If one of your New Year’s Resolutions is finally getting your blog up and going, we want to help. Just as setting out for a fitness goal and burning yourself out in the first two weeks, starting your blog requires pacing and small steps.
First, let’s look at what you need to know before starting a blog for your business. Then, we’ll lay out some simple steps to get you started.
Your Blog Should Live on Your Site
Marketers go back and forth about whether it’s better to have a blog that is on your site, like the ones that FMG Suite offers, or if it’s better to have a blog on its own site. For most of our clients, we think it’s better to have your blog on your website because it will be easier for your clients to find and will generate more traffic back to your site.
Following Comes First
Even the best blogs will fall flat if they have no one to read them. Before jumping feet first into blogging, build your email and social media following. Then, when you are ready to share your blog, you will have an audience already built.
You Need a Blogging Strategy
Just as you wouldn’t take a road trip without a map or GPS, you wouldn’t start blogging (or any marketing strategy, for that matter), without a plan. Think about some goals you want to accomplish with your blog — do you want more leads, Facebook followers, or website traffic? Having a tangible goal will help your blogging efforts feel more effective.
Know Your Brand
In marketing, your brand is everything, which is why it’s important to know your brand before you start blogging. Once you have a good grasp on the characteristics you are most proud of, show those characteristics off in your blog. For example, First Financial Group in Bethesda, Maryland is all about serving their local community. Their blog enhances this brand by posting about things happening in the area. Now that you have a foundation to get started, let’s cover some small steps you can do today to jumpstart your blog.
First, you need to consider the logistics when starting your blog. Luckily, the FMG Suite platform makes it easy to set up and post on your blog right from our Dashboard. You can also share blogs to your social media profiles and email lists. If you would like to go a different route and host your own blog, check out free blogging platforms like WordPress or Tumblr.Next, think of your first blog topic. Here are some questions to get you started:
- What does your firm do?
- How will your blog help others?
- Where do you see the financial services industry in 5 or 10 years?
- What is different at your firm than others?
These questions will generate some great blog topics to get started.
Share your posts with others on social media and email. Our blog sharing feature makes it easy to share posts with your social followers and email contacts. Our Customer Service team would be happy to show you how to share your posts.
There is no wrong way to blog and just getting started is key. Just like most New Year Resolutions, start small and work your way up. By the end of the year, you’ll be a blogging pro.
