Blogging can benefit your store on several levels, as long as you’re consistently posting with quality and helpful content.
It can show you’re an expert, with content that highlights tips, trends and advice. It helps build relationships with customers, makes you stand out from your competition, builds brand exposure and can help your site optimization by consistently publishing fresh content to your site that is keyword-rich.
But, it takes time. And as an independent store owner, I know you’re wearing several hats and finding time to blog can be a challenge.
So I’ve outlined 4 quick ways to get you set up for success so you don’t waste time in case you don’t know how to start, what to blog about or how to be organized.
If you need additional blogging resources, consider joining Social Edge to access “Blogging for Retailers”. Click to see what’s inside.
4 Quick Tips for Starting a Blog
1. Create a Blog Strategy. Before putting the time into launching a blog, outline the type of content you’ll write (with catchy headlines!), how often you’ll publish, and what the goals are of your blog. Examples of goals may be to increase credibility in the industry, add value to your customer’s lives through tips and advice, increase web traffic, have better rankings in search results, etc. You’ll need to commit some time to blogging, so make sure you have the time or delegate these efforts. Creating a strategy will help you determine how many posts you need to write, how often, who will write them, what they’ll say and who the audience is you’re trying to target.
2. Pick Your Platform. Top blogging platforms that I suggest are:
- WordPress – wordpress.com for free hosting on WordPress and access to about 100 pre-designed templates, wordpress.org (not free) to self-host and have a custom design/access to thousands of templates. WordPress.org is my personal favorite.
- Tumblr
- Blogger
- Depending on your current website platform, you might have a blog option already built in which might make it easier for you to launch and manage a blog.
3. Create a Content Schedule. The key to successfully blogging is creating quality content that speaks to your perfect customer/audience, consistently. To save time and to stay organized, plan out blog posts for the next couple of months and then put it on a blog, editorial or marketing calendar as to when they will be published. Then work backwards: based on when a post is being published, plan when you’ll write it, edit it, design graphics (if appropriate), and upload.
4. Create a Promotion Strategy. Just writing posts isn’t enough to gain attention and web traffic; you need to promote your blog, too. Outline the ways you’ll be promoting your posts, on which outlets, which influencers you’ll be reaching out to, with what type of tone, and the kind of graphics and content you’ll want to include.
If you’re currently blogging, I’d love to check it out! Leave a link to your blog in a comment below.
If you found this tip helpful, send it to a retailer friend. And again, if you need additional blogging help and resources, consider joining Social Edge to access “Blogging for Retailers”. Click to see what’s inside.
I would love your suggestions re: my blog.thanks!
Hi Victoria! I love your content, really great tips and your headlines are catchy, awesome job! The text is a bit small, maybe consider increasing? Also, (and this is something on my list too), more images/photos might be helpful. For example: for this blog http://turnercoaching.wordpress.com/2014/09/02/3-steps-to-a-new-beginning/ add an image that has “Get Clear. Take Action. Be Grateful.” or an inspiring quote about gratitude, that way it gives something visual and can help motivate people to share/pin. If you do this, I’d add a Pin It button in addition to your FB and Twitter buttons.
Hi Crystal,I welcome your expert opinion! Any and all feedback is welcome.
Thanks,
Faith
http://bohemianhouse.wordpress.com
Hey Faith! I LOVE your before and afters. I can hear your passion and enthusiasm through your posts, great job with being authentic and personal! Great use of photos. I’d add in a call to action on the posts like asking people to comment, share their own projects, join your email list to get the next blog post in their inbox or to get a special offer, etc. Also great job with your sidebars like having the FB widget, comments, etc. If possible, try to blog a bit more consistently, I didn’t see anything for Aug. I know that can be hard from a time standpoint but if you can map it out and write ahead of time, it can ensure for a more consistent blog. Thanks for sharing!
I blog part-time for my parent’s music business. It’s been a great adventure! I definitely would like to post more, but I am limited on time.
Hi Kelly! I love how personal your content is and how you share stories. Stories build relationships! Is the purpose of the blog to share your experiences in learning new instruments? I’m not completely clear on what the blog is about, especially at first glance/read. Maybe be a little more clear in the slogan of the blog, or weave it into your blog posts? Bolding might help a bit too if someone is skimming your blog. I agree, if you could post more consistently that would be helpful in building relationships, giving you content to share on social media sites and help drive traffic. I’d add in a Pin button to your blog too, you never know if an active Pinterest user comes to your blog who might want to bookmark/add something to their board. We always want to empower people to share our content! Thanks for sharing!
Unfortunately, I started helping my mom with the marketing aspect of the music store with no experience in music. I tried to get fellow employees who are musical to be apart of the blog so that we could have a wide range of musical abilities talking about music, but that didn’t work out. Rather than not doing a blog at all, I started one. My main focus is to reach out to parents or students that don’t have much experience with music. This does limit my audience, but it’s the best I can do for now.
I do have the purpose of the blog in the “About Me” section, but I have had an issue tying the blog together so that someone who stops by and begins reading will understand what the blog is about. Thank you for looking at my blog and for all the suggestions! I will definitely be rethinking many things! =)
~Kelly
Hey Crystal,
I know this post was a while back, but if you’re still offering critiques, would you mind critiquing our blog? http://www.tukasacreations.com/about-us/news/?page=1
Thanks so much!
We are just staring to blog and have a ways to go! Here it is so far: http://www.kelseyskloset.com/blogs/news