Use the network to boost your business

I AM sure that whatever business you run, at the moment there are many people full of doom and gloom about the future. But I've always been a questioning, contrary, bugger so I'd like to highlight why I think you should be using the network now instead of bunkering down in the coal shed. For a start the network offers you a free blogging tool that allows you to write up your experiences of both the present and the past. Just because the financial markets are up and down it doesn't mean you've forgotten five, ten, fifteen years of knowledge in landscaping, so get it down on screen. And if people are holding on tight to their cash and doing research, where do you think they are heading? Exactly, the internet and search engines. If your advice and tips are locked away in your head there is no chance of any search engine or potential customer being able to find it. Another thing to remember about articles you write for the site, as opposed to other methods of promotion, is that whatever you produce today can still be seen tomorrow, next week, next year and you can't say that about many of the 'traditional' methods of marketing. I'm not talking War and Peace here, just a few paragraphs on tips for winter in the garden, how to take care of equipment, favourite flowers - take a look at your bookshelf or magazine rack for inspiration. Then at the foot of your piece either provide a link to your profile page, main website or contact details so that people can get in touch, for example as Kerrie has done at the end of this piece. Also don't miss an opportunity to work with others on the network, I know a few have already linked up on projects, you can contact people directly through the Send a Message link. Of course keeping an eye on costs is important, but that doesn't mean you should cut back on methods and techniques to reach out to consumers. I crossed this interesting quote this morning whilst reading a blog from public relations firm, PR Squared, which quoted the Harvard Business School: "It is well documented that brands that increase (marketing) during a recession, when competitors are cutting back, can improve market share and return on investment at lower cost than during good economic times." Don't sit back worrying and wondering if things are going to get better, worse or fall off the edge of a cliff, leave all that to the media commentators who have a vested interest in pushing bad news. Instead take your keyboard by the horns and plan a little writing time to ensure your knowledge and experience is placed in front of those seeking answers to their questions.

Hi VHowe,
In the early days I would just find your feet with the actual blogging tool on the network, don't forget the page we have covering tips on using the site.

If you see other interesting things on the site, or other websites, write about these, but I do think there is so much knowledge locked away in the minds of people on the network that simple tips would be really valuable.

As for comments, there is a belief that 90 per cent of people on websites are just readers, nine per cent occasionally get involved and just one per cent post to a website on a regular basis.

So the fact that there are no comments doesn't mean you aren't being read.

Really though the key to any blog is turning up regularly.

If you are able to write two or three pieces a week then people will start looking out for your work, you'll get more confident with the blogging tools and more and more ideas will start running through your head.

Go on give it a try :-)

Craig

"Throttle screws and move the governor spring across a hole.Takes less than five minutes. Can't say I have had any complaints about noise but then again I have customers I have worked for for years and never even met!"

Hi AllWhat are member's experiences of magnetic signage gor vans. I appreciate that the name and nature of the business will be free advertising but the flip side of this is advertising a cache of gardening tools available to plunder. Will this…

"Thanks Adam, an interesting counter-argument! 2 questions- 1) is this just the throttle-stop screw, and 2) are they then very noisy? We do seem to have some very noise-averse customers!"

Comments

vhowe October 14, 2008 at 9:53am

I have learned a great deal from this site but i'm afraid blog writing is still a bit of a blur. Having written a couple of blogs on the site and 'no comment' I don't know whether they're just not interesting enough or subject worth writing about or maybe I'm just easily put off. A lot of us are obviously new to blog writing and I don't know how others would feel but this is just a thought - a bit of positive criticism might help - or does that defeat the purpose. I'm also a bit of a procrastinator so will attempt another blog later in the day!
PRO

Craig McGinty October 14, 2008 at 10:37am

Hi VHowe,
In the early days I would just find your feet with the actual blogging tool on the network, don't forget the page we have covering tips on using the site.

If you see other interesting things on the site, or other websites, write about these, but I do think there is so much knowledge locked away in the minds of people on the network that simple tips would be really valuable.

As for comments, there is a belief that 90 per cent of people on websites are just readers, nine per cent occasionally get involved and just one per cent post to a website on a regular basis.

So the fact that there are no comments doesn't mean you aren't being read.

Really though the key to any blog is turning up regularly.

If you are able to write two or three pieces a week then people will start looking out for your work, you'll get more confident with the blogging tools and more and more ideas will start running through your head.

Go on give it a try :-)

Craig
PRO

Craig McGinty October 14, 2008 at 12:56pm

As a bit of an addition, I crossed this article today about how TypePad's blogging software (which I use for some of my other websites) has changed the lives of people.

The blogging option within the network is very similar to TypePad's but ultimately it isn't a question of the techie stuff, it's the words on the page that counts.

TypePad blogs have changed the lives of people around the globe