How do you know what new trends to embrace, and which to ignore?
One trend that can improve your business results is to write more often on your business blog...plus...read, comment, and ask for product reviews on blogs within your market niche. Without doubt, your readers will let you know what they want to learn. Ask them what they need and give it to them.
Bloggers can help your business blossom
Businesses of all types and sizes are focusing on the power of bloggers as opinion shapers. Harnessing that power is particularly important for small business owners.
Andrew Milligan, of Sumo Lounge International of Los Angeles, CA, like many small business owners was looking to gain exposure and boost sales through the blogosphere. He sent an email to the popular technology blog, www.Engadget.com, asking the editors to review his product. While they declined his request, they agreed to trade three months of advertising on their site for 20 Sumo bean bags to outfit their new office.
Within 48 hours of the Sumo ad's appearance on Engadget.com, an editor from Playboy magazine clicked on the ad and liked what he saw. He featured the bean bags in the magazine, and within about a week, Sumo had sold 500 bean bags.
Pleased with the results of that effort, Mr. Milligan began to pitch his bean bags to bloggers on a daily basis, sending them emails with links to Sumo's website and offers to send bean bags to review. Two years later, after more than 250 blogger endorsements or posts about Sumo's bean bags, the company's annual profit had tripled. "This approach saved my business," says Milligan. "It took Sumo from nothing to a fairly large and profitable company."
For blog marketing ideas and other effective approaches to blogging, check in with the Blog Squad today.
Source: The Wall Street Journal, March 17, 2008