Happy holidays!
On this Christmas day, I’ve been thinking about the similarities between business blogging and the holiday spirit.
Now when I say “holiday spirit”, I’m not talking about the crazy consumerism where people get overly materialistic and spend too much at the mall. Nor am I talking about the stress that often accompanies this season because of excessive demands and tense relationships.
No, I’m talking about the “peace, love, joy, and goodwill toward man” spirit – where people give back to their community, spend quality time with loved ones, and give gifts to each other.
One of the reasons I think online businesses should blog is because good business blogging embodies the holiday spirit.
Think about it. Bloggers give back to their niche’s community with useful information. They spend a lot of time creating content. And they do all this for free. Each post is like a gift.
There have been many amateur bloggers that just blogged because they loved their industry. They did not even think about making money. Yet over time, they built an audience and were able to monetize that audience.
As a small business owner, you’re probably like those amateur bloggers. You have the passion and expertise that they do. You probably started your business because you enjoyed your industry.
I say all this because getting traffic and sales through blogging doesn’t usually happen overnight. It’s only when you build a great reputation that the traffic and sales really explode. However, just like in real life, it usually takes time to build that reputation.
Therefore, I think focusing too much on the monetary rewards can cause you to be disappointed and even quit. But if your motivation is to give back and serve your industry, then you’ll blog for the long haul instead of doing it as a passing fad.
Also, this change in mindset will help you enjoy blogging more. Your joy will show in your posts and you’ll attract many people who also enjoy your industry. Then, just give it some time and soon the sales will come. People will notice you and support your business when they are ready to buy.
