Free Marketing: 101 Low and No-Cost Ways to Grow Your Business, Online and Off

CHAPTER 10

BLOGGING FOR CUSTOMERS

I haven't seen any statistics on the subject, but I can venture a guess with great certainty on the matter all the same. I would estimate that somewhere around 90 percent of all blogs aren't being read by anyone other than the author and perhaps a small number of other readers.

Starting a blog just because you can, or just because you want to will not lead to great things in and of itself.

In other parts of this book I discuss how to grow a loyal audience and following online. Once you have started to establish a loyal online following it makes sense to start a blog, but until then you'll likely find it difficult to grow a following by blogging alone. While there are some success stories that started with a blog, most of the time other traffic and publicity generation efforts were required.

So who needs a blog anyway?

For me and many other successful online marketers and businesses, a blog or blog type of web page serves as a gathering point for the community of readers and followers that are interested in the content that the expert regularly posts.

If you, or someone in your organization, is ready to commit to the task of engaging with your prospects by creating relevant information on a regular basis, then it's time for a blog.

Your blog is the home base of your activity. It is a history of your progress, a gathering place for your most loyal followers, and potentially a great income stream for your business as your audience grows.

BLOGGING ...