Blog for Business: What They Are and Why They Matter

If you have never been fond of writing, the thoughts of using a blog to market your business probably don't sound too appealing.  What if you found a reputable resource to do your blogging for you?  Let's say you take on the task of changing the motor oil in your car – letting the professionals do it for you can be a far better use of your time, money, peace of mind, and "fingernails" in this case.  Don't forget there's proper disposal of the old motor oil that comes with the task.

You've probably heard the terms blog, blogging, and blog post, but the truth is you probably already have plenty to do and the thoughts of learning these new terms then squeezing the benefits from each would strip you of valuable time, not to mention shifting your focus away from whatever it is you do best.

The problem is by not having a blog, your competitors who do will constantly be pulling further ahead in the minds of consumers than your brand is.  You can counter your businesses competitors, but you will need to: think of a compelling topic, set the tone and voice, find a supporting photograph, edit the copy, make a list of reference links, add a few tags for Google search, publish, share on social media, and finally add the blog post to your website.  Yuck!  Who wants to blog?  In a word, Oevae. Yes!  That's because this is one of the areas we thrive and have talented authors, creative and technical writers who are passionate about doing these types of tasks.  But first, you should understand what a blog is and why they matter for growing your business.   

Ok Google, what is a blog? 

Blog /bläɡ/ is a regularly updated website or web page, typically one run by an individual or small group, that is written in an informal or conversational style.

Ok, that sounds great and all, but I'm talking about a business blog. If you don't have a business blog you'll probably reconsider after exploring the benefits. The bigger question is how do you know if it's working and doing what it's supposed to do?  Easy. Since each blog post becomes a seed scattered on fertile ground.  The number of views for each blog post will grow over time.  This will tell you the overall appeal, meanwhile providing data that can help build a human aspect for your brand and build relationships with consumers – create household brand names (Kleenex, Scotch Tape, Xerox, Google, Popsicle, Ziploc).  Experienced examination of analytics will reveal which blog posts are compounding against those that need additional grooming versus those you should delete.

The top five benefits your business blog offers:

1. Provide answers to common questions you receive about your brand
2. Help establish and strengthen brand values with supporting photography
3. Create a position of authority and leadership for your brand
4. Convert visitor traffic into leads with long-term results
5. Drive targeted organic traffic to your website

The research behind blogs and what a well-written blog can do to help a business grow is no mystery.  The reality is the vast number of small business owners have no clue or no experience at leveraging best practices that yield legitimate results.

A blog is the human voice of your brand.  So it is imperative for building a brand a consumer will listen to, understand or learn from, trust, and are willing to share their experience with friends, family, and in Google reviews.  Without a business blog to create regular content about your brand, you miss out on the benefits of compounding (posts whose traffic grows steadily over time) blog content.  As a compounding post generates more traffic, its search authority and hits increase, and more traffic becomes a virtuous growth cycle.

A high-performing business blog works tirelessly as an advocate for your brand, available all hours of the day, even on days, you don't want to work.  The blog for a business is often on the company website, shared on social media, linked from Google business profile, delivered in an email newsletter, sent via text messages, and scanned from QR codes. Each one can maximize the potential for a growing number of website visitors over time.  The best time to start a business blog was the day you started your business, the second-best time to start a business blog is now.

Make a brand difference.™

Asking Customers for Google Reviews

Updated MON JUL 31 2023

One of the best marketing strategies for growing your business is to get customers to spread the word about your business and recommend your products and services at will aka word of mouth.  And it turns out that asking a customer for a Google Review while they are present is probably the best opportunity for you to receive a review from them. In order for this strategy to work, rehearse and tailor the phrases for asking customers for Google reviews below. Then use your customized "Asking Customers for Google Reviews" phrase when the moment is right. Making this simple adjustment to your Google Reviews marketing strategy, and making it a staple of your natural commentary with customers and clients can be extremely effective when adhered to.

Realistically speaking, customer review aggregation is no easy feat – without your prompting, a happy customer has no incentive to leave a positive review for prospective customers to see. Meanwhile, unsatisfied customers might leave a bad review, scaring off a potential customer.

Ideas for getting Google reviews from your customers

Asking at the right time is vital. Clients may rave about you in person, providing a natural momentum for you or your employees to ask:

"Do you mind taking a minute to share your feedback on Google reviews right now?"

"Will you help us offer the same service you received by leaving us a Google review online right now?"

"Since you had such a great experience, would you mind taking some time to leave us a review on Google? We've made it super easy for you. Just scan this QR code."

"Your opinion matters to us. Would you take a minute to review your experience during your visit? Just scan this QR code."

"We're glad to be of help. We strive to [what the customer is praising you for]. Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback on Google reviews."

"How did we do? Review your experience with us at Google Reviews!"

Getting a customer review whenever they have already left?

Adding a post-purchase/post-transaction follow-up via email as part of the "Customer Review aggregation," which we can send to customers along with the "thank you for your business." All we need is the customer's email address.  

But you won't get more positive reviews unless you ask for them. However, a 2019 BrightLocal study indicated that 76% of consumers asked to leave feedback did it.

Mobile searches for "best" and "reviews" have increased by 80% and 35%, respectively, in the past few years. And according to recent research, asking for reviews produces higher average review scores of 4.34 out of 5. In contrast, unprompted reviews average 3.89 out of 5.

Prove to consumers that what you're offering is worth it.

Unless you're spending advertising dollars to tell consumers how great your brand is, people won't know if what you're offering is worth their time and money. Google reviews solve this problem because customers share their experiences for free, which according to our research, is very affordable.

Consumers' sudden reliance on online shopping coupled with a decrease in people's trust in advertising (83% don't trust advertisements) means brands can't afford to not be in control of their reviews and those reviews' value to marketing. Review data shows brands what consumers are saying in their own words, without lag time. Those insights directly and accurately inform marketers to craft a customized online environment tailored to engage consumers, raise conversions, and increase sales.

Customers regard brands as more than product or service providers: they form value-based and emotional relationships with each one. Customer feedback is an integral part of that relationship, with hundreds of thousands of customers sharing their thoughts in Google reviews, Facebook, Yelp, and other websites.

The FTC (The Federal Trade Commission) proposed a new rule to stop marketers from using illicit review and endorsement practices such as using fake reviews, suppressing honest negative reviews, and paying for positive reviews, which deceive consumers looking for real feedback on a product or service and undercut honest businesses. Examples of clearly deceptive practices involving consumer reviews and testimonials from its past cases, and noted the widespread emergence of generative AI, which is likely to make it easier for bad actors to write fake reviews.

Customers who post Google reviews don’t only talk about products, they talk about how these products fit into their lives. In essence, they talk about who they are—from simple likes and dislikes to lifestyle preferences.

Prepare your POS for asking customers for a Google Review, and stay on the forefront of technology with a QR Code table tent seen below.

• 91% of people regularly or occasionally read online reviews, while 84% trust reviews as much as a personal recommendation.

• Online reviews influence 95% of consumers for their purchases.

• 73% of consumers think written reviews are more important than star and number ratings.

Isn't it time to put your Google review skit into practice? You've likely perused Google reviews before you purchase, so it's logical to assume consumers do the same as you before buying.

Once you have accrued a few Google reviews, Oevae.com can help you integrate your reviews on your website, email, and other marketing communications like QR codes. 

Make a brand difference.™

References

Online Reviews Statistics and Trends: A 2022 Report by ReviewTrackers
https://www.reviewtrackers.com/reports/online-reviews-survey/

How Much Are Online Reviews Actually Worth?
https://retail-insider.com/retail-insider/2020/04/how-much-are-online-reviews-actually-worth/

Content Creators Consider Great Content Controversial

By the nature of creating content, it takes much longer to create content than it does to consume it.  So if we assume that only humans can create content that is going to be valuable, then there will never be enough humans to create enough content that not even one person will consume.

Source: Are We In A Content War? 

Content. Content. Content.  
Without content, we have nothing to share, argue, or boast about.  Content marketing has many goals – mainstream media has mastered how to move consumers from one isle to the next looking for the products that move them emotionally.

Think about the last time you were on the shampoo aisle... your eyes moving up and down, left and right, in search of that "one" word or special phrase and attractively shaped packaging that has you thinking... "This one will transform my hair and even make my hairstyles look better, even though I have nappy hair." This proves that creative package design plays a key role in the product's success.

Creating Great Marketing Content
To move consumers, you must be moving.  This requires motivation, purpose, and passion.  There are 3 tasks your marketing content must do to be valuable:

1. Create a question. 
2. Provide an option.
3. Deliver with impact.

We all know that "mainstream media" is really a reflection of prevailing waves of thought, influence, or activity. But, choosing the right words (ammunition) to be compelling is where the action begins.  Your content can be shocking like the power of the Shamwow towels that hold 12 times their weight in liquid and will not scratch surfaces. Or, perhaps something that "satisfies" like a Snickers candy bar which has the power to take you from a sour puss to a superhero in just one bite.

In any event, you want to win, it's often very important that you have a good plan, proven ability, and lots of training.  It's true when NFL superstar, Tom Brady says "You are the sum of your training." In the Under Armour commercial.  If you enter a battle with poor artillery, weak soldiers, and a sketch rather than a plan, chances are that you will fail.  The same is true when entering the content war. 

Why fight a losing battle with your fingers crossed? 
You have great content creators just beyond a few keystrokes of your computer keyboard.  You would be out of your mind to race at NASCAR with only a few late-night road rage rendezvous, no sponsors, and a factory-built automobile – a big waste of time, energy, and money.  

Contact professional content marketing creators to gain exposure for your local business or national communications campaign to win your battle with great content marketing.

Make a brand difference.™