Avoid These Business Blogging Mistakes
(www.businessandblogging.com) As I was browsing through the blogosphere this morning, I ran across this post by Derrick Sorles on Common Mistakes Bloggers Make.
Derrick’s post definitely hit five of the major blogging mistakes that any business blogger could make. I thought that it would be interesting to take a look at some additional blogging mistakes.
Of course here at Business and Blogging we’d say that the biggest blogging mistake that a business can make is not having a blog. But, that’s another post entirely…
In a nutshell, Derrick’s posts lists the mistakes of: not linking to other bloggers, not having a contact page, not allowing comments, not having an RSS feed, and not updating.
Here are some additional business blogging mistakes:
- Hiding Your Business Blog. Some businesses have a blog, but no one knows about it because they can’t find it.
Easy Fix: Include a link to your business blog on your corporate website. Make sure that stationary and business cards include the blog’s URL.
- Leaving Comments Unanswered. Derrick explained that turning comments off is a bad move, and I agree. It amazes me, however, how many business blogs leave comments on, but ignore them.
Easy Fix: Schedule a time to answer comments, even if it’s only an hour a week. If you don’t set aside a time for replying to comments, it may never happen.
- Not Promoting a Business Blog. While small businesses may not have a budget to promote their business blog, many larger businesses do, and should. Why would you spend the money to hire a professional blogger and then not promote it?
Easy Fix: Social media. Even if you can’t afford, or don’t want to, spend traditional advertising dollars to promote your business blog, social media can provide an inexpensive way to get the word out.
- Poor Blog Design. Your blog is a reflection of your business. If it’s sloppy and amateurish, what does that say about you?
Easy Fix: You don’t need to hire a professional designer for your blog If you can’t affford it. There are many attractive templates available at no cost. Find one and use it.
- Forgetting Your Company’s Message. A business blog is part of your company’s overall strategy. While every post doesn’t have to deal with your company’s message, the blog should fit into the overall picture of your company.
Easy Fix: Review your company’s vision, mission statement, and goals. Also, picture your blog’s audience. If you have hired a professional blogger (other than yourself), then go over this information with them as well.
How does your business blog stack up?
If you recognized characteristics of your blog on this list, or on Derrick’s list, then it’s a good sign. It means that you’re open to improvement.
Can you think of other business blogging mistakes and/or fixes?
What are they? Describe them here.
Image Source: www.sxc.hu
Related Stories
POSTED IN: Blogging, Corporate, Small Business
5 opinions for Avoid These Business Blogging Mistakes
Grant D Griffiths
Apr 11, 2008 at 8:40 am
Comments — What I do to get a handle on this is to set up a filter in Gmail where all comments go and are labeled. That way, not only does it help me control my inbox. It gives me a one stop place to go to manage the comments that come in on my blogs. I make it a point to moderate each and every comment. Send an email thanking new commenters and encouraging them to subscribe. It also gives me a built in reminder to keep in touch with regular readers and commenters.
You are so right that this is one area which should not be neglected.
Laura Spencer
Apr 11, 2008 at 1:04 pm
Thanks Grant, for the comment tip!
I think this is an area where a lot of business blogs fail.
Grant D Griffiths
Apr 11, 2008 at 1:33 pm
I would agree. Naked Conversation said blogging would change the way we communicate with our business community. What most bloggers fail to consider or remember is that blogging is a conversation. And comments on our blogs and us responding are part of that conversation.
Laura Spencer
Apr 12, 2008 at 12:51 pm
Thanks Grant!
I think it becomes a problem when bloggers who get dozens of comments can’t keep up. Personally I like it when the commentators communicate among themselves. To me that’s the difference between a community and a dialogue.
Freelance Writing Jobs » Blog Archive » A Little Weekend Link Love
Apr 13, 2008 at 9:40 am
[…] Avoid These Business Blogging Mistakes at Business and Blogging. […]
Have an opinion? Leave a comment: