What is a BLOG and Why Should I BLOG?

Remind me again - What is a BLOG?

The word "blog" is one of the most searched words on the internet today. Why? This buzz word is searched because increasing numbers of people are trying to understand what blogging is about. A blog is a log or public "diary" posted online - A journal that is written for others to read. You can create blogs for personal, educational and informational reasons, business and corporate reasons or a multitude of other uses.

As a marketing tool, blogs offer great potential. Blogs have some truly unique characteristics as a marketing tool. Blogs are much easier than newsletters to get your idea across. They can be added to, and they can be updated at any time and from virtually anywhere. Blogs have long lasting shelf lives, as they exist on the internet until you decide to remove them. This contrasts to newsletters which once you send it out, it’s sent, hopefully read and gone. Unless you are just posting marketing materials, most blogs offer a large amount of information thus increasing you or your business’ credibility. Whether your blog is a personal blog or a business blog, viewers come to blogs expecting to find frank and personal perspectives on a topic that you are passionate about.

If you maintain your viewers and you respect the idea that you should be passionate about the content of your blog, then your credibility will go up, and this is what blogging is truly about. Blogs are easy to syndicate, meaning that you can get your information and opinions out there, and can allow them to spread. If you have an opinion to share, a product to sell, a brand to market or something else to say on the internet, and you think that people are going to want to read what it is that you have to say, then blogging is an excellent option.

If you do not have a blog that is associated with your business or your website, then now is an excellent time for you to start blogging. Blogging is an excellent addition to your marketing strategy. There are completely different dynamics when it comes to e-mail communication and blogging. Nothing facilitates conversation, communication and community the way that blogging does. There is no confusion about blogging being spam the way e-mails can. Blogs enhance your product, idea or brand.  Setting up a Blog is easy - go to "How to Set Up a Blog".  Want ideas to write about - go to 50 Blog Topics

So the answer to "Why Should I Blog?" is...... "Why Not?"

Call me, Toni F Ryan, for help or further details on QLIXITE.com's Social Media Plan - We can do it for you at a DIY price! 800-596-6218

50 Topics for a Small Business Blog - What Do I Blog About?

As promised in my last blog, below are 50 topics a business owner can use to get ideas about what to Blog. Read through and think about your last week and the many questions clients asked you.  Their questions will give you more topics.

Remember, Blogs do not have to be long - 250 words. Blogs just need to be relevant and answer a need for your client.

Use terms the average person would use. This will help to make your Blog more searchable.

Ready set - Start Blogging.

Feel free to call me if you need more help. Remember, if you find you cannot dedicate time to doing thisd, we are here for you. Contact Qlixite for info on our Social Media Plan which starts at $59 per month - less than an ad but so mcuh more!  800-596-6218

50 BLOG Topics
1) Identify a pressing problem in your industry and provide the solution.


2) Review a best-selling book in your niche.

3) Interview an expert in your industry and post the interview.

4) Write a tutorial or how-to article.

5) Put together a list of people in your industry that you recommend following on Twitter.

6) Make a 3-5 minute video or screencast and post it.

7) Compile a top ten list of important resources for your readers.

8) Illustrate how a current event relates back to your industry.

9) Assemble a list of the top 10 books in your industry.

10) Send out an invitation for guest blog posts.

11) Ask your readers a question and answer it in a post.

12) Highlight a successful customer or client.

13) Expose a scam in your industry.

14) Post a poll on Facebook and blog about the results.

15) Examine a "hot issue" in your industry by debating the pros and cons.

16) Ask your readers to send you new product/service ideas; compile the best ideas into a list and let your readers vote.

17) Put together a "tip list."

18) Post a photo related to your industry and blog about it. (Remember, a picture is worth a thousand words.)

19) Write about the advantages/disadvantages about a particular product in your industry.

20) Write a post highlighting an upcoming sale.

21) Compile a list of the top 10 blogs in your industry.

22) Feature causes and charities you support.

23) Illustrate why your small business is unique, distinctive and one of its kind.

24) Relate your small business to a special event – Olympics, Valentine’s Day, Ground Hog’s Day, etc.

25) Link to another blog post and offer your unique opinion.

26) Predict trends in your industry.

27) Blog about a small business mistake you made, what you learned from it and how your readers can avoid it.

28) Write about how your industry has changed in the last 5, 10, or 25 years.

29) Compile your best 10 blog posts of the year.

30) Put together a contest for you readers. Offer a fun prize.

31) Debunk or challenge a common belief in your industry.

32) Find a free and valuable resource and post a link to it.

33) Record a 3-5 minute podcast or audio and post it.

34) Assemble a list of the best blog posts you have read this week.

35) Search Digg and StumbleUpon and Google Alerts for hot topics in your industry. Blog about them.

36) Take an old blog post and update it.

37) Find a popular topic in your industry and run a blog series about it.

38) Share statistics and current research in your industry.

39) Visit a quote site, find a quote that relates to your industry and write about it.

40)　 Write a post that highlights the "best in your industry…"

41) Write a post about the "biggest mistakes in your industry…"

42) Create a beginner’s guide for newbies in your niche.

43) Send out a survey on Twitter and blog about the results.

44) Blog about a day in your life (or a day in the life of your industry).

45) Tell your small business story and why you are doing what you are doing.

46) Put together a "dictionary of common terms" in your industry.

47) Blog about who you would love to meet and why.

48) Write about what frustrates you about your industry.

49) Talk about what you love about your industry.

50) Write a press release and publish it on your blog.

Call me for more - Toni Ryan - Marketing Specialist - QLIXITE  800-596-6218

How Do I Set Up a Blog?

I get this question from many clients.  If a concept sounds too complicated, people just won’t do it and Blogging sounds difficult -- actually it sounds like a new language so it somehow gets put on the “To Do” list for tomorrow and tomorrow never comes. 

But….. Blogging is such an integral piece to effectively marketing your business, products and ideas via the internet you need to remove it from the “To DO” list and “DO It” today.  

Step by Step Blogger Instructions...............

So let’s get started. 

I use Blogger offered through Google.  It is easy and free and let’s face it – we want Google to find our page so why not go with their service. Google has other numerous services available and we will discuss those at a later time. 

To use Google’s Blogger you must sign up for a Google account.  If you already have a GMAIL account, you can sign into Blogger and begin setting up your Blog but for our purposes here, we will set up an account from the beginning. 

Go to www.Google.com 

Click on “More” in the black menu bar at the top 

Click on “Blogger” 

Click on “Get Started” (the orange box) 

Complete the form to create your account 

Display name – reflects either the person’s name if the information is coming from a specific person or the business name if the information is business related. 

Example 1:  A blog from Dr Jones may be a medical blog and therefore signed by Dr Jones.

Example 2: A blog focused on car maintenance and repairs should show the display signer to be the business name for the best branding.

Click on “Continue” 

Blog Title - Choose a title that expresses the information you plan to cover in your blogs  

Blog Address:  The address can be either the company name, a person’s name or searchable words that express the content but remember this will be the address – a domain name for your blog.  The address will be:  YourTitle.blogspot.com

Check Availability –   

Choose a Template – any one that suits your fancy – this can be changed later if you wish. 

Congratulations – You have set up your Blog and you are ready to start blogging!

Need a Social Media Marketing Plan? - Check out Qlixite (Click Site)

QUESTIONS - Call me - Toni Ryan - 800-596-6218    QLIXITE - We do it for you at DIY prices!

Next – What do I Blog About?

8 Tips to More Business Blog Traffic & Visitors

So you’ve created a fantastic business blog that engages visitors with unique and valuable content — only your hit counters is moving at a snails pace...ie: no one knows how great your business blog is yet.

No Problem!

Getting visitors to your great content is not rocket science and will not require you to move mountains. Here’s how to get increased visitor traffic to your business blog.

Take Advantage of Your Network
If you’ve been actively getting out, mingling with neighbors, clients and other fellow business owners - you’ve built up a pretty good network of potential blog readers and website-owning associates. Drop them an email to let them know about your new blog and ask them if they’ll read it and recommend your articles.

Promote Your Blog’s URL
You're in business which means you understand that everything you do is related to marketing. This concept applies to your business blog as well! Keep an eye out for different ways to make people aware of your blog’s URL. The most obvious way is to include it on any branding material like business cards, letterhead, in your email signature, and of course on your website! Make sure your blog is easy to get to - don't just tell people you have a blog, be sure to include the address or link your blog icon directly to your business blog. If you have a storefront - create a poster or signage that compels people to check out your blog for compelling information. Be creative - there are no limits to the ways you can promote your blog.

Don’t Ignore Search Engine Optimization
Just like your website, making sure your business blog is optimized for search engines to find it is a very smart thing to do. It may not make much difference right away but search engines are constantly looking for current and valuable content. As you continue to establish this consistently, it will pay huge dividends the larger and older your blog gets. Be sure to include relevant keywords in your blog title especially so the search engines know what your post is mainly about.

Create a Consistent Theme
The majority of bloggers don’t design the themes for their blog. As a business blogger you'll want to make sure that your visitors can identify right away what your blog is about and the kind of information they can expect. The look and feel of your blog should match that of your business. Please don't confuse this with blatent advertising. If your blog only sells you and your products - then you are less likely to get repeat visitors or blog subscribers. Your blog content should relate to your business and brand you as the expert (clearly this should be part of your theme).

Comment on Other BlogsCommenting on other blogs is a great way to get noticed, both by the blogger and by people reading the comments. Make sure your comments add value to the discussion, though. Saying comments like “That’s right!” or “I agree” doesn't give me any kind of connection to your own knowledge. Plus the strategy could backfire in a huge way if you only make comments that tryto get visitors to your blog by spamming other blogs.

Create Valuable Links Within Your Blog
In every post you write, be sure to link to sources, your website, other associate's websites and other pertinent locations. If you link to another blog, most avid bloggers watch their sites and notice right away if someone has linked to them, quite often leading to a beautiful friendship. Create posts specifically to review, expound, critique or disagree with things other bloggers have written (always respectfully so), and be aware of other opportunities to link out in every post you write. Some people worry that this kind of link sharing will lead people away from your blog but to be honest, just like most social media - sharing is caring. Make your business blog visitor believe that you have their interests in mind and again, they will remember you as the expert!

Join a Blog Network
A blog network is simply a collection of blogs that help drive traffic to one another. Large, established networks might not accept new blogs, but many do hold open application periods every so often. You can also approach networks that look like a good fit for your blog or even start your own — getting visitors to your blog and helping others to do the same!

Most Importantly…
All of these ideas are based on the assumption that you are posting relevant content on your business blog — which is easily the number one way to get visitors to your blog. If you don’t have valuable content, you’re not going to stand out and get repeat visitors. If you do have great content, you may not have to do anything else. People will talk and link and promote you themselves without you having to lift a finger. It’s not quite “If you build it, they will come,” but it’s very close. The main thing you may have to remember is to be patient.

So spend you initial energy on posting stuff worth reading before you start trying to actively get people to read it. You will not be disappointed!

Get your Qlixite Business Blog Now!