’t mean that you can’t turn it into a money-making blog or a business.)

So you are probably wondering WHY blogging can help your business succeed. There are many reasons but here we will talk about 7.

1| Blogging sets you up as being the expert. This means that you are consistently creating new content that will help to show how you are the expert. You will give away expert advice on your blog. You will give them tips and tricks for the niche that you are in. You are showing them that you know what you are talking about. Plus it is a great place to showcase your own products and services.

2| It creates a connection to your clients. Now more than ever, people are wanting to buy from small businesses. They want to stop supporting the HUGE retail chains and begin to support their local community. By showcasing your business through a blog, you are letting them into your life and into your why. You are sharing your story. You are sharing your behind the scenes. You are sharing your struggles. People connect with stories. People connect with struggles. We love to see how stories end. By following you on your journey through your business, we feel like we are part of your business. We have a deeper connection to you and to your business and the products/services that you sell.

3| You have complete control over your content. Social media is such a fast-moving platform. No matter what social media you are posting on, your followers have a few minutes to see it and then sometimes it gets buried in all of the other social media posts. When you are blogging, they will always have easy access to that blog. You share your blog directly to your social media and lead your followers back to your content. Always lead them back to your content.

4| A blog increases traffic to your site. Your visitors will be on your site to read your blog and then may hop over to see what you offer in your store. A blog is a great way to get new visitors to your site.

5| You have a place to advertise your products. Your blog is there to support your business. That means that you want to showcase your products in blog posts. Now you don’t want to do this with every blog post. Overselling will scare your readers away. Create a schedule that you showcase 1 product a week on your blog. The other 1-2 times per week you are giving your readers information, teaching them and sharing parts of your story.

6| You get insight into your customers. You will begin to create relationships with your clients through your blog. You will listen to the questions that they have (these are great blog post content ideas). You will listen to their stories. You will begin to see who your ideal clients are. All of that is invaluable information to have as an entrepreneur. You can begin to gear your blog posts towards the information you are learning about them. Be engaged with them. Get to know them and let them get to know you.

7| Blogging increases your credibility. Yes, you can sell products and services but how do people actually know that you truly know what you are doing. Blogging helps you to showcase your expertise (like I mentioned above). It gives you credibility for what you are doing and what you are selling. Not only will you be selling to them through your blog, but you are also taking the time to teach them. Giving away knowledge is the best way to keep clients coming back. You are giving more to them than a big retailer is. You are giving them you, your expertise and your passion.

HOW DO YOU BEGIN BLOGGING ONCE YOU HAVE YOUR BUSINESS

This is the fun part. How do you incorporate a blog into your already established business? You create a plan. And by a plan, I mean a fun plan.

Step One | I want you to start with your why. What is the purpose for you to start blogging for your business? Is it to increase sales? Is it to increase communication with clients and future clients? Be honest here.

Step Two | Commit to how many days per week you can blog on top of running your business. Now if you need help with blogging, I can help you with that as well with my freelance blogging services. I always suggest to new bloggers to start with once a week. You can always increase it from there.

Step Three | Brainstorm some fun ideas that you can share with your readers and clients. A few examples of ideas are:

• How did you start your business
• Why did you start your business
• What was your first product
• Share the fails of products/services that you had
• Share your biggest supporters
• Showcase clients who have been with you since the beginning
• Behind the scenes
• Interview your first client and ask them why they chose your product

Have fun with your blog. The point is to let anyone who comes to your site get to know you and get insight into your business.

Step Four | Write your first blog post. It should be an introduction to who you are, what you do, why you do it.

Step Five | Map out your first month of posts. Grab a blank monthly calendar and whatever day you decided to blog on, write the topic on those days throughout the month. Now you have a plan to get your blog started.

My tip is to make sure that you set aside dedicated time to write. As a beginner, I would set aside 3-4 hours. Now I know that is a lot of time but it doesn’t all have to be at once. I actually don’t suggest it. I suggest that you write your blog post and then let it sit for a day. Come back and edit it. During your edits, you may find you need to add more information here and there.

Don’t worry about your first posts being perfect. They are not going to be. Work on getting them out and published. You can work on everything else as you go.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Don’t overthink your blog. Write and allow your clients to learn about you and get to know you on a deeper level. Share your expertise. Share your products. Share your testimonials from previous and current clients. Blogging is the perfect way to build up your business success. It isn’t something that will happen overnight. Blogging is a long term content strategy that will continue to bring clients to your business if you are being consistent.

Along with my freelance blogging services, I also offer blog management services. This is where I will edit and post your blog posts for you. Think of me as a VA specifically for your blog. I look forward to helping you build your brand through blogging.