Here is a handy list of common and some uncommon ways to market your blog.
- Promote it on your website. It’s surprising the number of small and large companies that actually have a blog, but it’s not promoted anywhere on the main site. We like Top 42 blogger PR 20/20 that not only has the blog on the navigation, but also lists the latest three blogs along the right side of the website.
- Include the blog URL in your email signature. All employees are part of your marketing team today. Every time they send an email, it’s a marketing opportunity.
- Blog on Print. Put your blog address on your business cards, direct mail and print advertising.
- Fan Yourself. Many business owners forget to tell employees to fan their own sites on Facebook and Follow on Twitter. Be sure employees know that you’d love if they shared relevant posts with their networks as well.
- Leverage Twitter Hashtags. When you promote your blog via Twitter, use relevant hashtags (i.e., #marketing) that prospects may follow (try Twitag for more).
- Post your blogs on Facebook.
- Post to your LinkedIn status.
- Submit to directories. Here’s a huge blog directory list from TopRank).
- Include in any press releases. By using services such as PR Newswire, Marketwire or PR Web, you can get your blog link placed in sites like Google, Yahoo! and sometimes hundreds of other sites (select the SEO option where they embed the links into the releases).
- Post regularly. The more you blog, the more opportunity you have to be found. Consistency is key.
- Guest post. Find blogs where your customers are hanging out and volunteer to blog. Be specific with the subject when you approach the blogger. It shows you did your homework. Also, bloggers are always looking to take a breather…as long as the information is relevant and valuable.
- Interview. Bloggers love to be interviewed. Doing a post about them is a sure way to get your post spread around.
- Submit your site to Google. Just in case your site isn’t getting picked up.
- Put your blog on company invoices as well as other correspondence to customers.
- Showcase your employees on your blog (see Indium). Employees love to promote their own blogs (remember, they are your most important asset).
- Develop an opt-in eNewsletter out of your weekly blog posts.
- Talk about your blog when you speak at events.
- Listen to customer issues on Twitter and respond with links to blog posts that answer their problems.
- Be human. Stop talking like a company and start talking like a human. Write in your own voice.
- Use the blog as your customer FAQ.
- Focus on information your customers really need. If you provide valuable, relevant and compelling information via your blog, chances of success are good.
- Use the right keywords. Leverage Google’s keyword tool to find the terms that your customers are looking for.
- Post your blog on social bookmarking sites like Digg, Reddit and Sphinn (Here’s 233).
- Don’t hide your RSS button. If prospects like your blog, they might want to subscribe via email or RSS. Don’t hide those buttons.
- Create a list of bloggers. Then notify them that they made the list. If the list is good, they’ll promote it, and possibly comment.
- Use numbers in your title. Jay Baer found that his most popular posts almost always included a number in them (i.e. 9 steps, 4 types, etc.).
- Comment on other blogs. It’s hard to be a blogger if you don’t share. Show your expertise on other blogs and leave valuable feedback.
- Link to your other posts within your current post.
- Go back to older posts and add new links to current posts.
- Don’t over complicate your site. Make it easy for people to get around and share.
- Try a contest.
- Find relevant forums to add your input (like Google Groups). Add your blog link to your signature line.
- Have a point of view. If your posts are the same as everyone else’s posts, who cares? Be different and get noticed.
- Define your niche. Focus on an area that you can be the leading expert in. If your topic is too broad, you’ll never be able to make a dent.
- Never ever stop. Your blog is a promise to customers. This post is my 500th post over the last 3 1/2 years and it has, without question, been one of the main reasons for our success.