If I had a dollar for every client who was afraid to blog, I’d never need another client again. As a small biz marketing coach, I know that the most authentic way to help our clients is to give them down to earth, real advice that sounds just like they’re sitting across the table from us. Advice that’s timely, genuine, caring and darned valuable. Here are some really great tips about how to do it right once you bite the bullet and get on the blogging bandwagon:
A Great business blog should have these qualities:

1) Problem-Solving
If you solve people’s problems, your blog will pre-sell your products or services.
2) Openness
There are two things I’m trying to describe here, and I think that “openness” is the best word:

• Desire to be authentic.
• Ability to share freely.

3) Personality
This can come through via a relaxed writing style, the use of fun images and photos, telling fun and interesting stories, and — maybe most of all — not taking yourself too seriously.
4) A Plan

• How often will you publish?
• What types of articles will you publish?
• Who all in your company will be charged with writing for the blog?
• If you have multiple authors, who’s going to manage them?
• What will your comment policy be?

5) Persistence
Google will start to reward your content with the kind of trust that leads to visibility in search results.
6) Passion
But your passion can’t come through in the form of sales pitches and self-promotion, it has to come through in the process of solving people’s problems and educating them.
7) Variety
Your blog posts shouldn’t all read like news releases. They shouldn’t all be designed to sell. They shouldn’t all be the same length. They shouldn’t stick to a company formula.

via 7 Traits of a Great Business Blog.

So if you’re afraid to blog, stop waffling and get down to it. It’s the cheapest and easiest way to get across not only your brand character but also your marketing message of how you help clients.
Need more chicken soup for your biz? Follow me on Twitter, friend me on Facebook or connect with me on LinkedIn –and let’s talk!

Related articles

• 17 types of content that Google loves (prdaily.com)
• The traits every entrepreneur needs to succeed (business.financialpost.com)
• Guest Blog Post – 7 Bad Habits for Business Blogging (zemanta.com)