The decision to start a blog for either personal or business use is not one that should be taken lightly. While many can be fun to maintain, you should always approach your blog as a valuable asset. For a small business your blog is important because it is one of your strongest connections to your audience.
If you haven’t yet started a regular and consistent blog but plan to, here are some steps you can take to make the process as smooth as possible.
Create Content Ahead of Time: By having a backlog of content, you will be able to start your blog with one of the biggest tasks already taken care of. It’s a good idea to try to have at least 15-20 blog entries ready to go. Of course, in the time you post these, you should try to create the 2-3 each week as time allows. You always want to have at least a few posts ready to go rather than having to write on the fly on a regular basis.
About that Regular Basis…Try to post on a regular basis. Most people will not post new content every day, as it can be hard for readers to catch every post. I good rate is 2-3 times a week. The trick is to keep at it. If you post 3 times in your first week, try to maintain that schedule. Your readers and potential customers will then come to expect your posts with some regularity. Any lags in your schedule may cause a loss in readers.
Try to Schedule Ahead: No matter what blogging platform you decide to use, they are likely going to have an option or tool that will allow you to schedule your posts. It is beneficial to go ahead and do this at the beginning of the week. Set your week’s posts up ahead of time so you won’t risk forgetting to do so during the busy work week.
Present Yourself in the Right Light: As you pre-write your content, make sure your brand is being reflected in the way you want. This will save time later, sparing you from annoying edits. This is a rule you should stick to whenever you write anything for your business. Your content should always be consistent in style, voice, and be a great representation of your brand.
For th of you that are already blog savvy, what are some other ways you have been able to make blogging easier? Share your thoughts and ideas in the comments below.
