Thursday, February 14, 2008

Chapter 4: Blogging Advantage to Offline Business

You have seen how a blog can benefit your online business in many ways. But what if you run a business that hasn’t yet ventured onto the Internet? Maybe you own a small bookshop or maybe you are an insurance agent, a real estate agent, a writer or car dealer.

The fact is, if you ignore the Internet, you ignore the fact that:

10 Billion Adults are using Search Engines on a Typical Day

Chances are some of those 10 billion people are using the web to search for your products and services in your country or city. And because so many people now turn to the internet to research products and services before they make their purchase, almost any business can benefit from some sort of presence online, whether you actually sell online or not.
However, many offline business owners find creating a website for their business daunting. So they don’t do anything about it or they pay thousands of dollars to have someone else do it. We always recommend that you learn how to do it yourself- it is easier than you think.
A very cheap and very easy shortcut to creating an online presence for your offline business is to simply start a blog.
Starting your own blog is a great way to gain some experience on the Internet and get an idea of how an online presence can benefit your business. Specifically, a blog can
• Allow you to tap a whole new market for your products or services
• Help you communicate with your customers
• Drive buyers to your offline store
• Establish you as an expert in your industry
• Help you develop new products

Attract People Searching Online for Your Products or Services

A blog is a great tool for attracting online traffic and then converting it into foot traffic for your offline business. It doesn’t matter if you don’t sell anything on the internet, as most people are actually searching for information - very possibly information related to your subject area, products or services
Research shows that 80% of the internet users had researched a product or service online, only 67% actually made a purchase online. So, although spending is predicted to grow to a massive $329 billion by 2010, not everyone who searches on the net necessarily want to buy on the internet, which mean your offline business can definitely benefit from an online presence.
In addition, many people use search engines like Google instead of referencing an offline resource like the Yellow page or even a local directory. By creating a blog, you can pit your business in front of people looking for the kinds of products and services your business offers. And the beauty of a blog is that you can do this without spending a dime on advertising fees, website development.

Keep in Touch With Your Customers

If you regularly hold sales events and other promotions at your offline business, a blog is a great way to keep your customers up to date. You can also use it to tell your customers about any seminars you are giving or provide details of other speaking engagements your customers might be interested in. Many people who offer public relations consulting and other advice-base services make good use of blog for this.
And if you offer a service that involves travelling to different cities or countries, you can let your readers know when you are going to be in town. One of the most exciting benefits of having a blog is that you can keep in touch with your customers from just about anywhere, anytime even if you are not connected to the internet. You can blog by remote internet connection, by email or even by telephone.
This means that you can blog while you are on the road or even on vacation.

Position Yourself as an Expert

One of the best reasons to use a blog is to boost your credibility in the eyes of your current and potential customers. The blogging format is ideal for posting short, punchy items of interest to your target market, as well as longer, insightful articles and comments on your industry.
There really is no better way of showing your target market that you know your stuff and many people have used blogs to establish themselves as experts in their industry. If you have a slightly unusual, less well known business, a blog can be an excellent way to demystify it for your customer. By talking authoritatively about issues in your industry and providing valuable information ca help you built up an excellent reputation and a large readership.

Great Alternative Streams of Income

Not only is a blog an excellent way to promote your offline business to a new online audience, but many business owners who had not previously considered adding an online presence to their business have found that their blog opens up a whole new range of new and exciting possibilities.

Visit Us: http://www.moneyfromblog.com/main-index.html

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