The Non-Bloggers Guide to Kick-butt Blogs
You know that blogging is one of the best ways to draw visitors to your website, and interest in your business.
The problem is… you are not a blogger.
Don’t let that stress you, or become a reason for not trying blogging. Many successful bloggers started as non-bloggers. In fact, they started just like you, with no experience but having a passion for their business, and found that they actually had what it took all along. With help from our quick start guide, you do too!
1. Banish your blogging fears, and just start writing.
Most people that want to have a blog also have a list of reason why they do not already. Treat it like jumping in a cold pool and just do it. Ignore, just for a moment, all of your reasons for not, and just jump in. You can find solutions to what you see as problems later, but chances are they will not even become an issue.
2. Don’t sweat the small choices.
There are endless choices in blogging from software to widgets. Choose software and move on. You can go crazy with all of the additional tools later. First, just choose one and open the account. WordPress, Blogger, and Typepad are three of the most popular.
3. Watch a tutorial on the blogging platform.
You do not need to know everything about blogging. Probably nobody does. Successful bloggers just know where to go to get the information they need, and that is usually the blogging community. If you do not know the answer, about 100,000 others do not know the answer either, which, ironically enough, makes it a great topic for a tutorial! If you have a question, there is a step-by-step tutorial with the answer. If you do not know, ask.
4. Choose great titles.
Spend time choosing a list of catchy titles before you start. This is important because it serves many great purposes, such serving as your action plan, keeping you motivated, and gaining reader interest. People often read a tile and move on if the title does not grab them. Make your titles interesting and something meaningful to the reader. For example, instead of, “Automotive Accounting” try, “How to Overcome Accounting Pitfalls”; or instead of “Getting your Automotive Business on Track” try something like “10 Steps to Profitability in the Automotive Industry” for greater impact.
5. Start posting on what you are passionate about.
The good news is—passion is the secret to any successful blog because it is the one ingredient you cannot manufacture. There is an endless amount of interest in the automotive industry. Share your own interest and you will gain a following of people that share your interest. It dos not matter if your interest is management in the automotive industry, parts, tools, technology, or a specific model car—just start sharing.
5. Solve a problem and you’ll gain a reader.
You have answers people need. Use your knowledge. Think of the question people have, or the things you wish people knew about your industry and write about that. When you see problems, use your blog to offer solutions. This not only gains readers and heightens your visibility; it demonstrates your goodwill, knowledge, and professionalism. Remember, there is huge value in offering solutions because thousands of people have the same question.
6. Write for your customer.
Think about the needs of your customer, and then address them in your blog. Do not be abstract, but give direct, simple solutions. Assume that the reader does not know your industry or your buzzwords. Be informative, but do not go over their heads.
7. Don’t quit.
It seems simple, but blogging really does take consistency and fortitude. It is just like any other part of your business. If you want it done, you have to make it happen. Fortunately, nobody expects a blog over night. All you need to do is add a little on a regular basis.
You can research blogging forever but the only thing that will make you a successful blogger is by doing it.