DISQUS

David Risley: Can a Blog Be Useful For Marketing an Offline Business?

  • didier · 11 months ago
    ultimate use of the Internet is to balance the virual and real life aspect of business relationship

    The internet needs to be re-invented or must be used as an interactive tool that becomes part of a transaction but not the transaction. I am not sure that I am making myself clear on that one, but let's face it if you automate the process of relationship, then...where is the relationship?

    Food for thoughts...
  • Omar · 11 months ago
    Great post David. I am a big advocate of helping small business to establish a presence online by setting up a blog. Although traditional marketing is still alive, small business would do well to jump on board now and start tapping into the huge online market to attract new prospects, clients, customers.

    Omar
  • chris kluis · 11 months ago
    David,

    Nice post - I think this article from hubspot nails it on the head - http://blog.hubspot.com/blog/tabid/6307/bid/453...
  • Jeanne · 11 months ago
    Small businesses, even if transacting most business offline, needs an online presence! So many people are searching online these days that if you're not online, your competitors almost automatically win by virtue of the fact that they have some information. It may not be exactly what your customers are looking for, but many will stop there and go to what's convenient - and learn from the competitor's website why they should. Online is a must for all small businesses these days.
  • Dawn Bearden · 11 months ago
    I love your website and your blog.

    I am an Optometrist in South Florida with 3 offices who has totally embraced Web 2.0 and Social Media Marketing. I do have a blog, I am on Facebook, I am on Twitter, I have a YouTube Channel...also LinkedIn and Plaxo.

    Its amazing how much fun it is to educate and post good content about eye health and vision care....and then to get comments from local people and all around the world.

    Due to this massive online presence, I am starting to see my patients finding me and my content online and eventually leading them into my office....where I just may have them do a video testimonial after their eye exam!
  • Desmond - BlogFlippingFormula. · 11 months ago
    Tons of businesses and political parties in my country used blogs as their promotional tool. So, I'm not really surprised.
  • Matty Byloos · 11 months ago
    The idea of "being real" is huge. I think people try way too hard and end up overthinking the concept of blogging. It doesn't have to be a genius 1500 word essay, 5 times a week. If it's relevant, insightful, even a great quote -- it can bring in traffic and subscribers.
  • Bruce Inouye · 10 months ago
    David, I thoroughly agree with you on building community and communication. I would add that it is also important to have ongoing education through regular posts of the many ways of how online marketing enhances the offline business. I believe in the "spoke and hub" marketing theory where you have many different sources of traffic generation to the "hub" which is the offline business. Keep up the great site here!

    Regards,
    Bruce
  • Portland Roofer · 9 months ago
    Excellent post - as someone who has an offline business and is trying to take advantage of online marketing, posts like this help A LOT!
  • Josh H · 5 months ago
    A blog is the way to go. I have had better success going that way. It creates that community atmosphere you mentioned. Thanks David.