Blogging is increasingly becoming one of the key marketing tools in customer service. Modern businesses, regardless of their size or type of operations, use blogging as a means to keep their customers informed about the type of products and services offered, and the future plans of the company. Strategic planning and marketing strategies are implemented to provide customers with a general overview of the business and the strategic steps required to expand business operations and boost profitability on a long-term horizon. However, customers need to know any business development that occurs and affects business development, positively or negatively, in real-time. This is only realistic with Web-based project management tools such as blog.
Creating a business blog allows a firm to establish a web presence through a solid platform that facilitates interaction with customers, leading to improved customer relationships and sustainable market share.
The advantages of blogging for business can be summarized as follows:
a) Customer relationship management
Keeping all customers on the same track is extremely difficult in the competitive business environment of today. As the market realities are changing, companies have to find ways to strengthen their relationships with their customers by keeping them informed and aware about their business. Particularly, for businesses that face a high level of complexity as a result of competitive market realities, business blogging is a great solution for raising consumer interest and building brand loyalty.
b) Interaction with customers
Business blogging offers the convenience of interaction with existing and prospect customers. Businesses that have already established a blog have observed that, in majority, customers love to visit a company’s blog, read comments related to a firm’s products or services and leave valuable feedback. In doing so, they keep themselves informed on a daily basis about a firm’s business, future development, or current problems, but they also help a firm improve possible weak areas.
c) Capitalizing on marketing opportunities
A business blog can capitalize on marketing opportunities. The more customers are attracted to it, the more traffic is drawn to the blog, thus improving the visibility of products and services in the most cost-effective way. Particularly, for small business owners who do not have the money to hire a web developer, business blogging is the best way to advertise their products and services and get their business’ name on the Internet. Ultimately, the better the customers are informed, the higher the potential for long-term profitability of the company.
In conclusion, business blogging is an effective way for a business to share its know-how and knowledge with its customers. By connecting with a larger audience, a firm builds a community of strong advocates, who support the company’s products and services and possibly use the word-of-mouth advertising to promote the firm’s business to other people. In the long run, this enhances profitability and enables the firm to market its products successfully and cost-effectively.
Sources:
http://sbinformation.about.com/od/businessblogfaq/f/businessblogs8.htm
http://www.gerrymcgovern.com/nt/2004/nt_2004_08_23_blogging.htm
http://ezinearticles.com/?Blogging-to-Market-Your-Business&id=4106125
