Why do I need a blog?
Simply put, if your not blogging, your online presence will suffer. Another way to say it - if you don't blog, you die.
People are social creatures and have an inherent need to interact with other humans. Imagine going to work each day and never speaking or writing to another person; things would never get done.Continue imaging coming home from work and not interact in any way with your wife, husband, children or pets? I know these are extreme examples, but the point is this - humans have an inner need to communicate with other humans and the things around them. It's how we get things done, express our feelings, share our lives and more importantly, it's how we build relationships.
It's all about relationships
People will visit your website the first time because of something they saw elsewhere on the internet or received in the mail or heard from a friend or whatever. But there are only two things that will keep them coming back again and again. The first - you have something to offer they want. You have a product, a service or advice to share and they have a need or want for those things. If somebody is looking to start a home business and build a website and doesn't have a clue what to do, only a strong desire. That person is looking for advice, encouragement and a product or service that will help to carry out their desired goal.
The second thing that will keep them coming back for more, is trust. This is something that's earned, not given. Building a relationship takes time and effort. Over time you can earn your visitors trust by being consistent in what you do, what you say and how you handle yourself online. Once they have the confidence of knowing you're a reliable source for information, here to help them and will respond to requests or comments, you have earned their trust and gained a loyal, returning customer.
Once again, why do I need a blog?
As I have just shown, people are social and they need to interact with other people. Websites are people too. Actually, websites are made up of a bunch of code, but for every website there is a person behind it. It took you or somebody you hired to build your website and it will take you or somebody you hired to keep your website alive.
Blogging is how we let our visitors know who we are, what we believe and that we're here to help them. Sure, you can build a website and put the words "I'm here to help you", on the first page, but it means nothing to that visitor until they have the assurance you mean what you say. The only way to effectively do this is with a blog. A blog allows you to add new content to your website as often as you would like. It provides a means by which your readers can interact with you by leaving comments about the subjects you write. You can share ideas, concepts, advice and opinions and your readers can respond with approval, disapproval or opinions of their own. That's interaction! That's how we build relationships online.
Is there survival without a blog?
I guess one could argue that an online business can survive without a blog, but for the small, home-based online entrepreneur who is trying to grow his or her's business, it'll be a long and difficult road ahead of them. I mean, if you have a one-of-a-kind product to offer and people feel like they can't live without it, you'll probably survive. If you're a popular, well-respected big brand store, you'll survive too. Although, even the big brands have forums or blogs as part of their websites. However, if you're new and just starting out and only your family or closest friends know who or what you are, you'll need a way to get the word out to build those relationships and gain trust from your visitors.
Does a blog guarantee survival?
Absolutely not! There are many factors that will decide the success or failure of your website. However, if you do not have a means by which your readers, customers or visitors can interact with you and you with them, I can pretty much guarantee that was one of the reasons if you failed.
Blog about your passion, share your knowledge and be consistent in what you write about. Interact with your readers and build relationships. If you'll do these things and do them consistently you will earn their trust and gain loyal, long-term customers and who knows, maybe even new friends.
Russ Grimm
Co-Founder of GRIMSHAF, LLC
GRIMSHAF is a developer of niche based Affiliate/Internet Marketing websites. My blog, http://www.startahomebusinessreview.com/ provides me an opportunity to share my experiences with others, especially the novice who is looking for help, guidance and a confidence boost that will get them started on the right coarse to create a solid home based business as an Affiliate Marketeer.
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