WAHM Forums

Hi Everyone,

I have been thinking about setting up a personal business
blog and was curious to find out from those that have one is
it worth it? Do you find your blogs helpful with attracting
people to your business websites? I enjoy reading other
people's blogs and thought it would be fun to have one.

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts and opinions.

Thank you in advance,
Catherine

I enjoy doing my blog because it's like my little diary. I can look back and see what I have done, etc. I try to post important things, therefore, I dont do it daily; just when I have something on my mind, etc. I try to keep it business, but sometimes I will post about my personal life; just depends whats going on that day. I think it's important to keep your blog updated especially if you have a following. You can track how many people visit your blog which I like. All in all I really enjoy my blog. As far as attracting people, I believe it helps people get to know you and may add some credibility. I think my blog is very honest and down to earth without a lot of advertisements, etc. Just figure out what your theme is and stick to it.

It is def. worth it. People that find you online get to know you through your blog. They start to trust you and will be more likely to join you if they click with you. You can't do that with just a corp. site. I also find a Facebook Fanpage to be very helpful! That way you can stay out in front of your fans with product/biz opp, w/o spamming all your friends. I have one for Social Networking for Direct Sales-sharing more tips and great links. Anyone may join-just friend me.

I have 5 blogs....with 2 of those 5 focused on my business & business niche.

I found it extremely helpful. I got an order through my TW site 4 days ago for $69.00 from a gal who found be via my blog.

I have been playing around with a blog but haven't narrowed down a good name yet - I think that's the hardest part! I want my blog to be short journal entries about life with little snippets here and there of what I do. I think it's a fine line between advertising your business but not having a sales pitchy blog. Where do you get your blog headers instead of the generic ones you get on blogspot, etc.? Love your blogs by the way!

I think there are arguments on both sides, actually.

I should start by admitting that I don't actually promote my business online at all (and I don't even mention the name of my company or make any attempts at all to sponsor anyone in my network marketing blog), so I'm not sure I'm really entitled to an opinion on this question, but (there had to be a "but", didn't there?) ...

If I were promoting any sort of MLM business online, in which I were recruiting people with whom I'd be working, and training and supporting them and getting them started, I'd be rather uncomfortable about people reading about my "other career" and all my "church-related activities" and stuff that has absolutely no relevance to my business at all. It strikes me that there are perhaps many people whom I would want to sponsor who wouldn't want to be sponsored by a "religious Christian" (which is how I would doubtless come across if I compiled a more "personal blog") or by someone with another career in music (which is how I will actually come across when my "professional web site" eventually appears), and that my running any sort of "online business", or even an "offline business for which leads are generated online" could very easily suffer from my more personal information being so readily available. :confused:

I understand that in "our line of business" it's helpful to be able to "form relationships" with people, but I want to do that after sponsoring them. I certainly don't want to attract people who are potentially attracted to my business because they "want to work with a religious Christian" (for example). I want to attract people who are looking for my type of business opportunity and find that our company (and myself to some extent) appeal to them for business reasons. Anything else is just a red herring (do you have that expression in America or do you think I'm mad?! :confused: ).

Of course we think you are mad Yulia ~ but we love ya anyway ;)

I started building my business online out of necessity. Eventually I built a website and it really catapulted my earnings- back in 2006.
But today, the website you need to build is clearly a blog. You don't need to know html or anything at all to present yourself professionally.

If you need the instructions for a self hosted Wordpress blog, see
Word Press Blog Setup (http://www.sponsoringsuccess.net/WPBlogSetup.html)

Why self-hosted? It gives you the best rankings in Google and your content is 'safe'. If you use a free blog setup like blogger you may wake one morning to find your work up in smoke at the whim of an admin who finds your blog too commercial.

I don't think my blog has done anything for me, but I like it. To be honest, I'm not sure how to promote it. Right now it's just on my email signature. I'll take any suggestions on how to promote it.

Krismith Blog (http://krismithblog.blogspot.com/)

I have several blogs, all related to my business one way or another. I don't get too overly personal in my blog mainly because I have a boring life! LOL But I do find them to be the best for driving traffic to my sites and my business. I would highly recommend having one and then go from there.

I absolutely agree with Chris!

I have a personal blog (about me, my family etc) which I don't promote as a biz blog. Then I have 4 other blogs...all directed towards business in one way or another. 80% of my blog traffic is coming from google and the other 20% from other SE's or promoting that I do.

I get sales, recruits, leads etc all because of my blogs.

I just added a Wordless Wednesday Pic. Stop by!

Irresistible Style (http://www.sdelise.blogspot.com)

Have a great day!

Hi Catherin,

I think they are worth it. I use my blog as a personal touch/extension to my main Company website. Since my purses/distributor totes have so many style and option combinations, my blog is a way so post new combinations from orders that I get. As for generating leads, I did start off with my blog then added my corp website, so I have been advertising my blog trying to get people to view it, so for me, it is hard to tell if my orders came for my advertising or my blog. Now I seem to be getting A LOT of word of mouth orders now.

Now with what Melanie is saying... oh dear, mine is thru blogger, so I will be in a world of hurt if someone comes thru and wipes mine out! I will have to see if I have other options now that I have started thru blogger and spent $ on advertising it!!! I'm not the most internet/tech savvy person, so any suggestions from this group would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,
Ashley Q.

Ashley,
I would set up your self hosted wordpress blog and copy the content to it ASAP.

Start driving your traffic to it instead.

Then you have 'no worries' - except that the advertising you already bought points to blogger?
What kind of advertising is it? Can you change the links?

Melanie

I've been reading these posts thinking about setting up a blog myself but know virtually nothing about blogs... can someone tell me what they cost to start? I went to the wordpress link in another post and it seemed costly and very complicated...would appreciate anyone who could break down the steps and costs (either here for others who may be interested or pm me).
Thank you,
Dory

I've been reading these posts thinking about setting up a blog myself but know virtually nothing about blogs... can someone tell me what they cost to start? I went to the wordpress link in another post and it seemed costly and very complicated...would appreciate anyone who could break down the steps and costs (either here for others who may be interested or pm me).
Thank you,
Dory

Very briefly, Dory ...

Blogger software is free. There's free hosting available for it as well, at Blogspot.com, but self-hosting of a "Blogger blog" has many advantages.

Wordpress software is also free. There's free hosting available for that as well, at wordpress.com, but no monetization or commercial use is allowed there and self-hosting of a "Wordpress blog" also has many advantages.

Hosting starts at about $5 per month.

Typepad isn't free, but includes excellent hosting and works out from about $5 per month including everything (this is the one I use myself).

Most people recommend self-hosted Wordpress, and it's certainly the most flexible system and has very many advantages.

If you want it all doing for you, there's a great service available here (http://win-with-1.com/) in which you get everything provided, produced, installed and done for you for $90 (that's for a year). Your own domain, your own hosting, your own Wordpress blog, a great "theme" for it (which normally costs about $80 on its own, I think), and advice on getting started. A great bargain (I'm not an affiliate, needless to say, but this service is run by someone I greatly admire, respect and trust).

Hi,
Thanks for the information, every bit helps :)
I will look into this further, I appreciate it.
Dory