Business Blogging With Candor and Sincerity

Advanced Summary - This article offers advice to small businesses on how to use a business blog for marketing purposes.

I am frequently extolling the virtues of using a business blog. In fact, I do it so often that I've created a list of business blogging benefits and best practices. I call it the "Business Blogging Alphabet," and this is the entry for 'C' -- candid.

When it comes to business blogging, it's refreshing to speak to your readers in an honest and open manner. In fact, if you do this, your blog readers will be more inclined to speak to you in response, which can lead to new business relationships and sales.

This is the beauty of using a business blog -- you can set it up to function as an online conversation rather than a lecture, simply by engaging your readers and allowing their comments. In this way, the business blog can achieve a level of candid and sincere interaction that's just not possible with a regular "static" website.

You could also recycle all of your email communications (with permission from the person on the other end) and use that for blogging material. This gives people a candid look at who you are, what you know, and how you help people. Once again, you won't get that kind of "real life" interaction from a regular business website.

In their marketing messages, a lot of companies say the same things about themselves -- integrity, dedication, client care, etc. These adjectives might be fitting, but they are only words in the minds of your audience. On the other hand, when you can show people these qualities (in person and online), you won't have to tell them you possess them. They'll already know.

If you are candid, sincere and professional in the way you use your business blog, you can achieve these things and much more.

Conclusion
As far as business communications go, consumer expectations have changed a lot over the years. Modern consumers want to part of the conversation online -- they don't want to be lectured to. A business blog can help you appeal to this expectation and position yourself favorably in the mind of your target audience.

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About the Author
Brandon Cornett publishes new business blogging tips each week at his website. Get more blogging advice at http://www.ceoblogwatch.com