In a digital world full of content and options, people are looking for ways to make sense of it all. One way is through communities – like blogs and Twitter.
These are online forums where people with shared interests can come together to discuss various topics. They can be powerful marketing tools, enabling you to connect with potential customers and forge strong relationships.
However, despite their usefulness as marketing tools, engaging with people in this way can sometimes have negative effects. That’s why it’s important to be mindful of the type of engagement you have, and understand the difference between having a polite chat with someone and a meaningful exchange.
Why Blogging?
Blogging is a fantastic way to organize your thoughts and share your expertise with the world. You don’t need a big audience to make it worthwhile – even a small blog can be effective at drawing in potential customers and generating interest in your niche.
The benefits of blogging include:
- A place to share your knowledge and passion
- A way to establish yourself as an expert in your industry
- A forum for ongoing and fruitful conversation
- A chance to build a brand for yourself or your business
- A storehouse of content
Blogging vs. Twitter
The line between blogging and Twitter is becoming increasingly blurry. While most people think of Twitter as a place to share quick updates and quirky tidbits, the platform was actually born out of blogging. Back in 2003, blogging was at the forefront of the web. People were discovering new blogs and re-discovering old favorites, increasing the overall traffic on the site. This increasing traffic provided a platform for entrepreneurs to build their businesses.
However, it wasn’t just about re-sharing content. Participants in the conversation were actually engaging with one another. Those early adopters learned to value the platform and eventually spread the love to everyone else.
How can Blogging help my business?
Blogging is a fantastic marketing tool because it offers so many benefits to your business. It can help you to establish yourself as a thought leader in your industry, provide you with good content to draw in and retain customers, and give you the opportunity to build a community around your brand.
The fact that blogging is a fairly new form of marketing should tell you something. Although there are many accomplished entrepreneurs and industry leaders who were once obscure bloggers who went on to become huge influencers, it’s still in its infancy as a form of marketing. The potential is immense.
Building a Community
Anyone who owns a business or works in an industry can appreciate the value of a strong community. Being able to provide support and advice to one another as a group is invaluable. It helps to reduce stress, promote trust, and give you a sense of belonging.
Blogging provides a perfect platform for this. You can take advantage of the fact that anyone can start a blog for free, and easily become a part of a vibrant community of like-minded individuals. This is an excellent place to develop your expertise and share your knowledge with the world.
Increased Visibility
With blogs and Twitter, you don’t necessarily need to have a large audience to be able to connect with potential customers. This is where blogging benefits from – and contributes to the blurring of the lines with Twitter. Anyone can start a blog for free, and with the right content, pitch, and promotion, you can easily draw in potential customers and build a community.
This increased visibility makes it much easier for you to connect with customers and establish yourself as an expert in your field – whether you’re an entrepreneur, a coach, or an admin for a blog network. The more you can do to establish yourself as an industry expert, the more you can command as a consultant or coach.
Opportunity To Build A Brand
Anyone can start a blog for free, so you have no excuse not to take advantage of this – especially if you’re looking to establish yourself as an expert in your industry. The opportunity to build a brand and gain credibility is readily available.
This is a fantastic way to connect with prospective customers and engage them along with their friends and family members in a long-term conversation about your products or services. When you establish yourself as an expert in your industry, people will naturally turn to you for advice and you can begin to educate them about the benefits of your products or services. This is how you grow your business – through word of mouth and customer referrals.
Promotes Thought Leadership
If you’re looking to establish your expertise in your industry, blogging is a fantastic option – particularly if you’re looking to become a thought leader in your field. This is an individual or company that is considered to be an expert in their industry – usually based on the volume of published articles or the success of their products or services. Thought leaders promote new ideas and approaches to problems, and have earned their status by standing out from the crowd.
To put it simply, anyone can write an article for publication, but not everyone can be a thought leader. Establishing yourself as a leading expert in your field will take some time, but it’s an excellent path to paved for yourself if you continue to educate yourself and contribute valuable content to the conversation.
How To Start A Blog
If you’re looking to start a blog, take some time to read about the different types of blogs out there. There are many different ways to approach blogging, so take the time to find a style that works best for you.
One of the best places to start is with a free blog platform, like WordPress.com. Or, if you’d like to run your blog on your own hardware, you can use a free hosting service, like Bluehost or Google’s Blogger.com.
Regardless of which option you choose, making a commitment to regularly update your blog with valuable information and content is the key to establishing yourself as a leading expert in your industry. Regular blogging will also expand your network, allowing you to build a broader range of connections. These connections can prove to be invaluable in helping you to establish your blog and expand your business.
The Dangers of Online Forums
While the benefits of blogging and Twitter are numerous, you must remain mindful of the pitfalls that come with engaging with people in this way. These are some of the things you should avoid: