Network Solutions - Small business conversations and working together for small business success

Shifting your blog from a hobby to a business

Last weekend I attended a number of sessions at BlogWorld Expo. One that was particularly interesting was How to take your blog to the next level. The panel each had five minutes to share their tips:

Chris Brogan had some great ideas about using the innate abilities of the blog:

- use the comments for lead generation - get involved & respond (we are in a time of permission marketing)

- establish yourself as a thought leader - and help others

- write for your customers - be them, not you; what’s in it for them?

- SEO - use many links to encourage others to link; and use keywords that others would search for

- potential for affiliate marketing - $12 billion industry

Jeremy Wright of B5 media

- think less, plan less, do less stupid things - be consistent

Rob McNealy said that he’s low tech but has had success with small business online:

- convert your business to an online model

- the reason that most businesses fail is because people don’t consider if there’s a market for their product

- it’s hard work -some work full time jobs & blog so they end up spending 80-90 hrs per week working

The most outstanding question was a young man who is moving to Whistler, BC. He wants to create hyper local blog. His question was - will it succeed because he doesn’t want to invest the time if it won’t. The panel’s response was that it’s like any entrepreneurial effort. It will take hard work to make it succeed.

What questions do you have about taking a business online?

Comments are moderated and will appear shortly. See terms.