Small Biz Blog Wiz - Easy, Affordable and Productive Blogging for Small Businesses

Big Business Bloggers

Blogging isn't just for small businesses anymore. A growing number of corporate CEOs are realizing the benefit and value of blogging. It keeps them connected to their customers, colleagues at all levels, the media and the public in general. These are key contacts which otherwise would probably not be made, and certainly not sustained. Plus, the blog posts are increasingly sincere, revealing and insightful. After all, if the CEO is taking the time to blog, he better not be cranking out puff pieces that sound like they came from the PR department.

What is a TrackBack?

What is a TrackBack? It is a great way to engage people on the web, market your business on other sites and drive traffic to your small business blog. Here's how:

1. I saw a post I thought was interesting on the Freshbooks blog and wanted to write about it on my site.

2. I wrote a post about the article on my site and sent a TrackBack to the Freshbooks blog.

3. After sending the TrackBack, a portion of my post along with a link to my post appears on the Freshbooks blog. This allows the conversation to continue and informs others who read the Freshbooks blog that I have written about it on my site. The direct link from the Freshbooks post to my post is an easy way for Freshbooks visitors to read what I have to say at my site.

TrackBacks are a great way to engage the conversation and build traffic to your site. They are easy to use, work nearly flawlessly and are guaranteed to bring visitors to your site interested in what you have to say. So, if you're writing a post based on what you read elsewhere, be sure to send a TrackBack and watch your traffic grow!

Gus, King of...Blogs?

Gus, King of Dogs is a small business on the boardwalk in Ocean City, New Jersey. This is Gus's first summer in business and it wasn't exactly a gang-busters summer. Gus serves all kinds of delicious hot dogs, the perfect beach and boardwalk food. The dogs have colorful, famous names like The Snoopy, The Benji and my favorite, The Lassie, an all beef hot dog with grilled onions and melted cheddar cheese. I ate at least 3 Lassies during my week-long stay at the shore. And, of course, I dragged friends and family members there to gnosh on the tasty dogs several times. I am a Gus convert.

Unfortunately, Gus has a problem. His location. Gus is, technically speaking, on the boardwalk. But, his dog shack is set back about 30 yards or so from the main, heavily-trafficked portion of the boardwalk. Gus leases the bottom floor of the famous Flanders Hotel, and while Gus is the King of Dogs, he is definitely not King of Location. You pretty much have to know Gus is there in order to go visit him. If you were unaware of his business - and this being his first year, everyone is unaware of his business - you may never go there. Food stands proliferate on the boardwalk and Gus gets lost in the mix, especially because on the boardwalk, out of sight means you don't exist.

So, let's review. We have a wonderful business serving a quality niche product (foot-longs are everywhere, Gus serves gourmet hot dogs) in the not-quite-so-perfect setting. His business is poorly located and suffers from very light traffic. Gus needs to do some general awareness marketing, develop a little customer loyalty and turn loyal customers into hot dog evangelists. Gus needs to let people know he's there, he's serving incredible hot dog's and he wants you to come see him next time you're in Ocean City. Gus needs to blog.

Gus needs to more deeply connect with customers that walk through the door, like me. I was there at least 3 times with several different people over the course of the week. The same woman waited on me every time. But, she never figured out, cared or acknowledged that I was a Gus fanatic and I was evangelizing for them during my vacation. I'm a big fan and I'll be back next summer (if Gus is still there), but I'd love to keep on new menu items, Gus news and other interesting items during the long winter while I dream of next summer's vacation. I (the customer) want to stay connected to Gus, and his hot dogs. Gus needs to blog.

Other people love Gus too. While I was enjoying a hot dog one day, a woman came in raving about the hot dogs and the name of the business (her brother's name is Gus). She promptly bought a few dogs and a t-shirt. Then, she left. The staff, including the manager, made no attempt to keep in touch with the woman whatsoever. If her brother ever strolls in it will be completely of his own volition. Gus is not breeding return traffic and loyal customers. Gus needs to blog.

Keep in mind that if Gus was selling hot dogs like Kohr Brothers was selling frozen custard, there would be no need for this post. Gus would not need a blog. But, for a fledgling small business, slightly off-the-beaten-path that caters to a loyal niche audience - yes, Gus, this means you - a blog is an effective way to reach new targets (plenty of New Yorkers vacationing in Ocean City, NJ), keep loyal customers returning every summer (like me) and grow your empire so that you will be known not only as the King of Dogs, but also as the King of Blogs.