If you still think your business does not need a blog, ponder over the following four fundamental things required by your existing and prospective clients:
1. Get it right
2. Get it out there
3. Give them advice
4. Give them a voice
Who are ‘them’? Your customers of course…yeah! darn right. Your customers need this platform.
Supposing I am a make over artist desirous of taking my art and business to the next level how do I create a big buzz about it? Firstly, I would ensure I have a phone that can snap pictures with minimal effort, range of makeup brushes that ensures an effortless gorgeous look for my existing and prospective clients. Furthermore, where I do not have the financial wherewithal to have my own website, I would create an online presence using a blog to get the word out. This blog would act as my office where I interact with existing and prospective clients. I would not only upload pictures of recent works but I’d also use this medium to educate my clients and readers on the latest makeup techniques including tutorials conducted by myself with the aid of free press via YouTube. If you think giving out free tutorials won’t get you clients, you can check out www.makeupbyrenren.com this young lady has taught me several things about how budding makeup entrepreneurs within our country can create a big buzz for themselves.
Supposing I am a farmer who specializes in growing and selling various types of vegetables, I would not restrict myself to just neighbourhood folks or the occasional passerby. I would spread the buzz by informing consumers through my blog the importance and medicinal benefits of vegetables and all the various delicacies that could be wrought with them. What about medicinal vegetables-this blog would also act as a forum to ask for constant feedbacks from readers and clients. What about supplying and shipping vegetables to clients who may place an order for special occasions such as weddings, burial ceremonies, birthdays, anniversaries and so forth?
Supposing I am an interior décor artist, I would need a blog instead of an actual website to educate consumers on the need to incorporate some colours into their homes. While on vacation last year I stumbled across an interior décor artist who took time to educate us on the importance of colours within our home. I’m sure our women who are always lamenting about their sudden weight gain would be happy to know that a right step in the losing weight direction is to paint your kitchen walls a deep purple & lilac colour and watch the weight gradually drop off. You might wonder what purple has to do with losing weight? Why don’t you try it and see? For kiddies play area, she also said it was much better to paint such areas in deep red with pink hues (if you can’t stand red in all its’ glory) or orange. It induces energy in such a child and allows self expression. For study areas, it’s better to paint it in such colours like soothing green which ensures adequate concentration.
I’m actually trying to state how important it is for small business owners to engage existing and prospective clients in a constant and consistent dialogue on a daily or monthly basis where customers can give direct feedbacks and also sort out any other issues. Every business needs a blog and I need one too.
I will be giving a weekly and daily updates on what the Naira currently exchanges for against other foreign currencies. Oftentimes, when I look at the search items readers use in locating my blog, this question remains a fore runner. So for today, the Nigerian Naira against the U.S$ currently exchanges for NGN147 at most major banks while it goes for NGN153 at the parallel market.
It’s 1.40p.m in the afternoon and i’m sitting here at a warehouse typing on my laptop. Today, I took off from work cos I wasn’t in the mood for any kind of serious work. Have you ever felt you were waiting for something you are entirely clueless about but your intuitive self knows that this wait could possibly make you? I was talking with a friend of mine today and I remember telling her that I was bored with my job…and I wanted something more, which I can’t define right now. So here I am, typing on this blog and I decided to check up on a company I had approached last year to become their front line brand ambassador within West Africa and to my pleasant surprise, I find that I’ve been included as one of their brand ambassdors specifically for the West African market. How exciting is that?
Does that mean I’m giving up on my day job? Not yet, but it means I have the chance to put the skills and experience I’ve mastered on my current job role in making this brand a success within the Nigerian market when we roll out next month. I’m a creative and analytical person who has recorded a lot of success within my present job role but I’m at the crossroad where I realise it’s time to move on to the next chapter of my life. I want to make use of all the opportunities I consciously seek out to make a difference for myself and the community in which I live. Life is an interesting journey depending on your personal perspective…I’ve been waiting consciously and unconsciously and I know that 2009 is the year when I have to jump off the cliff to reach out to the world.
It’s a well known fact that women and clothes go together. I’m yet to meet that woman who could care less what she wears on a day to day basis. However, we often find it difficult getting rid of the excess clutter in our wardrobes. I’m a classic example…i’ve got clothes I haven’t worn in ages but I still keep them either for sentimental reason or other subtle reasons I have not bothered to explore. When I got my first job offer, my clothes were awful and I don’t know why I kept wearig what I wore back then to work. Oh! I now know…I kept on fooling myself that since the dress code was smart casual, I could care less what I wore.
Secondly, I was also trying to secure my future financially by stashing away as much cash as I possibly could. Thirdly, I had decided that I was not going to buy new clothes until I was financially solvent which didn’t happen until my third year of employment.
I woke up and suddenly discovered that I want to buy new and better clothes and I could afford them which led me to start stashing cash away for my shopping spree which occurs once a year when I travel for vacations.
But, we are in a recession right now and I’d like to ask “How long is it too long to keep something”? I practically wore a pair of jeans for two years until they became ragged, faded and worn out cos I couldn’t answer the upgrade question. However, for times such as this, there are some basic classic items that should be in a woman’s wardrobe; a pair of well fitting jeans (dark blue rinse), non peep toe pumps, A -line fitted skirt (possibly black) and basic shirts that don’t have the bumpy over-washed feeling to them. Another part to this dilema is the number of clothes I have. So, I ask you a few questions: How long is too long? What is worth upgrading? and How much is too much?
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