Blogging isn't easy -- and certainly not for individuals who don't have the capacity or desire to commit their minds and time to a long-term cause. In an age where everyone and their mother has access to Blogger, Tumblr, Posterous or other flavor-of-the-year services, getting your blog to be well-trafficked, highly syndicated and massively popular is no easy task.
Know this before you consider blogging as a marketing option for your business: Even though you can write a blog, doesn't mean you should. Not every business needs one, no matter what the "one-size-fits-all" startup books and "experts" say. In fact, for most businesses, it will be an utter waste of precious selling time that will not meet your expectations. Cutting corners or half-assing this exercise will do nothing more than lead you to produce advertorial dribble.
Should you decide that blogging is the right marketing vehicle for you and/or your business, know that there are many tried-and-true ways to organically build traction, create awareness over time and achieve value for your small business. I asked a panel of successful young entrepreneurs how to ensure that your blogging efforts remain on point, effective and primed for success.
1. Become an Industry Expert
- Stephanie Kaplan
Company: HerCampus.com
Twitter: @StephanieKaplan
Facebook: Stephanie Kaplan
2. Always Be Adding Value
- Devesh Dwivedi
Company: BreakingThe9to5Jail.com
Twitter: @Break9to5Jail
Facebook: BreakingThe0to5Jail
3. Blogging Is a Big Commitment
- Matt Mickiewicz
Company: 99designs.com
Twitter: @sitepointmatt
4. Reader Loyalty Cannot Be Bought
- Kent Healy
Company: TheUncommonLife.com
Twitter: @Kent_Healy
Facebook: Kent Healy
5. Network, Share and Repeat
- Ashley Bodi
Company: BusinessBeware.biz
Twitter: @businessbeware
Facebook: Ashley Bodi
6. Be Passionate, and Show Your Readers Some Love
- Adam Toren
Company: YoungEntrepreneur.com
Twitter: @thebizguy
Facebook: Young Entrepreneurs
7. Solve Your Readers' Problems
- Natalie MacNeil
Company: She Takes on the World
Twitter: @nataliemacneil
Facebook: She Takes on the World
8. Don't Start a Blog, Just Write for Other Blogs
- Eric Bahn
Company: BeatTheGMAT.com
Twitter: @beatthegmat
Facebook: BeatTheGMAT
9. Know Thy Audience
- Elizabeth Saunders
Company: Real Life E®
Twitter: @RealLifeE
Facebook: TimeCoaching
10. Remember the Two-Month Rule
- Ryan Paugh
Company: Brazen Careerist
Twitter: @ryanpaugh
Facebook: Ryan Paugh
11. Interview the Big Dogs
- Jared O'Toole
Company: Under30CEO.com
Twitter: @JaredOToole