When you begin blogging for your business, you should be aware of certain blogging “etiquette” that will help you rise to the top of your reading audience’s list. There are many things that you should do, and of course, things you shouldn’t do, and knowing the difference will allow you to be far more effective in your blogging endeavors.
Tips for Successful Business Blogging
Three Basics for Every Business Blogger
#1 Direct traffic with your content
Content is the hallmark of every blog. Before you start a blog, consider the types of content and posts you plan on sharing. What are you posting about, and in what format?
When blogging, think of yourself as a traffic controller. As you are blogging, tell people when you want them to click the “subscribe” or the “buy” button within the natural flow of your blog posts. Call to action (CTA) prompts are one of the most effective blogging methods that will turn your readers into buyers. People need to be told what to do. They like direction.
Giving readers the direction they desire will lead to more warm leads, which in turn will lead to more sales for your business.
[Tweet “Call-to-action posts are effective blog content methods to convert your readers into buyers.”]
#2 Subscription Form
As a business blogger I’m going to presume you have something you wish to sell. As such, you will need a way to collect email addresses on your website.
Say what?! Email? I thought social media was the way to connect with people…
Yes, you will need to collect email addresses to build a list, so you have a direct connection with people interested in what you have to offer. Likes, shares and followers on social media – these are nice – but they fail in comparison with collecting people’s email addresses and being able to land in their inbox with your latest news.
Therefore, you will need to sharpen your email marketing skills. If you’re not yet familiar, you can sign up for an email marketing provider like MailChimp, Aweber, or Mailerlite to get started.
Once you secure a service provider, you will create a blog subscription form and list, and add the form to your website.
As a bonus, you will also want to offer your readers the option of subscribing to your RSS feed. Many blog readers use RSS readers to follow their favorite blogs and keep their inboxes clutter free.
Related Article “Email Marketing: How to Balance Selling and Relationship Building”
When creating a call-to-action post, consider the information or content you will give away in exchange for an email address.
#3 Exchange Value for Emails
You have several options when it comes to what to give away…a video sequence, checklist, report or ebook are common effective giveaways. These giveaways are commonly referred to as optin offers, as people must opt in with an email address to receive the offer.
Your ideal giveaway will be high-quality information that your buying audience truly wants or needs. Don’t underthink this – really give away great, valuable information!
You may think that by giving away your content, buyers will walk away without buying…but you’d be completely wrong! Business blogging is about being a resource for your audience.
By giving away great content, potential buyers will see you as an authority. “If this is what he/she is giving away, I can’t wait to see what I’ll get if I spend some money!”
[Tweet “Your freebie should be so valuable that people would pay for it. Don’t offer free junk!”]
These are truly the types of leads you want in your business. Sincerely interested parties are warm leads and will convert easily into buyers!
So, there are a few things to consider when creating your blog posts or giveaways.
In contrast, when it comes to business blogging, there are also things you shouldn’t do under any circumstances!
What NOT To Do As A Business Blogger
#1 No arguing online
First and foremost, avoid arguing online. This will simply make your business look bad. There will always be people online who will try to get under your skin. Take the high road and don’t let them! Besides, most people who get into arguments online wind up looking like crazy people. This is not a good look for a business person.
[Tweet “Arguing online makes you look like a crazy person. This is NOT a good look for your business. “]
#2 Auto-correct is not your friend, and neither is slang
Pay close attention to your spelling and grammar. Do not use text-speak (you know, those awkward text abbreviations) when blogging. When you create a professional image for you and your business, you attract a higher-quality clientele.
#3 Politics and controversy will steer you wrong
Stay away from highly controversial subjects when business blogging, and sharing those blog posts from others. Religion, politics, and the like will only serve to alienate a segment of your potential buying audience, and will result in less conversions and sales based on what it is you blog about.
Make your blog posts a great read for everyone involved, and reap the benefits as you watch your conversions increase and your authority climb the charts!
Ciao,
Miss Kemya
Do you have a must-do or a must-don’t tip to share? Leave a comment and weigh in!
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Great tips. I am new to blogging and will add a few of these tips to my blog. Thanks for sharing.
Great tips. I am new to blogging and need to add a subscription form and more content variety. Thanks for sharing.
My pleasure Vanessa! A subscription form is a must, you want to build relationships with your readers on a deeper level. Landing in their inboxes is the next step. Thanks for commenting ?
Great comments, especially on creating quality content. Tips posts like you created here are great. I also like that you mentioned giving away valuable content to readers for free. If you offer services like coaching as well, that giveaway content is a good introduction to what it would be like for them to work with you.
That’s exactly the way I think when I’m creating my giveaways Dequiana. How does this lead to a paid offer? Is this giveaway a realistic preview of how I work with clients? I’m glad you mentioned this, thank you for commenting!
These are great tips. I blog for a living and trying to get the right thing posted is tricky. Some posts get a lot of notice while some get none. It is a balancing act for sure!
I couldn’t agree more Amy, it is a balancing act!
Thank you for this post. I already avoid hot topics that cause arguments, but I really need to work on having a newsletter. It has been a weak point for my site.
You’re welcome Dawn! Newsletters are my weak point too, as they are for many of us. When I over think it, I never get mine out. Try making a twice a month schedule to start, and see how it goes:)
The Giveaway is something that I have to incorporate into my business blog re-branding. I did not even consider it.
I’m glad I turned on the light bulb for you Juanita! You have tons of info you could giveaway. I’d suggest you create something focused on a single topic, and simple to implement. And it will give people a reason to visit your rebranded blog:)
You are always providing great content. I have yet to read or hear anything from you that I did not find value in. As I was reading, I noticed that you applied the tips you mentioned in here (as well tips from some of your other classes). I’m going to take some of these tips and create a blogging checklist. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you Zenobia, I’m glad you have an actionable takeaway from this post. A blogging checklist is great!
I will follow your tips, great info. I have to build my list. Having problems with creating a lead page. This has e encouraged me to try again.
Great tips, I am going to definitely keep them in mind when writing, also I am challenged when trying to do the sign up forms or lead page on my site I have not yet build a list. I will give it another try, really need to work at this.
The sign up forms can be tricky. If you start with MailChimp or Aweber, you can create the page and get a text link to add to your site. As you get more savvy with creating opt in pages, you can graduate to the fancier pages like a LeadPages, Optimize Press, Instapage, etc. Start with the basics and work your way up!
UGH giveaways that’s what I forget to do. I’ll start that next year.
Yes, giveaways are ideal for list building. It doesn’t have to be over the top, just something good your audience would like.
Love love this post. Confirmed some steps I just took. I added a pop-up to collect emails and will be adding some throughout the site. I have also gotten a better email marketing system. Can’t wait to add my auto-responders. Thanks for the tips for Business Bloggers.
Hooray for you Dr. Taffy! Sounds like you are making some great upgrades to your blog. Kudos for putting in the effort, I know it will pay off ?
Really enjoy the information on RSS and email marketing for a business. As a fairly new blogger, my best resources are posts and other bloggers like you to learn from. Thanks!
You are welcome Lauren! It’s never too early to incorporate email marketing. I hope you are enjoying this adventure we call blogging:)
Great tips! I’ve been lagging behind in building an email list, must redouble my efforts!
Thanks Dermot. Yes, it’s time to get to work on that list!
Miss Kemya! You are a much respected woman in my world and this post is just as amazing as all of your others. I am still working to sort out my business and writing and how they go together, and you have been such an encouraging resource for me. I refuse to give up, even if I feel like I’m blindly grasping for straws now and then. Thanks again for the great post!
You are too kind Haley! Believe me, many of us feel like we’re grasping at straws from time to time. You have the right mindset, keep working at it and never give up. I appreciate you for stopping by:)
Great tips for business bloggers! I blog as a hobby but the don’ts are still good to know!
Thanks Rebecca! And you never know where your hobby may lead 🙂
As always, you are so on point with this article Kemya. Content and list building are such key elements to establishing a successful blog. You definitely laid out the strategies that will allow anyone who takes their blogging serious, to get the results they desire.
Thank you Tamyka! Many biz bloggers place too little emphasis on quality content. I always appreciate you for stopping by:)
These are all wonderful tips that are proven and easy to follow. I really appreciate and agree with the arguing and politics. We all have strong feeling one way or another but as a blogger we should not be pushing those ideas, we push away so many potential customers that way.
Yes Billie. So many business bloggers put too much of themselves in their posts, and don’t understand the harm it does to their brands. I try to explain the differences between lifestyle blogging and business blogging, but they don’t always get it. I appreciate you for stopping by!
Yessss! Value, value and more value because we don’t want no free junk!! lol. It’s such a great way to build up your brand and community overall.
Kudos for sharing this info and connecting a tribe of bloggers who want to learn more and support each other!!!
I’m so glad to hear you say that Malla, I knew I wasn’t the only one! And thank you for joining our tribe 🙂
Great tips Kemya! CTA are so important for conversion and I love when you said don’t give away free junk. Priceless!
Thanks Danica! It is disappointing to give your email address for a free offer that sounds great but turns out to be junk. I feel like I’ve been scammed 🙁
Great stuff! It shocks me that people in the online business world don’t understand the importance of having an email list full of quality subscribers. Social media is just advertising, email subscribers are where the bread and butter is!
You said it Stephanie! Businesses are putting too much emphasis on social media at the expense of email marketing.
Love it…I got lots of helpful information. I’m glad you posted the information about RSS feeds as I was looking into learning more about that the other day. Also, I agree about not arguing online, its unprofessional and does not look good.
I’m happy to be helpful Tammy. Thanks for stopping by:)
Thanks for this Kemya! I really need to give away more free content. I’ve been using primarily social media to build my list and have not been using enough giveaways.
You’re welcome Amanda. And yes, giveaways are a great list building strategy. Give people a reason to share their email address!
As a blogger who is fairly new, these are great tips and strategies, thanks! 🙂
You are welcome Kayla! We’re happy to have you join the blogosphere:)
Great content is key…..love this!
Glad you liked it Collette!
Fantastic “guide” to being a successful blogger! I have started my own blog less than a year ago and these tips really are useful. I will keep your tips and tricks in mind.
I’m happy to help Maddie! I wish I would’ve known some of these things when I started out. Congrats and the best of luck in your blogging future.