Blogs should do a couple of things for your small business. They should help website visitors see that you have expertise in your line of work. They should also help make your site fresh, with regular new content to appeal to your customers and potential customers. But coming up with ideas to write weekly can be a challenge. Here are some ideas:
- Give your spin on some news that is related to your business. It’s OK to summarize a news story and then talk about how you would handle a situation or what advice you would give to someone is a similar situation. Keep the commentary professional and positive.
- Write about a situation you had with a customer recently. You can explain how you found a solution for a problem that person had. Make sure to get the customer’s permission to share his or her story if you’ve used identifying details. Often, a satisfied customer will give you a quote or testimonial that you can use in your post, if you just ask.
- Talk about a new product that you recently got in stock. Or talk about a product you’re thinking about carrying, or that you are seeing increased demand for in your store.
- Share tips. If you run a service business, you can educate your customers about your profession and give them useful advice. A plumber could list five ways to keep your drains from clogging; a garden center could write about five plants that will give your yard winter color; a medical professional could suggest five ways to stay healthy during flu season. Keep these fairly short and simple.
- Check your competitors. What are some topics that other blogs covering your subject matter have included recently? Look for a subject to draw inspiration from and give your own take.
You can find inspiration for your blog in many different places. It’s a great idea to carry a small notebook or have a file on your phone or PDA where you can list ideas. When you sit down to write, you’ll have a place to start.