10 Ways Small Business Marketers Can Crush Big Competitors

As a small business, it can seem difficult to compete with the big guys of the world. After all, you don’t have the same financial resources, or the manpower, to engage in a great deal of high-priced marketing. The good news is that the Internet can act as a great equalizer. You can attract more notice, and you can build a following for yourself, competing with the bigger companies—and even winning.

If you are looking for ways to distinguish your small business from the bigger competition, we have 10 ways you can put yourself forward:

1. Focus on the High Quality and Uniqueness of Your Product

Your first move is to offer a high quality product that your audience wants. Even if your product is similar to what someone else is offering, you can distinguish it in some way. Is it made using the finest materials? Do you have some sort of handmade product that is unique? Focus on the way that your product is different, and show how it offers something above and beyond. Discerning customers will appreciate the quality of your offering.

2. Offer Superior Customer Service

Word gets around when you offer superior customer service. A big company can lose site of individual customers. However, as a small business, you have a chance to connect on a more personal level with your clientele. Provide customer service that is accessible, and high quality. Work to make your customers happy, and they will not only remain loyal to you, but they will become fans that share you product with friends and family.

3. Create a Strategy for SEO

When writing content for your blog, or when writing descriptions of products and services, consider your SEO strategy. The major keywords might all be hogged by the big companies, but there are ways to focus your efforts. Use a keyword tool to help you identify successful keywords. Also, focus on phrases, rather than single words, and don’t underestimate the power of long-tail, organic results. Pay attention to the long-term, and keep your SEO strategy in mind, and you will be more likely to find success.

4. Strategize with PPC

Yes, PPC advertising costs money. However, it might be worth to you if getting in on high-revenue keywords is too difficult. Carefully evaluate your keywords, and what you want to happen with your keywords. Then, target a few high-yield keywords for PPC advertising. You can pay for the ads, and you likely find good results. However, research is essential, since you don’t want to waste your money. It’s about putting your money where it will do the most good.

5. Create a Social Media Profile

Interaction with others is essential for success on the Internet. As a result, it is vital that you set up a social media profile. A social media profile that allows you to use keywords (social media profiles are increasingly searchable), and allows you to share your insights on relevant topics, can draw more people to your web site—and even result in more sales. Your social media profile should be consistent across web sites so that visitors can readily identify your brand.

You don’t need to join every social media site, but you can benefit from identifying the sites your audience is most likely to visit. Establish a presence, sharing useful information (don’t just push your products), and interacting with customers, and you will build a loyal following that rivals the big companies.

6. Pay Attention to Inbound Analytics

Use analytics to tweak your approach to marketing your products and services. Pay attention to where traffic is coming from (what sites refer visitors), as well as what times of day the traffic is heaviest. You can also use inbound analytics to see which keywords and keyphrases are most popular for driving traffic to your web site. Use this information to adjust when you post new content to your blog, as well as to focus on different keywords. With the right analytics information, you will be able to direct your resources more profitably.

7. Use the Right Technology

Determine what technology is likely to help your business grow. As a small business owner, it can be difficult to do everything all at once. The right technology can help you automate some tasks, such as sending out emails, submitting to social bookmarking web sites, and generating coupon codes. Figure out which technology is likely to help you the most, and then use that technology. You will free up more of your time for building your business, and spend less time fretting about smaller housekeeping tasks that can become time consuming and tedious.

8. Build Your List

Invest some time and effort into building a solid opt-in list. Your list should include leads that can be used to improve your business. You will need to encourage people to sign up, so that means spending time creating attractive landing pages, and encouraging people to find you on Facebook. Offer premium content, or insider deals. Think of ways that being on your list could be seen as a benefit. More customers will opt-in, and you will see more repeat business and better success as you reach out to leads through your list.

9. Be Flexible

One of the advantages to owning a small business is that you have a certain amount of agility that the big guys don’t always have. Remain flexible in your business. Be willing to change your approach if something isn’t working. Quickly react to industry news, and adjust to the demands of your market. Your ability to be flexible can give you an edge as you work to expand your business.

10. Hire Good People

Even a small business occasionally needs to make hires. Before you hire someone, though, you need to make sure that you will be filling a need. Evaluate your strengths and weaknesses. Acknowledge areas that need improvement, and then hire someone to fill that need. You should find someone who is knowledgeable about something you don’t understand as well. Hire good people who can help you navigate the waters, and provide you with expertise that you need.

It is possible to compete with the big guys as a small business. While you may not end up with billions in revenue, you can still do quite well—no matter how small your business is. With the right planning, and with a little ingenuity, you can hold your own, and grow your company.

This guest post was written by Lior Levin, a marketing consultant for a large neon open sign company that provides various custom made neon signs.

Top 25 Make Money Online Blogs for 2012

The authors here at Can I Make Big Money Online are very happy to share some exciting news with you today…

We made the list of the top 25 make money online blogs to follow in 2012. In fact, we are the first blog mentioned on the list!

Although this isn’t the first time we have made a list like this, it’s still always a great honor to be mentioned on them. It lets us know that we are successfully doing the job we set out to do; teach regular people how to make money online.

Please take a moment to share the list with your friends on Facebook and other social networks. They also have twitter, G+1, and stumbleupon submit buttons conveniently located just above the post that you can use. Anything you can do to help spread the word will be greatly appreciated!

Fix Credit Now to Save Big Later

I know this isn’t the usual post topic you find here because it’s not necessarily about making money online. However, credit repair can save you money, and as the old saying goes, “a penny saved is a penny earned” so I think you will benefit from it nonetheless.

As an entrepreneur, it is vital to have your money affairs in order. What your credit profile says about you also reflects on your business. It is important for you to pay attention to not only where you are financially but also where you stand credit-wise.

Working in the online market can be highly profitable but it requires a stable financial foundation to start with. If you are planning to get any type of financing in the future for business or personal, it is imperative you do the work to repair your credit now rather than wait until it is too late.

Why Good Credit Matters:

• In Your Business Life

Working as an entrepreneur, your business needs to build its own foundation financially but it will first rely on the credentials of the business owner. If you have poor credit scores, it will be hard for you to get any kind of financing to start or grow your business. You will also find it difficult to do business with vendors and suppliers with whom you need a line of credit.

Before you start a business online or off, you need to review your credit score and do the work necessary to get it back into the excellent sector. Your credit will be the springboard to starting a stable foundation for your business’s credit.

• In Your Personal Life

Most entrepreneurs start a business for the flexibility and the financial freedom self-employment offers. One of the most apparent drawbacks of working for yourself is the potential for inconsistent income. You should start a business knowing you have at least a year’s worth of living expenses saved in the bank for when the business is still getting off of the ground. While many people will not wait until that amount has been saved up, most at least have some fall back money to tide them over and prevent serious issues with debt.

At some point you will want to enjoy the benefits of your company’s profitability. Socking away funds for retirement and purchasing a home are two common goals of the self-made business owner. But if you maintain a poor credit score, it will be difficult for you to save extra money because you’ll end up having to spend more cash over your lifetime for basic services including utilities, cell phone plans, and car insurance.

If you are able to afford a new home purchase as a self-employed entrepreneur, it is imperative to not only have your finances in order, your credit will play a large factor in not only the approval for the home loan, it will also dictate how much you end up paying on your monthly house note. The amount of interest on the mortgage you receive will be directly related to your credit score. If you can maintain a credit score over 730, lenders will not only give you the best rates, but also more loan options.

Credit scores under 730 may put you at risk for not getting approved for your home loan. They will also basically guarantee you will pay a much higher interest rate over the life of your loan. More of your business profits will need to go toward your mortgage payment. It is not just a small amount either. Just a few points difference in your mortgage interest rate can literally mean you will pay hundreds of thousands of dollars over the life of your mortgage loan.

Moving Forward With Better Credit

Since you have put so much effort into getting your business up and running at the same time balancing the rest of your life, it only makes sense for you to first start with the job of clearing your credit history and maintaining the highest credit score possible.

Despite the claims of some companies, credit repair is something every consumer is capable of accomplishing. Credit history reports are available to every consumer free of charge once a year and for 60 days after you have been denied credit approval. Credit scores are not a part of the free deal but for a minimal fee, you have instant online access to the credit scores maintained by the consumer credit reporting bureaus including TransUnion, Experian, and Equifax.

Once you have ordered your reports and scores, you must review all of the data contained in your credit history and double-check the data for inaccurate information which can lower your credit score. Incorrect information can be disputed with the agencies listing the data.

You need to account for all accounts that still have an outstanding balance and make a reasonable plan to pay off these debts and improve your credit profile. By eliminating debts, you will not only clear your credit, you will also have less financial pressures from your startup operating.

The better your credit is, the less you’ll have to pay in down payments, deposits, and interest rates moving forward in both your business and your personal life. Do what you can now to fix your credit because while any consumer has the power to improve their own credit, there is no overnight solution to repair credit histories. It takes time to improve your credit scores so work consistently over the next several months and see what a difference a little focus can make. Take your credit as seriously as you do your business and you’ll reap rewards for the long term.

Guest post written by… J.D. Roberts is a seasoned writer in finance, specializing in credit repair. You can find more of his articles located at CreditRepair.org

I Happened to Stumbleupon Your Facebook While I Was LinkedIn to Your Twitter

Social networking this, social bookmarking that. It’s a social media crazed world out there. And it’s only getting bigger. Every day there are thousands more people getting on Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus, and LinkedIn. Oh and let’s not forget about Stumbleupon, Digg, Reddit, and countless others.

Whether you are a casual user who is on these sites for fun and connecting with others, or you use them as a business marketing tool for making money online, there’s no denying the power of social media. The world is now more connected than ever before. On any given day you might have an online interaction with someone from every continent of the planet.

So, what does all this social media stuff mean for you?

If you are a casual social media user then it means you can connect with people you have not seen or heard from in many years. It also means that you could use your connections to start an online business, whether you have ever thought about that or not. You don’t have to be full-time but you could earn extra money on the internet using social media in various ways.

If you are a business owner it means you have the opportunity to use the power of SMM to your advantage. You can reach your customers and potential market like never before. You can also tap into a whole new client base worldwide that you never could have done without social media. Even small local businesses can expand into a global market nowadays without needing an entire marketing team or a huge budget.

Of course, it will still take time and work. You can’t expect to just sign up for a few social networking sites and have your business explode overnight. You need to build up a following, be consistent with your efforts, have patience, and set yourself apart from everyone else in your niche trying to do the same thing. The key is to be unique, informative, entertaining, and valuable.

It’s a whole new digital world out there. Make sure you aren’t getting left behind!

5 Ways to Monetize Your Blog

When it comes to making money with your blog, monetizing your blog is an important part of it. Some bloggers monetize their blog the day they publish their first post and others monetize their blog when they have established the blog and have a steady stream of traffic coming in everyday. But, no matter which group of bloggers you belong to, sooner or later, you have to think about monetizing your blog. Thankfully, when it comes to making money with your blog, there are a few good options.

Here are 5 ways to monetize your blog:

1) Pay Per Click (PPC)

PPC is one of the most popular ways to make money with a blog and Google Adsense is the most popular PPC network that bloggers use. As the name “pay per click” suggests, you get paid each time someone clicks on ads displayed on your blog. The amount of money you can make with each click depends on a few different factors, the most important one being the importance of the topic and the keyword. For instance, Keywords related to finance like credit, mortgage and home loan are some of the highest paying keywords.

PPC advertising networks like Adsense and Bidvertiser, use a smart technology that displays laser targeted ads based on the content of your page. So, if your blog is about food, you won’t see finance related ads displayed on your blog, it will be ads about food and cooking.

2) Cost Per 1000 Impressions (CPM)

With CPM you get paid per impression, usually a few cents per impression. The good thing about CPM is that no one has to click on your ads for you to get paid, the bad news is that most of the time you get paid only a few cents per thousand impression. So, CPM would work much better on blogs with high amounts of traffic.

However, you can still benefit from CPM even if you don’t get much traffic and views. Usually ad networks allow CPM to be used in conjunction with other kinds of ads like PPC ads. Since PPC pays per click, you could place PPC ads above fold and above or under your individual posts, and place your CPM ads on less prominent parts of your blog, where they won’t replace the PPC ads, but you will still get impressions on them. One of the most well-known CPM ad networks is AdBrite.

3) Cost Per Action (CPA)

CPA is self explanatory. Its a method of advertising where in order for publisher (you, the blog owner) to get paid, the visitors has to click on the ad and take the necessary action that is required by the advertisers. These “action”s could be as simple as submitting an email address, registering for a website or subscribing for a free newsletter, to purchasing a product or opting in for a paid service. The most popular kinds of CPA ads are 125×125 ads that are usually placed in the left or right side (side bar) of the blog.

Of course, the commission you receive for each valid transactions, depends on the individual ad and the kind of action it requires. Usually ads that ask visitors to purchase a product or pay for a service pay much higher than ads that ask for free sign-ups and entering basic information such as name and email address. But either way, CPA ads pay a lot more than PPC or CPM ads. Amazon Associates, ClickBank and Commission Junction are some of the biggest CPA advertising networks.

4) In-text Advertising

This is one of the newest kinds of blog monetization methods. There is no need to set aside space on your blog to place ads. With In-text advertising specific keywords within the text of your content are matched with ads, turning those keywords into underlined or double underlined words. In text advertising works the same way as CPC. You get paid every time someone clicks on the ad.

In-text advertising is not for every blog. It really depends on the audience and the topic of the blog and sometimes even the structure of the blog.The key to using in-text advertising successfully is moderation. Don’t set your option to having 1 ad in each sentence, its a big turn off. A few in text ads in each post is plenty. Kontera is one of the biggest In-Text advertising companies out there.

5) Text Links

Text links (I call them affiliate links) are basically links that point to another site. Text links direct visitors from your blog to someone else’s blog or website. When it comes to getting paid, Text links work differently than other methods, meaning the pay is based on the popularity of your blog. The more popular your blog is, the more money you get. Text-Link-Ads and Link Worth are two of the most famous text link advertising companies.

These are some of the most popular and easy ways you could monetize your blog. However, when it comes to blog monetization, there is no one method that could work for every blog and every blogger. That is why you need to do your own research. Experiment with different types of monetization methods, and try different things with each method.

For example, if you use PPC, move your ad blocks around on your page and keep track of the results. Doing so enables you to find out which kind of ad block (color, size, etc) in which spot on your page gives you the best results, thus allowing you to make more money from your blog.

This is a guest post written by Satrap of http://www.blogstash.com

Benefits of Social Media Marketing – Will it Help Your Business Website?

We all know that every business organization needs to create a unique webpage to boost their business profit and be seen among a large number of online visitors. As there’s a lot of fuss surrounding social media these days, you too must take a jump onto this bandwagon if you haven’t yet. There are many social media websites where a large number of people socialize and also try to make profit out of them. Marketing your business website through social networking sites is an effective part of SEO and can have a good effect on your profits. Here are a few ways how…

• Ascertains a brand and raises awareness: Since the majority of the population is visiting social media websites like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, you can also create your brand name by letting people know about your webpage. As these are the names of some authentic social networking websites, having a business profile on such sites will help boost your brand image and also raise the awareness among the people.

• You may spy on your competitors: You can easily spy on your competitors by following them on Twitter or Facebook. You can easily see what the tools that they have up their sleeve are and that they’re using in order to keep an edge over others. You can adopt any methods you like that your competitors are using.

• You can track your customers: Almost everyone nowadays uses websites like Twitter and Facebook and therefore they are great places to track your customers. You may come to know what they like about your company or products and services, and also about the problems that they have with the services offered by you. Utilize their constructive criticism and use them for enhancing the quality of your products so that you can make more profits.

• Boosts customer confidence and loyalty: If you have a business profile in all the popular social media websites, you can speak to your customers more easily and frequently. This will boost the confidence of the customers and you can easily maintain a good relationship with them that is beyond the relation of a typical customer and business owner. This will also enhance your customer retention ability.

• Conduct market research: You can visit various websites and make sure they are on par with the others. You may speak to your competitors so that you can share your opinions on various social media websites. Use your new-found information so that you can boost your productivity and also keep an edge over your competition.

Therefore, if you are a business owner who wants to increase its visibility, you must use the social media websites to promote your business in a natural way. This will also help with your SEO efforts to boost the search engine ranking of your website. There really is not downside to utilizing social media for your business other than the small amount of time it takes, so go for it!

This is a guest post sent by Alex Brown of http://www.all360.net

3 Ways to Make Money Online Fast

I spend most of my time writing about ways to make money, which is great and all, but a lot of the time it can take months before you actually start earning anything. So what if you need a little extra money right now?

Glad you asked… Here are a few ideas which hopefully won’t mean waiting for months and months for your Google Adsense earnings to get into double digits:

1: eBay!

There are lots of ways to make money on eBay, but the simplest way to start is to sell some of your own stuff. Seriously, just a few things. First it will help later if you have at least sold a few items, and second you are going to need some seed money.

Next step, once you have a little bit of experience and money to spend, you are going to start looking in the wholesale section on eBay. This is by far the easiest way to find potential lots.

Try to buy mixed lots of “stuff” – look for lots which already have bids so that you know you are getting a good price. The bottom line is that you have to take a punt and learn what works, but if you are careful, you can re-sell any lots that don’t work out and at least get most of your money back, so the risk is pretty low.

2: Fiverr!

This is a simple site where people go on and say what they will do for $5. If you can think of some service, or quirky product that you can sell for $5 each, you might be able to make a little extra money on Fiverr.

To get ideas, simply navigate to fiverr.com and see what other people are offering. The key is to come up with something novel that can be done quickly and cheaply.

You may not be able to make a lot doing this, but there are certainly people who do make a nice little bit of extra money by doing silly, fun things. The first step is to spend a long time studying the site and other people’s offers; you will soon get a feel and hopefully some ideas for your own offering.

3: Textbroker!

If you are a native English speaker and you can write pretty well, you can sign up to be a writer on Textbroker.com. The system is simple enough – people who need articles request them, and as a writer you can pick the titles you want to write.

There are different quality levels, and you generally have to start at the bottom, but if you write well you can soon go up to the top quality level and you can actually make some decent money. The key is to get to level 5 – at this level the amount you get paid is actually pretty reasonable – much better than you stacking shelves anyway!

So, there you have it, three ways to make money online fast! Now all you have to do is get started.

This is a guest post written by Alex at http://www.tomakealiving.com

Choosing a Merchant Services Provider

Accepting credit cards isn’t a do-it-yourself project. It requires a credit card processor (also called a merchant services provider) who establishes and administers your merchant account. During a transaction, the processor also acts as a middleman between the merchant and the credit card issuer to make sure the process goes smoothly.

Choosing the right merchant services provider requires an understanding of your credit card processing requirements and research into the various deals that are available. Here are five steps you should take when making your decision:

1) Learn about merchant accounts and the associated fees. You must establish a merchant account before you can accept credit cards. Basically, a merchant account is a bank account that acts as the depository for credit card transaction revenue. Once your merchant services provider has processed your transactions, it deposits the proceeds into your merchant account. The provider charges fees for its services — ask about them upfront and make sure you understand them.

2) Consider your technical requirements. What types of credit card processing are you planning to do? Traditional point-of-sale (POS) at a credit card terminal? Online processing from your website through an electronic gateway? Mobile or wireless processing when your business takes you on the road? Mail order/telephone order (MOTO)? Are most of your transactions card present or card not present? What business expansion or diversification plans do you have for the near future? It could be you need one or more credit card processing options, and you should make that clear to the merchant services providers that you are considering so they can come up with the best package deal for your needs and budget.

3) Identify merchant services providers who want your business. Not all processors work with all businesses. Some don’t deal with start-up operations or merchants with bad credit histories. Many will not service so-called “high risk” businesses, a category that includes adult-related businesses, online casinos and businesses located outside the United States. Look for a reputable processor who deals with businesses similar to yours.

4) Compare fees and services. Once you’ve compiled a list of potential merchant services providers, compare their fees and services to see who comes closest to meeting you requirements. Ask detailed questions about the types of hardware and software each offers. If you’re in the market to change processors, determine if your current system is compatible with their technology. When it comes to fees, going with the cheapest may not be your best bet. Be sure you know what you’re getting for your money, that it fulfills your needs and fits your budget.

5) Scrutinize security. Solid, reliable security may be the only thing standing between your business and disaster. It’s no secret that credit card fraud and identity theft are major threats to merchants and consumers alike. Make sure your credit card processing takes security seriously and is PCI compliant. Your merchant services provider should be able to answer all your security-related questions and train you and your staff in the proper protocols to keep you and your customers safe from a data breach.

Guest post by Marc McDermott, the Online Marketing Manager at Merchant Express, a full-service merchant services provider that has helped thousands of businesses with their credit card processing needs since 1998.

BlogTrafficJam.com For Sale

It’s been a while since I have written on Can I Make Big Money Online, because Jill and I are busy adding new services for our business, re-working some of our branding, and other things. Anyway, as part of our cleaning house process we are going to be putting some of our 250+ domains on the market. One that I thought might be of interest to people who read this blog is a domain I bought back in the spring of 2006 when I was planning on putting together a blog traffic membership program.

The domain name is blogtrafficjam.com and anyone interested should send us an email at george@websitepromotionbook.com with the subject “blogtrafficjam”. Let us know what price you are interested in buying it for and let us know any questions you may have about the domain. If we don’t have any serious offers then we will be putting it up for auction in the next week or two.

Implement Online Social Media Into Your Business Plan

Social media tools have the potential to expose your business to an endless clientele base. They can operate as indispensible marketing devices to promote your business and your message as a business owner. These social media tools are all about establishing an online identity in hopes that you connect with individuals of similar interests at a steady rate, gradually developing a vast network of people who can rely on each other to share ideas and information. What follows are some pointers to begin and maintain an online identity through these social media tools.

Choosing the right social media tool

Choose a social media tool that you feel comfortable with. If you’re looking for a strictly utilitarian networking approach, you may want to try a website like LinkedIn, which allows you to make in rows with professionals from similar business backgrounds. You can upload a substantial amount of information about your employment history and knowledge in your field, increasing the likelihood that those who want to connect with you would share you interests. However LinkedIn’s reach is limited when compared to the millions and millions of users who utilize more informal social media tools like Facebook and Twitter. These sites tend to attract a much wider variety of followers (professionals and nonprofessionals alike) than those on LinkedIn, which means that you’ll have to work that much harder to establish your unique identity. Ultimately LinkedIn may give you a smaller but more traditionally professional audience, while sites like Twitter and Facebook have a looser feel but a much wider readership.

Update regularly

Once you’ve selected a social media tool, create an account and start posting! Use the site’s searching features to locate users who share similar interests or values, and connect with them. Don’t be afraid of contacting too many individuals — you’re creating a larger network for you business with every new follower. When posting content, share engaging information about your business with a link to your website included at the end. An easy way to reach people is to offer free tips related to the nature of your business. If you’re a financial consultant, give some basic money saving advice for the online entrepreneur. Build trust among your followers by presenting yourself as an affable and outgoing business person.

Separate business and personal personas

Bear in mind that your personal life and opinions should never be advertised on your business’s social media account. You’re trying to gain business contacts, potential clientele, and interested readers on the merit of your business and its ideals. You aren’t creating a social media account to win a popularity contest for your social life; you’re growing a business! In most cases people are following your business online because they enjoy what you have to say about your particular niche, so don’t throw them a curveball by impulsively posting your take on the political issue of the day.

Allow yourself to experiment with social media tools and (if handled correctly) you’ll watch your business thrive, buoyed by feedback and interest of your online followers.

This is a guest post from Carol Wilson who writes for a business insurance site. She contributes articles about a variety of marketing, business, stock market, and small business topics. She can be contacted at: wilson.carol24 @ gmail.com

Mom Blogging for Dummies

My good friend, Wendy Piersall’s new book, “Mom Blogging for Dummies” has just been released. When you get a chance go over to her facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/MomBloggingForDummies) and learn more about the book. Then go buy it!

Congrats Wendy! Look forward to checking it out.

PS. I know I haven’t been writing much on this blog. At some point I plan on talking about that in more detail, but right now I am still working out the details.

How To Set Up A Business Blog

It’s easy to build a blog that will improve customer relationships and generate goodwill for your business. A well-designed business blog keeps your current customers engaged while allowing new clients to get acquainted with your company. Following a few simple tips, you can set up a blog that will be a powerful marketing tool for your business.

Here’s how to set up a business blog that will serve your company well…

Put It In The Right Place

If your company already has a website, make the blog part of your existing website. It should be a menu choice that’s easy for any visitor to find.

If your company doesn’t have a website, choose a domain name for your blog that’s as close to your company name as possible or includes your industry’s primary keywords.

Start With A Simple Design

Most companies power their blogs with WordPress, a blogging platform that many hosting companies will set up for you. Thousands of pre-designed WordPress themes are available, and one of them will likely work for your blog.

Blogs linked to an existing website should echo the colors and design of the site, but stand-alone blogs usually benefit from starting with a simple design. Make changes as your readership grows and you need for more features.

Pack Your Business Blog With Value

Before you tell anyone about the blog, pack it with useful articles so visitors will find good content even on their first visit. Post perhaps a dozen articles before you promote your blog, then keep posting new content at least once a week. Many experts recommend two or three posts each week.

Be sure to include coupons, exclusive offers and other deals along with meaningful content that supports your business goals.

Promote Your Blog At Every Opportunity

If you pay attention to search engine optimization techniques, Google and other search engines will bring traffic to your site, but that doesn’t mean you can neglect other means of promotion.

To get current customers reading your blog, make sure you point out during every customer contact the special offers and unique content available only to blog readers.

To bring new customers to your blog, include a mention of it in all your print and online advertising. Every time a customer sees or hears your company’s name, make sure your blog address is there along with it.

Now that you know more about how to set up a business blog, there’s no reason to delay any longer.

Blogs are powerful promotional and informational tools. Every moment your company is without one, you’re potentially losing money.

Guest post written by Nisha Sandhu who is an editor at the merchant account forum, and has been working with them for 2 years now. Nisha also loves to write and give online business advice to new and growing businesses.

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