Top 5 Myths About Small Businesses and Blogging
Myth #1) “Blogs are only for individuals.”
Technorati.com currently tracks around 50 million blogs, 10% of which are trade or business blogs. Most blogs are still done by lovesick teens or others writing about their own views of what’s going on in the world. However, with over 5 million businesses already blogging, it’s too big to ignore.
Myth #2) “Business blogs are only for big companies.”
While savvy business powerhouses like Microsoft, IBM, and NBC have been blogging for a while, big companies in general still don’t “get it.” In a recent survey, only 5% of Fortune 500 companies blog. Today’s blogs compare to the internet 10 years ago. First movers always have advantages. A savvy small business might join the blogosphere today, while it may take a year for your larger competitor to parse the blogging scene.
Myth #3) “I can’t blog, I’m not a good writer.”
One of the main advantages that small businesses have is that customers perceive them with personality, heart and soul. All one needs to do is write a few paragraphs each week. Write as if you were writing a funny letter to a friend, don’t be formal and use a lot of business jargon. Hopefully, customers already know that the business has a personality, so let them see more of it.
Myth #4) “Business blogs are boring.”
The Terra Cotta Inn Clothing Optional Resort and Spa blog is http://terracottainn.blogspot.com You’ll see posts about the resort, the resort dog, celebrities, what it’s like to stay at a clothing optional resort for the first time, etc.
For another example, a restaurant might blog about special dishes, parties, anniversaries, customers’ pets, “secret” recipes, etc.
Myth #5) “I’m busy blogging.”
If a company needs an Internet presence, then it needs a company blog. It’s very easy to set one up. Go to blogger.com or wordpress.com (two of many blogging sites). In as little as 15 minutes, you can create a blog. Add at least 1 article every week. Tell your customers about your blog. They’ll be glad you did and so will your results!
Attention bloggers, journalists, newsletter editors, etc., feel free to reprint this release.