People are always busy and in order to gain and keep readership as a blogger, you need to provide your readers with information that makes their lives easier, better and less stressful.
Business blogs are a unique case because the general subject matter tends to be a bit dry. It’s up to you as the blogger to overcome that obstacle and provide the business information you are offering in a quick and easily digestible way.
How do you do that? Here are seven ways you can engage readers of your business blog and keep them coming back.
1. Offer Advice
You’re likely blogging about business because you have business experience. One way to gain loyal readers is by sharing your knowledge and giving them practical information they can use in their own businesses. You can give your readers an instant benefit by avoiding abstract ideas and providing specific tips, advice and tools they can use right away.
You’re likely blogging about business because you have business experience. One way to gain loyal readers is by sharing your knowledge and giving them practical information they can use in their own businesses. You can give your readers an instant benefit by avoiding abstract ideas and providing specific tips, advice and tools they can use right away.
2. Talk to the Audience
You’re already ahead of the game with this one, because the readers of your blog have interests that are common to yours, otherwise they wouldn’t be reading your blog. Get to know them by keeping an eye on comments, watching for trackbacks and listening to feedback in other forums. All of this input can be material you can use to make your posts resonate with your individual readers.
3. Share a Personal Story
Business is business and personal is personal, right? Not anymore. Today there is an increasing amount of overlap between the two, and people want to know a little more about the person behind the blog, beyond that they are an expert in business. So give a little of yourself to create a stronger relationship with your readers.
4. Go Off-Topic
Throw in an occasional post that’s not exactly business-related. If it bombs, it bombs and you know to go a different route next time. But if it is successful, you can insert some comic relief, mindless banter and maybe even a personal story as listed above to give your readers a brief change of pace.
5. Keep It Short and Sweet
You could probably write some very long posts when you’re discussing your latest business endeavor or what it took to have your website redesigned. If that much information is necessary, split it up into a multi-part series. Use lists, subheads and images to break up heavy content whenever possible.
6. Give Up the Wheel
Ask specific questions at the end of your posts to encourage reader commentary. For every few posts where you provide advice, throw in a post that asks for the answer. Involving your readers will give them an opportunity to take an active role in your blog.
7. Give readers what they want
Carefully read the comments provided by your readers. They are invaluable because they allow you to tailor your posts to the information your readers are asking you to provide. Acknowledge the comments, answer the questions, and address the requests and you’re on your way to building great relationships with your readers.
Share with us what some other ways to engage readers when we are blogging about business subject matter.
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5 comments:
The information isn’t “new” but it is still relevant. And, do you know what’s funny? Most people don’t listen to these tips even though its the sure-fire method for building a successful blog.
So, if you’re sitting at a blog with less than 5,000 RSS, take a look at this and make sure you’re using these tips. Great job Eva!
Well put, I intend to implement some of these tips. I manage and provide most of the content for my company’s blog since the new year, but I haven’t quite figured out my target audience or who I want to reach, for I can be somewhat random in my writing and go off on tangents for humor sake. We’re a creative shop/ad agency so I feel the need to exercise creativity through the blog as an outlet, but yet there has to be a level of professionalism to indeed keep it a “business blog” for clients causing me a bit of divide.
So I guess my question to you is, how do you find your niche or audience as a business blog? Should you strictly gear towards potential clients or market? Or have a bigger reach?
Hi Anna,
If you want a truly successful business blog you can survey your customer service dept on what problems they come across on a recurring basis.
Take that information, and as marketers you should easily be able to flip the problems into useful information that your customers can use.
Do this to cover the bulk of your content and you should have a blog that your customers will find useful and return to regularly.
Business blog shouldn’t get too formal, forget the old-styled rigid templates, people are more comfortable when knowing who are they dealing with. Pros are everywhere, only those who’re willing to communicate are appreciated the most.
I think a niche for a business blog is
automatic. It’s what you know and are passionate about. My personal opinion is to avoid marketing to potential clients directly. Just provide quality information and aim to help others with your knowledge and it will have numerous positive “side-effects.”
Hope this helps.
Thanks,
Eva
Thanks Andy. Always appreciate your inputs. Coffee soon?
Anytime! You busy next week? lets grab some pub lunch? Shout you another baileys on the rocks.
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