Business Blogs

Here’s a few good links to check out over the weekend - have a great one!

7 Key Qualities of Successful Entrepreneurs (Part 1 of 2) from Dream Jobs Dialog - an interesting read even if you’re not an entrepreneur, be sure to check back next week for part 2.

Dealing with Writer’s/Blogger’s Block - Try Reading, Walking, Just Break the Routine from Bloggers for Hire - because blogger’s block happens to the best of us. Personally, I like to read other blogs and magazines for ideas.

Linked In has a hired a blogger - a.k.a. Community Evangelist Mario Sundar.  Check out his blog, Marketing Nirvana, for info about blogging, social networking, social marketing, and more.

Pick the Brain gives us 10 Ways to Improve Your Mind by Reading the Classics.  Reading will also help you become a better writer and blogger, two incredibly important skills in today’s business world.  Sometimes you just have to put down the laptop and PDA and pick up a book.

In a similar vein, Hook Your Readers With A Good Quote from Daily Blog Tips.  Let a masterful writer do some of the work for you - just don’t forget to give credit (and a link if applicable) where credit’s due.

Many bloggers are experts on a particular topic, and they rightfully promote themselves as such.  However, in order for readers to believe in your expert status and to have that translate into gigs, sales, and subscribers, you need to prove it.  Essentially, you have to convince the internet you’re an expert.

So how do you prove your worth?  You give as much as you get.  Let me explain - by sharing some of your knowledge and skills, you let your readers know that you really are an expert.  Blogs are an excellent way to do this; a few possible options include writing a series of how-to posts, creating an online portfolio (this works best for creative types like graphic designers, photographers, and writers), or even penning a downable e-book.

If you have a product or service to promote, you can include insight into how the product works, testimonials from satisfied customers and any other details that a potential customer might want to know.  Testimonials can be especially powerful if they answer specific questions and silence possible objections; for example, you can feature testimonials from customers who describe how your product solved their problems and/or improved their lives.  Use testimonials to provide concrete evidence as to why they should buy your product or enlist your services.

However, for those of us who are blogging to promote ourselves and our brands, it’s a little trickier.  How-tos work well because they not only prove that you know your stuff, they’re useful. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again - one of the key ways to get repeat readers (and to get those readers to send your link to others as well as getting other bloggers to link to your blog) is write content that is in some way beneficial to them.

Want to get the most out of your blog? Share your skills, be a giver, and good things will happen.