Find out how to determine whether a blog is right for your business. The answer might not be as straightforward as you think!

1. Beth Carter, Chief Strategist
Does Your
Business
Need a
Blog?
How to build a marketing
strategy that’s right for you.

2. Problem:
Marketing experts will tell you
your business needs a blog.

3. Maybe you do.

4. Maybe you do.
But maybe you don’t.

5. Solution:
Know your customers
Know your bandwidth

6. Question 1:
Will a blog be helpful for your
customers?

7. Know your customers.
1. How much research do they do online?
2. How long and complicated is your sales process?
3. Do you need your customers to think of you as a thought leader?
4. Do you have a database of email addresses?
5. Would your customers appreciate getting helpful information from you?

8. Question 2:
Do you have the
time/resources for a blog?

9. Know your bandwidth.
1. How comfortable are you with writing?
2. How comfortable are you with publishing content on your website?
3. Do you have staff to help you?
4. Will you need to hire a freelancer or a marketing agency?
5. Will you be able to find the time to write an article at least once a
month?

10. A blog done poorly is worse
than no blog at all.

12. Step 1:
Develop a plan.

13. Develop a plan.
1. How often will you publish posts?
2. Who will write the posts?
3. Who will proof and edit the posts?
4. Who will format and publish the posts?
5. Who will share the posts? Where will you share them?

14. Step 2:
Choose the topics.

15. Choose the topics.
1. What will your blog be about? (HINT: It’s not your product!)
2. What does your customer think about?
3. What questions does your customer ask?
4. What does your customer search for?
Helpful Tool: www.AnswerThePublic.com

17. Step 3:
Build the calendar.

19. Ready to get started?