How Blogging Can Build Your Reputation As a Recognized Expert in Your Industry

Author: Jonathan Taylor

Author: Jonathan Taylor

There are more than 150,000 blogs created every day. Many are just a means for people to rant or communicate with friends and family, but blogs can be an effective marketing tool for a number of reasons. They are a great way to build enormous trust with your customers. A blog is an open forum that lets you communicate what's going on and, at the same time, lets your customers give feed- back. It's also a way of building your reputation as the go-to expert in your industry. The more you write, the more attention you gain. Let me give you a short example of the power of a blog in building your reputation as an expert. Few people would have known who Jon Ostrower was just a few years ago. But that changed when he started blogging about the latest updates on the development of the Boeing 787. Ostrower had no aerospace training; neither did he have a back- ground in journalism. All he really had was a serious interest in what he was writing about. His readership, which started out at only 315, grew to well over 1.7 million. His status grew as well. His reputation as the inside man on the 787 landed him a job writing for trade journal Flight International. In his book The Obvious Expert, Elsom Eldridge talks about the marketing power of being an author. Whatever subject you write on, you become the authority in that field. Eldridge is, of course, talking about self-publishing books, but I believe blogs are a great way to get started in building your professional reputation as well. More people are switching from printed publications to online news these days. Digital information is cheaper than paper and ink! If you are a self-employed professional, you need a blog. If you own an insurance business, write about the changes within the industry or provide tips for saving money on car insurance. If you are a landscaper, write about landscaping tips. Remember the wine cabinet maker I mentioned earlier. I have a friend who works as a personal trainer. He wanted to create an online presence, so I suggested that he start with a blog that he shares fitness and nutri- tional tips. He began posting and was surprised at how soon his clients were noticing A blog presents you with a medium that your audience can access easily. If you post entries on a regular basis, include your blog address on any other printed materials you have such as business cards or brochures. If you post often enough and if your blogs are informative people might begin to subscribe so that they get automated updates every time you post.About the Author:

Jonathan Taylor is the author of the new book The Official Small Business Guide to Marketing 2.0. Not only does this author specialize in marketing and business success, you can check out his latest website on Big Bear Rentals, which reviews big bear vacations and other cabin rentals.

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