Indie Business Blog

Save Time, Blog Fast

A Weekly Blogging Schedule Gets the Job Done

Not only are your readers busy, but as a small business owner, so are you. Long blogs posts are good if they are meaty and full of interesting information that helps your readers learn something new or enhance how they live their lives. Every blog should have at least a few meaty posts each month.

          

But let's face it, there only so many hours in a day. Yet, in order to make your blog work for you, you have to post regularly. The more the better. I suggest aiming for 5 times a week. Before you start throwing things at me, it's not has hard as it sounds. Here's a weekly blogging schedule to get you started.

One-Way Blogging: Is it Worth It?

Does a No-Comment Blog Help or Hurt Business?

My Group Coaching sessions are getting rave reviews from small business owners who have expanded their use of email newsletters and blogs to grow their businesses. For example, Kelli Parisian of Parisian's Pure Indulgence said that my group coaching took the intimidation out of blogging. Kelli also took last month's Rock Your Email Newsletter Group Coaching, and is now publishing her newsletter regularly -- and watching new orders roll in.

          

In last week's Group Coaching, we focused on how comments at your blog build community around your brand. But not everyone invites comments at their blog. In fact, some people prohibit them entirely.

But if creating community is one of the main reasons to have a blog, why would anyone disallow comments? I turned to "one-way blogger" IBN member Lela Barker of Bella Luccè to find out.

"Post And Go" Blogging

Quick Blog Posting Method Drives Customers To Your Front Door

The biggest concern new bloggers have is whether or not the investment of time to blog is worth it. It's true that blogging consumes a lot of time. It's also true that, if done consistently, blogging change your business and your life in ways you never imagined. Take IBN member Pooka Pure & Simple, for example.

         

Dawn Fitch (bottom left in the picture) started Pooka in 2000. You can read an in-depth Pooka company spotlight here, and you can enjoy my interview of Dawn on Indie Business Radio here.

Dawn launched the Pookalitas blog in 2006, and she says that the results have been tremendous. But you don't have to take my word for it. Here's Dawn to give you the scoop.

What's It Really Like To Blog For Business?

Your Questions Answered

Last week's Blogging For Business Group Coaching session had a record number of participants from across the country! If you were among them, you know first hand how great it is to join forces with like-minded small business owners to swap tips, share war stories and encourage and lift each other up. You also know that blogging can enhance your business and add to your bottom line. But if you're still confused about what it's like to be in the trenches as you blog for business, this interview with will shed some light on the process.

            

Along with her husband Dennis, Kayla Fioravanti owns Essential Wholesale, a supplier of cosmetics basis, essential oils and other raw materials for cosmetics manufacturers to purchase and use in their own branded lines. Essential Wholesale has been an active and faithful participant and sponsor of the Indie Beauty Network since September 2000, and I had the pleasure of helping them set up and launch their blog, EssentialU, last year.

Several months later, I wondered what Kayla thinks of the whole process, whether she feels it (and I!) was worth it and how she likes blogging. Here's what she told me.

A Beginner Blogger Speaks

What's To Like About Blogging After Just One Week

Since last week's Blogging For Business Group Coaching session, I've received a lot of questions and feedback from beginner bloggers. Three of the most frequently asked questions are: (1) what to write about, (2) how much time it will take; and (3) how frequently posts should be added.

          

Since Indie Beauty Network member Joanne Tartaglino of Celtic Chairde Creations in New Brunswick, New Jersey launched the Celtic Chairde blog after last week's coaching session, I thought she was the perfect person to answer some of these questions from the perspective of a newbie blogger. (An assortment of Joanne's Irish-themed bath and body products at a street fair are displayed in the photo.) If you are still undecided about whether to launch a blog of your own, the insights shared by Joanne will help you get off the fence, one way or the other.

Top 10 Reasons Why Your Business Blog Is Dead

And What You Can Do About It

There are currently around 112.8 million blogs. That's according to Technorati's About Page, a company that reports on happenings in the blogosphere. Back in April 2007, Technorati estimated that there were over 70 million blogs. If these statistics are true, there are over 42.8 million more blogs today than there were about a year ago. I launched about 10 of those blogs and today, most of them related to my business. Today, only this one is active. The rest of them are dead.

            

I learned a lot by giving birth to so many small business blogs, and then burying them one by one. Don't make the same mistakes I did. Here are the top 10 reasons why your blog (and 9 of my old ones) is dead, and what you can do about it.

Shea Bath Blog: Kudos & Feedback

Thursday night's Group Coaching was fantastic. Attendance was double what it was last week. My presentation covered blogging basics, based on my 3 years of blogging experience and what I have learned from my blog mentors. (If you did not attend, you can enjoy some great blogging tips here.)

Afterward, we enjoyed such a lively Q&A session that, even after an hour, it was hard to drag ourselves away.

          

One of the attendees was Diana Cyrill of Shea Bath in Georgia. Diana launched Shea Bath Blog on December 7, 2007, after being inspired by Indie Beauty Network member Anne-Marie Faiola's blog. She has made a total of 10 posts, 3 of them within the last week. (Keep it up, Diana!)

Diana asked me if I would visit her blog and provide some feedback. She graciously allowed me to share my comments with you.

The 1-2-3- Blog Post Method

3 Steps To A Basic Yet Solid Blog Post

Blogging can enhance your business, but while it's easy to consider blogging, it can be more work than it's worth, especially if you don't post regularly. There are millions of blogs in the blogosphere, but only a small fraction have fresh content added at least twice a week, the bare minimum for it to make a real difference. But with everthing else you have to do, how do you fit in regular blog posts when you can barely juggle the plates already in the air?

          

I feel your pain, and while that may reassure you that you're not alone, it probably doesn't help with the problem much. That's why I am sharing this "1-2-3 Blog Post Method," offering 3 simple steps to writing a solid blog post.

My Blog Mentors

Each One Teach One

I believe in the concept of "each one teach one." If we all commit to teaching at least one person what we know, we will improve ourselves, those we teach and the world. Since joining the blogosphere in 2005, I have learned a lot, and it gives me great pleasure to share with you what I have learned, starting with my Blogging For Business Tutorials.

          

But I didn't learn how to blog by myself. I had some great mentors. If you want to improve your blog, read these blogs and study their examples. Meet my blogging mentors.

Avoid The Blogger's Kiss Of Death

Bring Something To The Party, Or Else

In my Blogging For Business Tutorials, I make it clear that blogging can help Indie Business owners expand and grow their ventures by leaps and bounds. At a minimum, a relevant comment at a blog that links to your blog or site can result in new online traffic for you. If done consistently over a period of time, blog comments can generate new sales, positive media attention, writing gigs, book contracts and everything in between!

         

But with so many online marketing "experts" encouraging you to increase traffic by contributing blog comments that include a link to your site, don't think that means you can show up empty handed. You have to also bring something of value to the party.

The Whole Hog Business Blog

Going "whole hog" means devoting yourself entirely and completely to something. As Indies, if we're not going whole hog in business, we're pretty much not going anywhere, right? And if a blog is added to the mix, the only way to make it worth our time is to go whole hog with that too. Easier said than done, I know.

          

But consider that a recent New York Times article reports that blogs are becoming an increasingly important and effective business tool. According to the article, a business blog could result in "increased business visibility, excited audiences and added revenue." Well in that case, pass me some slop! Here are some tips to help you manage a whole hog business blog of your own. Oink Oink.

Bad Blogger

I used to be a Bad Blogger. I'll get to that.

A lot of people ask me about blogging for business these days. Some are excited to learn a new way to use technology. Others are frustrated because blogging is just one more thing they don't have time for. I feel both ways depending on the day.

            

But it's a fact of life that new technologies will continue to emerge and only those businesses that make the most of them will survive. While blogging isn't exactly new, it is enjoying renewed acceptance as a credible business tool and I want to help as many people as possible learn to use it.

I used to be a Bad Blogger. In fact, I was so bad that MSNBC business blogger Eve Tahmincioglu recently blogged about what a Bad Blogger I was. Now, I'm a better blogger, even helping other people launch their own blogs. If you want a detailed overview of blogging and how it can help your business, don't miss my 4-part Blogging For Business Tutorial. If you don't have time right now to read that much, here are some things you can do to keep from being a Bad Blogger.

From Pillar To Post (Blogging For Business: Part IV)

While at the "Moms Love Lucy" taping yesterday, I shared with several women business owners how a blog could enhance their business. Their number one question was, "How do I know what to blog about?" The answer is simple: go from pillar to post. Bur first, a review.

          

We started out by looking at several benefits of blogging for business. Then we addressed several points to help you know whether or not a blog is likely to be a waste of your time. Next, we assessed the blogging tools that are available to you. If you've gotten this far, perhaps it's time to launch your blog. But how do you organize random thoughts and ideas into a cohesive, organized group of posts? By going from pillar to post of course!

Blogging Tools: An Overview (Blogging For Business: Part III)

Are you enjoying this week's Blogging For Business Tutorial? I will respond to comments or questions in the Comments section below.

               

Monday's post was all about the benefits of blogging. Yesterday, the tutorial continued with a post about how to know whether or not blogging would enhance your business. If you've decided to give it a try, don't shoot yourself in the foot by using a blogging tool that doesn't meet your needs. You have several options.

Time Is Money (Blogging For Business: Part II)

Time is money, and Indies don't have a lot of either so it's important that we invest our time and money on things that yield a tangible business benefit. Yesterday's post shared some of the benefits of blogging. Today, we discuss the other side of the coin (pun intended ...)

            

Blogging is time consuming, and since time is money, it's wise to begin blogging only after determining whether blogging will be a good investment for your business. Many Indies jump into blogging, spending hours configuring designs, resizing photographs, drafting content and inviting people to visit. After about a week, it becomes apparent that it's not as easy as it seems to blog, nor is it easy to get people to read a blog. Don't let this happen to you! Here's how to predict whether a business blog may (or may not) work for you.

Big Blog Benefits (Blogging For Business: Part I)

Since I launched Indie Business Blog nearly 4 months ago, I have received many questions from Indies who want to know if blogging can enhance their business, and if so, how to get started. Let's begin with a high level look at the benefits of blogging for business.

            

1. Your blog keeps lines of communication open with customers. A blog is a conversation tool that makes it fun and easy to talk with your customers and clients and is easier to update than a traditional website. If someone enjoys your blog, chances are they will also enjoy other things you have to offer.

2. Your blog improves your search enging rankings. Regular and relevant blog posts cause people to visit frequently and this improves search engine rankings and makes your business more visible. The more you link within and to and from your blog, the better.

3. Your blog brands your company. Branding is doing things that translate into valuable head space for your company in other people's heads. When people enjoy interesting content at your blog, you create a valuable patch of real estate in their heads and they are more likely to buy from you and refer their friends.

4. Your blog creates new business opportunities. I have enjoyed each of the following as a direct result of blogging: speaking invitations, radio show interviews, "insider" media preview opportunities, invitations to participate in studies that are relevant to my market, contracts to help other people launch and maintain blogs. Plus I've met a lot of nice people.

5. Your blog is a great creative outlet. We Indies are creative. We are easily bored and need constant stimulation in order to thrive. Every day that you blog is a day during which you can express your creativity in a fun and unique way.

Having said all this, blogging is not for everyone. Tomorrow, I'll share how to know whether or not blogging will be a waste of your time. To determine whether blogging will be a waste of your time, click here.

If you are a blogger, feel free to share your blogging tips in the comments.