Why Your Business Might Not Benefit from a Blog
January 24th, 2008 by Liz Fuller
In yesterday’s post I told you several reasons why your business might benefit from a blog. While it might have sounded like a great idea, I want to remind you that no strategy fits every business. Before you start blogging, you should look at your overall marketing strategy and your goals for your business to determine whether a blog is right for you.
A blog might not be right for your business if:
- You don’t like to write and don’t have any employees who like to write
- You really don’t like computers or even slightly technical tasks
- You are already strapped for time and don’t have anyone to delegate to
- Your business doesn’t lend itself to repeat business or customer loyalty
- You sell a commodity that is interchangeable with your competitors
Hmmm… there must be other reasons a business wouldn’t benefit from a blog. Since I’m really not the best person to list the reasons for Not Blogging, I’ll refer you to this article on Small Business Essentials and this conversation at Start Up Nation.
Both of these were written in response to my assertion that most businesses should at least consider starting a blog before they decide it is not for them.
One thing I know for certain, don’t miss out on writing a blog for the following reaons:
- you think it is expensive
- you think it is difficult
- you think you have to be technical
- you think it is an irreversible commitment
- you think it is a big time investment
- you think you don’t have anything to say
All of those are myths that I will dispel next week.
In the meantime, tell me -what did I miss? - what are the reasons that a blog is not right for you and your business?
photo credit: Rochelle, et al
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This entry was posted on Thursday, January 24th, 2008 at 6:00 am and is filed under blogging. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
January 26th, 2008 at 9:53 pm
Blogging does take tremendous amounts of time… and that is an understatement. But I’m coming up on my three month blogging anniversary on January 27th (Boo yawh!!)
Possibly another big reason NOT to blog is that your potential clientele/readers don’t or can’t read blogs. For example, you might operate a nursing home, and your occupants are not interested in blogs.
Thanks, Jason M. Blumer
January 27th, 2008 at 8:31 am
Hi Jason
Congratulations on the three month milestone - most blogs don’t make it that long - so it is a big accomplishment!
I find your nursing home idea an interesting one - (and I think I’d like to write about it in our challenge at BusinessandBlogging.com) While the residents of the nursing home might not be interested in reading the blog, the family members might be very interested in it! I know many nursing homes send out newsletters to family and friends, this would be a good alternative/addition.
hmmmm….Thanks for the suggestion!
Liz
January 28th, 2008 at 7:31 am
I heartily agree that blogging is not for everyone. Monitoring the blogosphere is a definite must, however. So, reading blogs about or in your field of interest is crucial.
To the time issue - I write in several blogs, and run a business, and meet with clients and serve on two local boards. How do I find the time? I prepare…
Blogging doesn’t have to take so much time it interferes with everything else you do. It should be PART of your regular marketing and communications. Sometimes, working that out takes a few months, but… it’s well worth it. More than 70% of my business comes via the blogosphere.
January 28th, 2008 at 7:46 am
Hi Yvonne
Thanks for those stats - I’ll be writing more this week about the power of blogging. I admit it might not be for everyone, but with only 5% of small businesses blogging - I think it can be for more than are currently using it. And as you said, whether or not you write a blog - participating in other people’s blogs helps you network and be aware of what’s going on in your field.
Thanks for stopping by!
February 2nd, 2008 at 5:08 am
Excellent points!
February 14th, 2008 at 6:58 am
I use a blog in one small area of my business - to post business book reviews. I did find the hassle caught up with me and I went doemant for almost a year, but I’m now back in the swing and it really odesn’t take much time (especially if, like me, you’re producing the same stuff for a publisher! Non-blogging areas (at present) include business speaking, article writing and marketing consultancy. I think all of these will eventually benefirt from blogging and, while I acknowledge the points made, I do think everyone should at least consider whethwer blogging can help their business.
A guy called Andy Wibbels has written a very good book called ‘Blog Wild!’that may be helpful. It’s published by Nicholas Brealey in the UK and (I think) by Portfolio in the USA
February 14th, 2008 at 9:15 am
Hi Jim
I agree - most businesses should take a look at blogging as a potential marketing and customer relationship tool. While it is not for everyone it’s low cost and ease of implementation makes it pretty attractive.
I checked out your site and there are a lot of interesting books! Can’t wait to find a few.
I also see book publishers leveraging other bloggers to promote their books and share the word about them - as I have done on multiple occasions for books I’ve read and believe in.
Liz