Passionate Blogging is Contagious

“The most powerful thing about blogging isn’t the technology; it’s the massive community driving the blogosphere.”¹

A blogosphere … what a cool concept! Communities once existing purely in the physical are now thriving and growing on the Internet. Now there are so many voices banding together to drive the marketplace. Like in any community, leaders emerge, and in the blogosphere, leaders can be individuals with big ideas.

Do you have big ideas for your company? Your employees? Your industry? Your passion – the passion that drives your company is contagious and blogging is an exciting way to share your passion, gain followers, and lead an industry into the future. The size of your company doesn’t matter because online, it’s the “size” of your ideas and they way you communicate them that makes you a thought leader. Jeremy Wright, author of Blog Marketing, said “Act like you’re small by talking, but think big by not forgetting that real opportunities for growth exist.” You have a power that did not exist for smaller companies in the past, and an important thing to remember is that whether or not you choose to blog, bloggers will continue to blog. The show will go on! By not participating, you choose to forgo your piece of the virtual community that for many companies turns into engaging customer relationships and an increase in physical sales.

If you create a pro, con list of why to and why not to blog, you’ll see that blogging pros far outweighs the cons.

To Blog, or (Pros)

Not to Blog (Cons)

· Helps improve SEO (Search Engine Optimization) on your website · Provides direct communication with customers at little to no cost · Builds your brand and adds visibility · Builds customer relationships · Differentiates you from your competitors · Provides your company the opportunity to be an industry thought leader · Helps identify and exploit niches · Provides another avenue for media/PR · Allows you to manage your reputation as well as address customer concerns · Allows you to communicate better internally, empowering employees to take pride in your company · Streamlines internal intranet and project management functions

· Not enough time in the day? · Fear of writing on the Internet? · Start-up costs? Comparing the pros and cons lists, I want you to figure out how much your company is losing by not blogging. If you set small goals and do a little research on blogging before you start, you will see a return on your investment. When done well, blogging connects you with your customers. As we all know, a better relationship with your customers equals a bigger return on your investments! So, why aren’t you blogging?

Be a passionate leader and start your blogging research today. At Ripley Designs, Inc., we want to see your voice on the Internet! If you are thinking of starting a blog, do not hesitate to contact us. We can help you through the process of becoming an industry thought leader. Make your voice heard today!

¹ Wright, Jeremy. Blog Marketing: The Revolutionary New Way to Increase Sales, Build

Your Brand, and Get Exceptional Results. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill, 2006.