Why A Blog?
So, we really need to be sure that we understand why it’s important to our business. Indeed, it could be critical to our survival in business in the future. Why is a blog on any blog platform important to our business?
- The Internet consumer is far different in their behavior from the walk-in or conventional media consumer.
- The Internet values anonymity and not being “pitched” until we’re ready.
- The Internet consumer is a “searcher for information” early in their consumer cycle. They go to the Web to find information BEFORE they purchase, or even decide on where to purchase.
- Information, by its very nature, is ever-changing, needing updating regularly. This is an easy thing to do with a blog.
- Consumers who value the information they locate on the Web will tend to do business with the entity/site that provided that information.
- A huge amount of business will come to those with the website presence that draws the targeted consumer-visitor.
- Blogs work well with search engines due to their very design and the way they are updated, so those visitors will tend to locate blogs easily with searches.
Have you found yourself doing a web search on a product before you leave the house to go and buy it? Was it a product you could purchase at a number of locations or vendors? I know that I’ve even researched products that I could have purchased in WalMart, but didn’t in the end, just because I found another brand or outlet that provided more of the value that I wanted.
What about a service, or consulting? How many questions of a general nature do you have before you want to get specific with an attorney, accountant, Realtor, decorator, or anyone who provides personalized services? When you go to the Web to search for the answers to these questions, and you find a local provider or consultant who is freely providing helpful information, who are you likely to contact when you are ready for personal interaction and a purchase?
The facts are clear. People like to feel in control and knowledgeable when consuming products or services. The Internet places the research resources at their fingertips to get that knowledge and feeling of control BEFORE they have to get face-to-face with a sales or marketing person. Be the online resource that they value, and you’ll be the face-to-face resource that gets the business. It’s that simple … really.
