You think you don't have time to blog?

In reading a blog post today I came across this comment by a consultant in Vermont who focuses on Automotive SEO named Dan Durick.

"I get asked by local business people about how they should get more links, and I go into my spiel on blogging, creating useful content, link baiting, etc. Most of the time the response I get is "we don't have the time for that kind of stuff" followed by "we can't afford to pay you to do it".

What Dan's clients are missing is that there are some great strategies for any small  business marketer who thinks they don't have time to do blog writing.

The first thing for these Local Business Bloggers to understand is that it doesn't take a ton of content to be successful in your local market.  Try this:  Do a Google search for Office Relocation, Indianapolis.   The number one result is a blog from Carmen Commercial Real Estate.   This is a small five person firm that blogs infrequently (the post you land on is from October)   They title their blog pages with the keywords they are targeting and then add some content.  No big deal.

The most common misconception that business bloggers have is that they think that blog posts have to be really thoughtful...like they are going to have to spend hours crafting some deep insisght into the state of the Automotive Industry all the time.  This is just plain WRONG.   

Having an oil change special this week?  Blog.   Like the new Ford Focus in Teal Green?  Blog.   Hire a new salesperson? Blog.   Fire a lousy salesperson?  Blog  Too many SUV's in stock?  Blog.

My point is that in Corporate Blogging the Best Practice is to just talk about your day.  Talk about your business, your inventory, your customers, your likes and dislikes.....just don't over-think it.  

For you SEO's out there who focus on Small Business, help your clients target the right keywords, title their blogs with those keywords and teach them how to blog using those keywords and they will see how successful a simple blog strategy can be.

The second point I want to make is that all the content burden doesn't have to fall on the owner or president.    Look around, encourage your employees to blog or even your customers.   Use email marketing to solicit feedback (CONTENT) from your customers.

Your salespeople are trying to build their reputations and credibiltiy right?  Invite them to blog.  Now chances are they all won't, but even a couple of employees posting something every month or so can have a dramatic difference.  In my company we invite everyone to blog.  Our most prolific and insightful blogger is actually a software developer! 

And don't forget your customers.   Imagine if you sent an email out to everyone that experienced your service in the past week...anything from repairs to buying a car.   Tell them you have a blog and you would like to feature them in the next post...can they please write a paragraph or two and perhaps include a picture?   Say you send 10 emails a week, you don't think you would at least get one or two replies a month with stuff that's good enough to post?   

I live in the small town of Greenfield Indiana.  Do the search: Chambers Rosewood winery greenfield.  The top result should be a blog by Greenfield Liquors...the blogger is a customer who happens to like wine and wanted to participate.  She blogs at twice the rate of the business owner.

Advanced Business Blogging doesn't have to be that advanced.  Blog software is easy to use and affordable...but most importantly, business blogging is perhaps the most effective local search tactic available.