Ten Thing to Consider Before You Blog

Thank you Paul Chaney for creating this fabulous Ten Thing to Consider Before You Blog! As you all know, I love lists - here is my rendition. Go to Radiant Marketing Group for more details

1. Determine your goal.
2. Determine your core message.
3. Appoint someone to support it. Write the posts. Monitor the comments.
4. Be prepared for positive and negative two-way conversations.
5. Create a blog policy.
6. Monitor the blogosphere. Know what they are saying about you.
7. Choose a blog platform... I'm thinking you may want to put this higher in the steps.
8. Create a blog marketing strategy. What's the point of putting it out there if no one knows about it?
9. Track it!
10. Know your keywords... This really should go in your strategy, buy hey he needed a 10th.

Paul sums it up by warning against self-promotion. Understand, your blog is an extension of your brand. It is you creating a relationship with your audience. Picture yourself at a party, talking about your company. Do your fellow party goers want to be sold to? Probably not.

Comments

[Carol Kirshner]

Hi T! I've been a secret reader here at your blog. Stopping well short of a cyberstalker status, I promise!

The good news is that you've sold me on blogs...I'm seriously thinking about adding a blog to our marketing endeavors. I've thought about your list of things here and generally have some goals in mind and an idea of how to support the endeavor.

My Question(s): What should a person look for in a blog provider? Are there any disadvantages to starting with a 100% free provider? Are there distinct advantages to starting with a provider that charges?

Thanks for the forum and I look forward to any words of wisdom.