Solo business owners, particularly those maintaining a blog or site as part of their work, face several challenges. It is hard enough to be a “solopreneur,” but add in the evolving demands of social media and search engine optimization and it becomes clear there is a lot to focus on here. Try a few marketing strategies in the new year to set your blog up for success, and get the broadest reach possible for your hard work.
Social Media
Social media is one of the most useful tools going right now, and a crucial tool for solopreneurs–social media is free, but gives a great return. Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Reddit and other platforms allow you to engage directly with customers, who can then forward on your information to friends, making an even larger potential customer pool. If you learn how to work the system right, social media can be a major boon, and buttons can even be added directly to your blog.
Search Results
Search results are also a necessary system to master for solo business owners, as you want your blog to pop up near the top of search engines when users search for a service you provide. SEO is a complex field though, and not everyone knows where to start. Some top SEO strategies for 2014 include Google+. Google, arguably the largest and most helpful of the search engines, has introduced Google+ as a way to help small business owners. By adding items to Google+, the Google search engines are more likely to recognize your blog as valid, and will rank it higher in the results. Taking advantage of top SEO strategies for 2014 is a smart and savvy move.
Engaging the Community
There can be no blog, however, without followers. A great way to get readers invested in your site and business is to engage in a way that opens an immediate conversation. Polls, surveys and contests are a great way to do this. Or, it could be as simple as ending each post with a question, which can spark a discussion immediately on your blog.
Frequency
Likewise, users are not certain to return if every time they visit your blog they see the same content as last time. The value of frequently updating cannot be overstated. Followers need to feel they are getting something out of your blog, and that they will miss out on something if they do not re visit. Make it a plan to post frequently and often. You can even set yourself a schedule, so users always know when they can check back with new content. Techniques like starting “Photo Friday” or “Roundup Thursday” can be a real boon here to encourage people to check back.
Mobile Conversion
A new area that solopreneurs have to pay attention to is ensuring their blog is accessible via mobile devices. More and more people are logging online using devices like smart phones and tablets, and sites don’t always appear as they should when visited via these avenues. Updating your site so that it is compatible with emerging technology is a good way to make for a more user friendly experience, something your followers will thank you for.
Blog savvy is a skill you build, and it is one that can have an immensely beneficial effect on your work. Don’t let others pass you by just because they have the inside scoop on SEO and user friendliness. By implementing just a few new strategies this year, you can carve out your own corner of the blogosphere and become a master of all things tech, SEO and social media.
What new marketing strategy will you implement in 2014?