This is a collaborative post by Ellie Jo with tips on turning a blog into a business or using a blog to help your business.
These days more people are starting up online blogs for many different reasons. It may be to share their advice or experiences or simply as an online hobby to document your daily life. Many people start a blog to just have a creative outlet and then see themselves getting to a stage where they can turn that once hobby into something that earns them a decent income. It could be that you have an online business, and you are wondering how best to maximize your digital presence, and this is when an online blog can be a great way to do it. So whether it is to create a business, or to help your current business thrive here are some of the things to think about.
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An Online Blog And How It Could Turn Into A Business Or Help Your Business Thrive
Why a blog could be the way forward?
First of all, it is possibly worth mentioning that an online blog could be a great way to help promote a business, or in turn, provide your blog with business because of the effect it can have on search engines. The internet is used daily by the majority of people, whether that is to find out the answer to a question, or whether that is to buy something. So if you want to try and create an online blog then here are some of the things to think about.
Are you an expert in something or do you have something to share?
A lot of people these days will turn to Google for all kinds of things, advice, tips, and tricks, which means more people and businesses online blogs are becoming discoverable because of the things they share. Do you have something that could be beneficial to someone? Perhaps you have great tips on household affairs. Maybe you have been through something and experienced something that isn’t discussed enough.
From a business perspective, a blog can be a great way to reach out to customers in a more informal way. Blog posts can share tips and tricks for your industry or niche, and then, in turn, be an indirect way of selling your products or services. Whatever it is, you will have something to offer the world, and blogging is a great way to share it.
Could you offer constructive reviews for brands?
Taking an approach for turning a blog into an actual business, maybe you could offer your thoughts and opinions constructively on different brands and products, perhaps adding photography and video content for reviews? These days so many more people reach out to the internet to find out if a product is worth buying or a service is worth using. You may have even found yourself doing this. Which is why more brands are turning to real people, instead of something celebrity endorsed, and asking for true opinions and criticisms of their products and services.
While it is by no means a freebie, as the time and effort it takes to put together a constructive review, it can be a great way to try out new products and services for yourself and your family. From a business perspective, have you ever thought of reaching out to an online blogger and asked them to review your products and services? Again this can be an excellent way to add more clarity to your online presence as well as giving a fresh audience an insight into who you are.
Could you turn it into a career?
If you feel frustrated right now and looking for a career change then maybe an online blog is the answer. Perhaps writing has always been a passion, or you find your current job restrictive and time-consuming, then blogging could open up a new career opportunity. Many people who started their blog as a hobby have turned it into their career, through hard work and dedication, you could too.
Earning an income could be done through various channels online. It could be in the form of advertisements or sponsored content, or affiliate links linking to products you love. You could even be sponsored to become a brand ambassador for someone. The options are endless, and there are plenty of opportunities for all. Digital careers have really gone crazy recently.
Do you want to reach out to like-minded individuals?
Perhaps you are feeling a little lonely right now or in need of some support from people in similar situations and circumstances. Then blogging could be a great way for you to engage with like-minded people. You could, in turn, be offering support for others by sharing your experience. Social media is vast, and many bloggers would agree that making friends online through blogging has transformed their lives.
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How can you get your blog seen?
We may have covered some of the reasons and considerations as to why an online blog could work as a business, or to help your current business thrive, but the main question to ask yourself is that once it is set up, how can you get your blog seen? A blog does take a lot of dedication and work, and can often mean that some people give up at the first few hurdles. But, if you market your blog right, you can really make it a success. So here are some of the marketing strategies anyone can consider for their blog, no matter how long it has been running or how big your audience is.
Be consistent on social media
Having social media profiles for your blog, and as a business in general, is a vital way to ensure that your posts get seen. It is direct access to your readers where you can share your latest posts or simply what you are up to. Some people choose to be natural on their social media, which is especially important if you are using a blog solely as a business venture in its own right.
But a great tip is to approach it with a business strategy, even when it is more personal. Social media platforms all have certain times where your posts are more visible. It’s important to research the best times to post and then schedule in advance. Some people think this isn’t authentic, but if you are looking to turn your blog into a business, it’s best to stick with a schedule and strategize as and when you update. Of course, this doesn’t mean you can’t post at other times, just as long as you cover the basics you are good to go.
Consider video content
Many more people are looking to utilize video content for their blog and for their businesses as a fantastic way of advertising. Some do this themselves in the form of vlogs on their own YouTube channel, or some consider more professionally edited videos as another opportunity for advertising.
If you are unsure of how to edit, then you may want to enlist the help of video production experts. You might also want to think about making your videos inclusive, and this is when a closed captioning service could prove very useful. There are plenty of experts in their field if you want to have someone help and advise on this, or again this could work well for a business with experienced YouTubers and video creators who already have an established, organic and engaged audience.
Provide incentives to readers
If you are hoping to build up a following on some social media platforms quickly, for a blog or specifically for your business, then you may want to consider incentivizing your followers. A lot of people have success with running competitions on their social media. Perhaps when you hit a milestone of followers, you could give something away.
A good tip is to advertise the competition in advance so that any followers will know what they are going to win. It is also best to randomly select winners from a competition post as this is to make it fair. There is plenty of information online if you want to ensure you follow the rules. But it could be an excellent way to reach other potential customers and followers, and a great way that a blog can be utilized for social media content, now and for the future.
Create an email newsletter
You could also consider a blog newsletter that you send out each week. You may have a business newsletter already, and if so then consider enhancing it with blog post links and information for your customer base. Having an email newsletter will keep your readers up to date on new posts, product information, and services. It also encourages them to click back through to your blog.
Whether you choose to have a blog for personal reasons in the beginning and see the vast potential of turning it into a business, or you have a business that you know will benefit from an online blog running alongside it, let’s hope the information in this post can help you make some positive steps in the right direction.
