Posts Tagged ‘Business’

 

4 Problems with Your Business Blog

Friday, June 8th, 2012

Whether your business has a blog, had a blog, or is getting a blog one thing is certain: you should have a blog.

Why?

The simple answer: you’re reading this.

The “herd mentality” is full force in social media and consumers are looking for engagement, not just a great product line. When they go to your website they must see the person behind the brand. They want want more than a pretty date, they want someone with a great personality as well.

Business Blog Tip #1: It’s Lifeless

Anyone can make a widget. But your widget must move, breathe, surprise and advice. Your blog must be alive.

The Fix: Recruit a passionate employee who has experience writing and see if they might be interesting in bringing life to your business blog. If your business can’t spare an employee, hire someone to do it for you (just ensure they understand your brand).

Business Blog Tip #2: It’s Old News

When potential customers come to your blog, they want to see that it’s updated and different than the last time they visited. Upon seeing a blog that is updated regularly, the consumer mind says “this company has things happening and they have news to share with me.”

The Fix: Have a blogging schedule. Update once a week, three times a week, or daily, but whatever you choose, keep a regular blogging schedule.

Business Blog Tip #3: It’s Salesy

We love to buy, but we don’t want to be sold.

We’ve all had experiences when ‘friends’ invite us over for a nice meal and then halfway through the second course the host transitions into a corporate sales pitch for product X. It’s gross.

And your customer will feel the same way if your blog is used like old bait-and-switch sales tactics.

The Fix: The other pages of your company website are for selling, but the blog is relational. Keep it relational.

Business Blog Tip #4: It’s Impersonal

Company blogs that read like text books remind people of … reading textbooks.

Going hand-in-hand with tip #1, bring a personal ‘voice’ to your blog and keep it consistent. Although the implementation of this concept varies from company to company, the blog’s tone must be conversational.

The Fix: When writing (or editing) a blog post imagine it being read by a specific customer of your product. Some writers even go so far as to post a picture of their ‘customer’ at their workstation while writing.

Take advantage of the social space available to your business by maintaining and growing a relevant business blog. Godin states it poignantly:

“How can you squander even one more day not taking advantage of the greatest shifts of our generation? How dare you settle for less when the world has made it so easy for you to be remarkable?” Seth Godin, sethgodin.typepad.com

Establishing Your Social Allocation

Monday, January 9th, 2012

In the world of finance, the most seasoned investors will tell you that asset allocation is everything.  Asset allocation is the percentage in which you invest in bonds, small or large companies, and international or domestic stocks.

A more aggressive strategy would include investments that are highly volatile.  A more conservative approach would include investments that don’t gain or lose much value in the short-term, but tend to rise gradually over time.

Much like the financial experts, one who deals with social media must also have what I like to call a Social Allocation.

If it is your job to enhance a brand or product through social media, you must allocate your social media initiatives wisely.  Things you must consider are:

  1. Content generation
  2. Content curation
  3. Interacting with existing followers
  4. Answering questions
  5. Networking
  6. Researching your competition
  7. Identifying and educating yourself on new trends and technology

These are just a few of the activities that you deal with day to day, but they are also some of the most important.

Now, given that there are seven of these activities, does that mean you should allocate your efforts equally to all of them?  Should each task be given 14.28% of your day?  Probably not.

So, if we aren’t supposed to allocate equal time to each task, what is the perfect Social Allocation to be successful?  That is what you must decide based on your current project.

If you’re just starting out, you will be heavily weighted in content generation and networking.  On the other hand, if you are running a social media campaign that is firmly established, your allocation will lean more towards interacting with followers, researching your competition, and keeping up with new trends.

It’s important to establish your Social Allocation and use your time accordingly.  This will keep you on track and focused on what is most important for your current role.