A business blog is essential to maximize your online exposure for a number of reasons, including search engine optimization, building your identity and creating expert status, generating leads, and sharing information to name just a few. You also want to be mentioned and noted in other industry blogs throughout the internet for maximum exposure.
At the same time, you want whatever is said about you around the web to build your creditably to make others want to do business with you. Thus, for optimal results and reputation management, blogging sites are one aspect of your social media marketing strategy that need to be monitored. You should consider monitoring blog articles and posts, comments, and all links connecting you to others on the web.
Monitoring blog articles and posts
When monitoring blog articles, it’s important to know who is writing about your local business, along with what they are saying about it. This will allow you to see if you’re generating coverage about your products and other news related to your business, as well as any issues about your industry and learning about other competitors.
Monitoring comments, and making them
Monitoring comments allows you to see what people are saying about articles that mention your business, as well as what people are saying about any competitors. Whether or not you should also comment is up to you, but at least monitoring comments allows you to view the gossip, insights and reviews. At the same time, giving your input and insight can build credibility and show that you’re “out there” in the industry in several places as an “expert”.
Monitoring inbound and outbound links
Finally, links are important to monitor in blogging site due to the fact that links are what connect the web. Monitor whether any other blogs or articles that are written about you or your business also include a link that will direct readers to your site. If not, then consider asking the author to include links to your website in any further articles written about you or your business. When someone is referencing you, shouldn’t you be credited? I think so, and it should be done with a link to send readers your direction. At the same time, you can include outbound links to relevant industry information from your site, as well, which can help show you’re connected to other experts in the industry.
Monitoring what’s going on in the industry and what’s being said about your business specifically is wise so you can keep up with the competition and also get a sense of what you’re doing well and areas you need to improve based on others’ comments.
Monitoring blogging sites is a great place to start to get a good sense of your online reputation, so start yesterday to put a process in place to consistently monitor and respond to what’s being mentioned or said about you and your business throughout the World Wide Web.
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About The Guest Author: Chris Marentis, founder and CEO of the Surefire Social Marketing System, is a recognized expert in the field of local business marketing leveraging website development, local search engine optimization and social media marketing to generate leads and brand local businesses throughout the digital web.
