Looking for a way to entice new customers by putting a virtual spotlight on your business or products?

A business blog might just be the high beam that you are looking for.

Blogs are a great way to increase your web presence and get people to start loving your brand, instead of just liking it.

But starting a business blog is more than just registering a domain and posting about what you had for lunch or how much you sold last quarter.

In the hopes of leading you on the write track (I apologize for the pun), I’m going to outline 5 of the biggest business blog no-no’s and how you can avoid them.

Ready?

Don’t Use Your Blog As Another Sales Page

The most common mistake first time business bloggers make is treating their blog as an extension of their normal website. Without mincing words, this is the wrong way to go.

You website is for press releases, product information and sales. Your blog should be about connecting with customers on a more casual level. In other words, take it down a notch.

Think about your business blog as a place where you go to have a chat with your customers. Sure, you can talk about your business, but also talk about the industry or the economy. This is your chance to let them know that you are a real person who is interested in more than just making a sale.

Don’t Ignore Comments from Your Audience

Like I said in the last section, your business blog is all about making connections with your customers. But, it’s actually more than that. A better way to think about it is in terms of a relationship.

You want to open the lines of communication and start a dialogue with the people who visit your blog, and the best place to do that is in the comments section. All too often I see comments sections where the blogger doesn’t take the time to respond to the comments that people spend their valuable time posting. You don’t have to answer every single one, but it’s important to let your visitors know that you are listening.

Don’t Be Flaky

The other most common pitfall among first time bloggers is the lack of a steady blogging schedule. I’m not gong to lie, blogging is hard work. In most cases, you can end up doubling your time at the computer, but it will be worth it in the end, and if you don’t update your blog regularly you’ll find that people will stop visiting. No one likes to be disappointed and readers will only come back looking for new content a handful of times before they write off your blog all together.

Don’t Forget to Share!

Just because you have a blog doesn’t mean that people are going to know it exists. This is where social media comes in.

I’m sure you have a Facebook page and a Twitter account. You may even have a YouTube channel if you’re the video blogging type. It’s important to use these social media outlets to your advantage and get the word out about every new blog post you write. And don’t forget to add a link to your blog on your company site as well (it’s always the little things that slip past you).

Don’t Give Up

All the promoting and heartfelt posts in the world won’t make your blog an overnight success. A good blog takes time to build an audience, so don’t get discouraged if your page views are meager at the start.

Remember, an effective business blog can do wonders for strengthening relationships and creating lasting customers. Be patient, keep writing and reaching out to your readers and your blog will start repaying the time you put into it before you know it.

Image Credit: phanlop88