You already know that blogging is one of the most powerful ways to build your business online.
You’re also aware that it can be an enormous productivity killer if not done right.
But did you know that it’s become a deciding factor for many consumers? In a HubSpot study, it was found that 61% of consumers made purchases based on a blog post and that 70% learned about a company through its blog.
Those statistics make it clear that if you’re not blogging, your company is missing a huge opportunity. While you sit on the sidelines, your competition is passing you by. It’s time to take the plunge, or get left behind.
If you’re eager to build a successful business blog, acquire new customers and gain meaningful connections, this article will walk you through the process step by step.
Ready to get started?
Let’s go!
6 Steps to a Profitable Business Blog
1. Get Clear
Find Your Niche
Your first step is to define your topic and find your niche.
Understand Your Passion
- What topic or niche are you deeply passionate about?
- What would you do you for free?
- What would you spend every minute of every day doing if you could?
Follow your passion, be prepared to work hard and sacrifice, and, above all, don’t let anyone limit your dreams. – Donovan Bailey
Stay Laser Focused
Readers want to know what they’ll get every time they land on your blog. If you bounce from one topic to the next, you’re going to find it difficult to build a following.
Get hyper-specific about who your target market is and what type of content they’re looking for. Once you do this, you can produce content (and a product) that’s specific to their exact needs.
Be Original
This is your blog. Own it. Don’t constantly repost someone else’s work. If you want to stand out, you need to create original content.
Find your why; understand your mission and vision and then work to express that in your own words.
2. Uncover Your Unique Voice
Be Genuine
We talk a lot about authenticity and transparency in the online world. Both are equally important and no longer optional, but rather requirements if you want to build credibility and authority.
People will quickly sniff out anything that feels inauthentic. Remember that blog you visited only to find out that they didn’t practice what they preach? You never returned, right?
Don’t be that blogger. Be genuine in your actions and interactions.
If you take a sincere interest in others, they’ll take a real interest in you.
Try this Exercise
Talk out a post as you write it. Instead of worrying about how it sounds as you write, go back and edit later.
Over-thinking a post can lead to hard to read and often boring articles. Allow your personality to shine through instead of inhibiting your true voice.
Be Lighthearted
Even if you’re writing about something serious, it helps to infuse your writing with something fun or entertaining.
Don’t be afraid to keep your writing and tone light. While you might write about serious topics, there’s no reason you can’t inject a little humor every once in a while.
Be Yourself
While this one should go without saying, I’m going to throw it out there anyway. No one wants to read another carbon copy blog.
Sure it can be tempting to imitate your favorite writer, especially when you’re first getting started. However, I guarantee you’ll find far more blogging success if you can carve out your own unique space within a crowded blogging world.
3. Select Your Tactics
Simplify
As I said, it’s a busy online world. To capture the attention of fast-paced readers, keep your domain name and design simple. The days of flashy, crowded designs are over. Today, clean and fresh designs stand out.
Translate the essence of your business through a sleek, but simplistic design and lightweight theme.
Match Your Blog and Domain Name
Finding the right domain name is a crucial piece to building a successful blog.
Do your research, understand the keywords people are using to find your product or service and then keep your blog and domain name consistent.
Make it Your Own
Being similar to someone else is unoriginal and lacks the unique flair needed to stand out online. It can also label you a copycat and create havoc within the search engines.
Avoid this by putting your own unique spin on everything you do. From content to visuals, everything across your blog should scream YOU.
Pick a Content Management System
- Sift through your options and choose what’s best. This is one of your single biggest decisions. Don’t take it lightly.
- There are a lot of options, but if you’re blogging for business, WordPress is your best choice in my opinion. It’s flexible and user friendly, no matter the business.
- Make your decision based on functionality and needs. What will you need from your blog and how do you want it to look?
- Hosting is an enormous decision and should be discussed with a professional. There are a lot of options to choose from. Understand what they are and how they will best support your growing business.
4. Grow Your Presence
Create a Schedule
Whether it’s every day, three times a week or every other Monday, find what blogging schedule works best for you. You can’t expect to grow your readership if they never know when you’re going to post.
Stick to It
If you create a consistent posting schedule, readers will know what to expect. Let them know your schedule and keep them coming back for more.
And don’t forget to use email to notify your readers. Sending out a quick “here’s my latest post” email will keep your blog top of mind.
Make it Easy
Don’t make your readers sign up for something or sign in to engage with you. That’s just annoying.
If you put up too many roadblocks and make it difficult to interact on your blog, readers won’t come back and they definitely won’t get involved in the conversation.
Respond to Comments and Emails
The feedback you get is one of the most valuable parts of blogging. Take the time to respond to comments, making it a part of your blog schedule.
You will make the greatest connections and, most likely, meet some really terrific people along the way.
5. Use Visual Aids
Photos
A great smartphone is all you need to get started. A DSLR will take your pictures to a whole new level. Whatever the case, integrate visuals into your blog!
Videos
Try taking a how-to angle in your area of expertise, as these are the most searched and viewed.
Videos are an excellent way to connect with your readers, share your personality and expand on topics relevant to your consumers.
Infographics
We see them all over the web. Infographics are powerful and have the ability to draw people in quickly.
Be Kind
Not all of your feedback will be positive. While it might be tempting to get a little snarky in your reply, avoid rude comebacks.
If you have to, walk away and come back later. Always respond with a clear head and a positive mindset.
6. Connect
Claim Your Handles, Build Your Community and Amplify
Make sure everyone can follow you everywhere easily.
Whether they spend their time on Facebook, Google Plus, Twitter or Pinterest, know where your audience is hanging out and be sure to show up there.
Get Face to Face
- Network at events
- Link to other bloggers
- Comment on your favorite sites
- Email your favorite writers and bloggers for a deeper connection
- Follow them on Twitter
- Attend a blog conference
- Offer to guest post on your favorite site or blogs that publish similar content
- Perfect your elevator pitch
Final Thoughts
The benefits of building your business through blogging are significant. From improved brand awareness to increased reach and profitability, blogging can be a huge boon to your business.
But at the end of the day, no blog succeeds overnight. It requires commitment, vision and a willingness to go the extra mile. Even on those days you feel less than inspired.
If you’re excited to get started, don’t let anyone derail your dream.
Dive in, have fun and enjoy blogging about what you love!
Grab the Infographic Here (and pin it for later)
Infographic courtesy Visual.ly
Yes, I think that replying to comments is a good idea and we must have to do. I think that it is our responsibility as a business blogger to entertain our clients or audience. I think that it can also be our way to say thank you to them. Thanks for sharing this article.
Very interesting things are listed up here. When I start a my blog. It was hard to work with it and I really dont know about which topic should I need to cover. After a long time I realize what niche and micro niche. Than my career starts to make a impact. This article is exactly show all those steps I follow make my blog. SO these steps are really working all of the beginner must need to follow these tips.
Sound advice never really goes stale. What a great post to share your experience & cover a great amount of distance in a clear, concise piece. Beautiful work.
Nice post – I loved the insight . Does someone know if my company would be able to get access to a sample IRS 2553 document to complete ?
I’m practicing about copywriting to write my own article and I wrote some posts in my blog and maybe it’s not good enough but it’s mine and it’s not someone else’s post. Thank you for sharing your mind about this. It’s helpful for beginners like me.
As we look to launch a new blog series this coming August this blog let us know that we’re on the right track, “Make it your own”, one piece that rings true, nice insights!
I,m fairly new to blogging, and am interested in developing it so this caught my eye and makes sense.
Ive had a WordPress blog, but after having a new website designed, the blog is now on my site rather than WordPress, so I hope I haven’t shut myself off/cut down my chances of being found!?
Many thanks,
Joyce
Joyce, it sounds fine, I’m assuming you meant blog used to be on WordPress.com (they don’t tend to rank well.) It’s better to have the blog as part of your website.
Now that website might be a self-hosted WordPress install, which is different- that works well and gives you more options and bit more responsibility too in terms of updating plugins and such.
These fantastic tips will help me a lot in my business, I was looking for valuable content and found your blog, thanks for sharing, I saved in my favorites!
This is so informative I love the infographic. It will help me in my business with my nice which came from Paycheck to Prosperity
That’s terrific to hear Carmela!
Once the perfect attention grabbing description has been achieved, you have to identify the perfect spot on your page to position that descriptive link to your
high paying page. Just for an illustration, right
here is what you require to make a $1000 commission:A Sampler Multi Pack charge $105, your commission will be 20% at $21.
After long discussions with a few representatives, customers and after being sent a few samples I was satisfied
and comfortable enough to add this to my work from home list
of keepers.
Great example and you’re right – it does take time to craft the perfect attention grabbing description, but it’s well worth the time it takes.
Start your blog on a topic which most interests you and you’re very much passionate about it. Plus write freely, without thinking how good you’re writing but make sure you’re using latest information so that nobody can point to your credibility.
Great point Pankaj! Write what you know and love. That makes sharing your thoughts effortless, rather than overwhelming.
Hi Rebeka,
Love this simple template for the new blogger. I couldn’t agree with you more of how important it is to be original and stay yourself. Be phony is an easy one to spot quickly. There are so many people in some of the same niche’s today online that I think sometimes forget who they are because they get caught up with what their colleagues are doing. Showing your true personality wins clients over and that is exactly how it should be.
Great post and content for the learners. I seen the post from the Tribe and thought I would come visit, read your fabulous work and say hello.
Irish
You bring up such a great point Irish. (beautiful name btw) Paying too much attention to the competition can stunt business growth and hinder creativity. There’s healthy analysis that allows us to stay on top of what the competition is doing and unhealthy where we lose our own voice because we’re caught up in the comparison game. As you said, being yourself and allowing your personality to shine will always be a WIN!
Hi Rebekah,
I so appreciate this stat: “61% of consumers made purchases based on a blog post and that 70% learned about a company through its blog.”
I have found this to be very true even in a B2B enviornment. I just closed a $40,000 / 3 month consulting opportunity with a Fortune 1000 company because of my blog.
When a blog is done right there are unlimited opportunities. The best part is that you do the work once and it keeps paying for itself over-and-over again. I have articles four months old still be read and commented on and they are earning the opportunity for more sales discussions.
You can’t go wrong with that!
For me personally, the two most important items you mentioned is be original and find your own voice.
It will go a long way in helping you establish competency and in the online world people don’t build relationships that lead to sales in a B2B environment until you establish that you are competent to help them. Prove to them you can do it and then you can start earning a relationship.
That’s why originality of thought and the uniqueness of ones voice is so powerful!
Thanks for an awesome post Rebekah!
~ Don Purdum
Congratulations Don! I think the one additional piece is to never stop talking. From the writing, to the commenting to the interaction on social media, you have to stay in front of those opportunities. You do an excellent job at this which keeps you top of mind and driving people back to your blog.
It’s all hard work, but so worth it in the end!
Hi rebecca,
Love this post and I’m going to add your infographic to my website. I have a website for older folks like me who want to start a home business and, horrors of horrors, they have to write blog posts as well. So, i will probably have some webinars about this so your infographic is a great place for them to start!
Sorry, my husband is a spelling freak, I think you meant Get Face to Face. It was a pattern interrupt so I did stop for “Gat.” 🙂
Webinars are a great idea Jane. Content is such a tough topic and so many people push back on creating it.
LOL on the pattern interrupt. My business partner and I talk about that all the time. I’ll get that fixed!
Hello Rebecca, I am so glad that I found you. This is what I needed to know about blogging! I recently started a blog but didn’t do much research and turns out, my blog URL doesn’t match my blog theme, so now I NEED TO GET ANOTHER DOMAIN NAME THAT MATCHES MY THEME. Thanks for sharing this free and awesome information, and I will definetaly keep in touch because I subscribed to you email list. Thank you Rebecca, you rock!
Hi Louise! Well, it sounds like the good news is that you figured all of this out rather quickly. It is a process, but you’re on the right track!
Thanks so much for your subscription. I’m thrilled to see you here!
Hallo,
Ik wil weten en leren over online marketing.
Dank u
Hi Mujidat! You’ve definitely come to the right place to learn. Glad to see you here!
Hello Rebekah!This is my first time here. I found you on Donna Merrill\\\’s blog. I could not believe it when I read in this post \\\”Stay Laser Focused.\\\” I have been using that phrase the last few days all over. And, I know nothing is coincidence!I think I am doing all of these, but of course there\\\’s room for improvement. My blog is only 3 months old but this isn\\\’t my first blog. My weakest area? Videos. (Sigh). I understand everything about the benefits and have assisted clients with probably hundreds. I just don\\\’t get passionate about them at this point. But, I am changing my attitude! Since I love to share experiences and knowledge, I will put my readers first… they want videos! I love the infographic and all of the information you shared with us. Perseverance, commitment, taking responsibility… and give, give, give!Have a great week, thank you!Deborah
That’s terrific Deborah – thank you for popping over from Donna’s blog. I’m a huge fan of Donna’s!
Congratulations on your new blog. That’s so exciting! Video is such a great way to connect with your audience. I know you will have a lot of fun putting those together!
Fantastic tips and I love the infographic. I find the most challenging part of building a presence with your blog is getting steady qualified traffic. How did you get over that hump Rebekah?
Hi Nicola! It comes with time and consistency. Commit to a schedule and to building your list so you can stay in front of people eager to share your content.
Plenty of excellent tips and extremely full of life step-by-step guide.
Could you tell me how to be original(No 1)?
Cheers
Jim
Now, there’s a great question Jim! It can be difficult to be original, especially if you’re in the social media space. It can feel like everything has been said or done.
The fastest way I know how to differentiate yourself is to live and breathe your passion. Talk and write about what you love most. This allows your true voice to shine through.
I put off Blogging for a long time..until I read enough to know I “had enough to say” to get started. I was intimidated. Now that I’m really into it, I’m really thrilled at what great responses I’ve gotten from it! I’m still learning.. Practice makes perfect I guess!
Please check it out, it’s all about color and design. http://Www.Color911.com/blog
That is so exciting Amy! It is amazing how we hold ourselves back, believing that we don’t know enough or have enough to say.
The truth of the matter is, and what you’re finding out, is that you have an amazing amount of knowledge people are dying to gain access to!
Hi Rebekah.
That was a nice post. I liked the way that you laid out the ideas clearly.
It’s very important to make it easy for our readers, and you led by example. Bookmarked and shared.
Nathan.
Hi Nathan! Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for stopping by!
Hi Rebekah!
Got your email and went straight over here.
I’m actually applying most of these, but it’s definitely a lot of work.
I’m trying to make my posts show who I am, my real voice. I hope I’m doing things correctly.
I’m still adjusting to my own blogging schedule, it’s harder than the rest for me. It takes me some time before I can finally focus and write 🙁
Thanks for the infographic as well, sharing it out shortly. 🙂
Hi Dennis! It is a process and there’s always some trial and error. The schedule is also a work in progress. You have to keep testing to see what works best for you and your audience.
Hi Rebekah! Yeah, I’ll keep trying and learning from you. 🙂
Hope you could take a look at my blog post and maybe give me a critique when you have a couple minutes haha!
Hope you had a wonderful weekend! 🙂
Keep the great posts coming!
Best blog I have read in a while. It showed me that I was forgetting to do what I love. This blog was full of ideas and I am learning as I speak. Thank you Rebekah. Pleased to make your acquaintance.
Hi Ellen! It’s great to meet you. Thank you so much for that feedback. I really appreciate it!