With more and more people becoming reliant on the internet, it has become somewhat mandatory for local businesses to host their own blogs. Blogs are effective and cost-efficient tools that businesses can use for marketing, promotion and for consumer education. Interaction is the key in getting customers to make repeat purchases, and blogs help businesses to engage with customers. But in order for any blog to deliver, it must be entertaining and informative enough in order for it to garner readers and followers. There is a myriad of things that businesses can write about, but knowing exactly which topics sit well with their customers and prospective buyers is quite tricky.

Charity Events

Especially in the light of a recession, consumers look up to businesses which are able to give back to the community. A local business which sponsors charity or other community related events also benefit from all the exposure. Business owners can ask members of the staff to come up with blog posts related to the event that they have just participated in. Or host an event which benefits the entire community and then blog about everything from the preparation stages to the execution. Think about it this way: by opting to help the community, you also help yourself.

Commentaries 

The internet is the best place to go to when you’re looking for another person’s opinion or if you’re itching to air your own opinion. As a business, you should seek to establish yourself as an authority in your field. The easiest way to gain credibility is to give out your comment about current events which relate to your field. Make sure however that you are not just writing something just for the sake of having something to post on your blog. Make your opinion sensible, well-substantiated and helpful.

How-to 

With all the information that consumers can access with just a click of a button, almost everyone has become a do-it-yourself person. Empower your customers with the ability to fix and create all on their own (with the latent motive of having them purchase the equipment and materials to do so from you). Post how-to articles of topics that are related to the items that you are selling. For instance, if you sell kitchen supplies then write cooking related how-to articles. What’s great with this approach is that advertising your goods is done in a very subtle manner avoiding that all-too-familiar experience of putting off customers because of aggressive marketing. 

Chris Marentis is an experienced marketer who enjoys writing about what he has learned in over 25 successful years in business and currently specializes in Small Business Internet Marketing and internet marketing for local business