How to Create a Successful Small Business Blog
As technology and the Internet continue to advance, business owners are finding more ways to showcase their brand online. This includes having and maintaining a company blog. By having an online blog, businesses are able to keep their readers up to date on company happenings, talk about current business trends, and teach their readers new and exciting things. In today’s online world, it is essential for small businesses to create and maintain a blog.
There are a few things to consider when creating a small business blog. These tips will help businesses create a successful business blog.
1. The blog must be written well. This means that the blog should have a good flow to it. Readers want to read a simple to read blog that makes sense. Topics also need to be interesting in order to keep the reader’s attention. A boring blog will not capture the reader’s attention. It is also more likely that you will receive comments and feedback if viewers are interesting in what you are writing about. The blog should also be free of spelling and grammar mistakes because these errors will reflect badly upon the company.
2. A blog must be updated frequently. It is important to update your blog regularly. This will keep your readers interested and well informed. It is important to stick to a schedule. If you decide to post to your blog three times a week, then continue to do so. Regular readers will begin to expect this of you, and will be disappointed if you suddenly neglect your blog. Keep up with your blog and your readers will continue to follow your company and read your content.
3. The blog should be well supported within your company. It is important to get your company involved in your online blogging efforts. You need to make sure that other departments in your business are involved. This includes your marketing and communications team. Business owners will need to integrate the company blog into other areas of the business. This also includes integrating your blog with social networking platforms such as Facebook and Twitter. The more social your company is, the more likely readers and customers will want to get involved with your company, and will want to communicate their thoughts and views.
4. Your blog should be user-friendly. If you want people to read your blog, it needs to be easy to view and easy to navigate. No one will want to read your blog if it is unattractive and difficult to navigate. A navigable blog will also allow for comments and feedback to be submitted more easily. The best blogs often have the simplest layout.
To keep up with technological advances, small business owners should create and maintain a company blog. By following the steps above, businesses will be able to have a blog that readers will want to continue to read. Start a business blog today and share your small business ideas!
Business Plan Checklist
A business plan is a continual work in process, and should be updated at least annually, as your business needs change. However, a well-written business plan is a document that will be required when seeking financing for both start-up ventures and expansions. This plan will be reviewed by potential lenders to see how much financing will be offered and under what terms, if at all. When creating a successful business plan, there are a number of fundamental sections that need to be addressed.
Description of the Business
The most important component of your business plan is the executive summary, as it is the first section read by potential investors and lenders. This brief 1-2 page section will offer a concise overview of your business plan and your organization. Where your business is and where you would like to take it should also be addressed. In short, the executive summary tells the reader why you believe your business concept or idea will be successful financially. While this is the first section often read, it should be the last section written.
The executive summary should contain the following information:
- Your company’s mission statement
- The date your business began
- Location of your business
- Description of your facilities
- Current number of employees
- Name of business founders and/or executives as well as their roles and functions
- Products manufactured or services offered
- Summary of the growth potential including financial highlights
To assist the reader in locating important components of your business plan, include a table of contents.
Market Analysis
The market analysis section of your business plan should outline your general knowledge of the industry, should outline a general analysis of your competition and should highlight your marketing strategies.
Begin by providing an overview of your industry; size, growth rate, trends and primary customer groups. Next, outline your business’s target market. Outline which particular client groups or niches you intend to focus marketing efforts on initially. Consider including some of the following information:
- Key characteristics of your target market; geographical location; cyclical trend information; size of the market. If you have identified secondary markets, include this information as well.
- How your business intends to gain market share and what techniques will be leveraged
- Your business’s pricing structure, profit margins and discount levels offered for purchases
- Any trends or changes that would potentially affect your target market
Financial Projections and History
Once you have analyzed your market and objectives you intend to target, you can effectively allocate company resources. If your company is established, you will need to provide financial records. If possible, provide 3 year summaries with quarterly details broken out. Supporting documentation if available will make this section more credible; copies of any trade licenses, letters of intent from suppliers and copies of any current sales contracts or agreements.
If your business is a start-up, you will be required to provide prospective financial data for lenders. Provide forecasted income, balance sheets, cash flow statements and capital expenditure budgets over a 5-year period, broken down quarterly. Your first year data should be further broken down by month. Ensure that your funding requests match your projections.
Management Experience and Structure
This section should include your organization’s structure, profiles of your management team and the qualifications of your Board of Directors. A simple way to illustrate your organizational structure is with an org-chart. Each management team member or Board of Director profile should contain his or her name, position, experience level, education and unique skill sets as applicable to the organization.
While there’s much more you can include in a business plan, this information is critical to the creation of a powerful business plan for obtaining financing and helping your startup business grow.
Download a business plan checklist
Twitter Tips eBook
Twitter Tips
Learn how to grow your business using Twitter. This complimentary ebook has helpful tips and resources to help you stay connected and have a rewarding Twitter experience.
eBook: Free
Download Now!
70 Website Success Tips eBook
70 Website Success Tips
This ebook is filled with 70 tips that can help you achieve online success. While some may be common sense, many are often overlooked. This ebook is designed to help every business owner ensure they are getting the most from their website. Enjoy!
eBook: $7
Low Cost Ways to Help your Startup Business Grow
When building a new business, managing costs along the way is essential. But, as marketing is one of the most critical tasks for new business success, how can you leverage techniques while minimizing costs? Some of the most affordable, yet effective methods for growing a new business include networking, referral generation, direct mail and co-marketing.
- Networking to expand a New Business.
If you have never explored the networking opportunities offered within your local geographic area, you are missing out on a tremendous customer acquisition opportunity. Begin your search online, looking for local networking groups that both fit within your niche or that interest you personally. For example, if your niche is affiliate marketing, you may consider joining your local internet marketing association. In addition to attending trade organization meetings, also spend several hours per week attending social networking events within your area; charitable events, mixers, and business events all present opportunities for you to give and receive business cards. - Customer referrals. A referral is still the most affordable and effective method for gaining new customers. Implement a process for asking your current customers for referrals. This could include mailers or emails immediately following a purchase, as well as several months following a purchase. You could implement a referral promotion, offering incentives for those customers who provide your business with qualified referrals. And, you could simply ask in person or over the phone for referrals directly. When you ask, you shall receive referrals (given you do quality work).
- Direct mail. If you have ever received a promotional mailer, postcard or coupon in your mailbox from a local or online retailer, these are prime examples of direct mail. However, direct mail now extends into online mediums such as emails or e-newsletters. Develop and implement a direct mail program which offers promotions, discounts and information covering new product launches to both your current customer base and to your lead base over time. Be careful not to send these materials too frequently as it can become overwhelming. But, a bi-weekly or even monthly campaign should do the trick of effectively keeping your business brand in front of potential customers.
- Co-Marketing. A technique which is growing in popularity during this recent sluggish economy is co-marketing. This technique refers to partnerships with non-competing, yet similar businesses for marketing purposes. For example, if your business focuses on personal training or boot camp services, you may seek to form a co-marketing partnership with an athletic equipment services company, a local fitness center which does not offers these types of programs or even high end apartment or condo buildings looking to provide perks for their residents. These marketing programs allow you to stretch your marketing budget across a greater potential consumer audience. Create a list of potential businesses in your area and online that would be suitable for this type of marketing partnership.
Each of these marketing techniques can be implemented on a tight budget, allowing new business ventures to get off the ground. As your marketing success begins, you can redirect those funds into other platforms, allowing your business to grow organically over time.