So you think you can blog?
By Kristen Scalia - Kanibal Home
April 22, 2010, 4:22PM
So you know you should be blogging, but … yea. There’s bookkeeping that should be done and vendors calling and you’re still new at this social media game.
There’s enough at Kanibal Home to keep me busy, but when I get bogged down I treat my social media as just another “to do” on the list. It’s easy to put it off or brush it aside, but it’s important to keep in mind that blogging is a direct extension of the company’s business initiatives now. But that doesn’t mean it makes it any easier to sit down and write out a post.
For those times when blogging seems impossible to fit in or fathom, here’s a cheat sheet of potential topics:
What's hiding behind there?
1. Sneak Peek. Everyone wants a look behind the curtain to see who’s running the show. I offer Kanibal Home’s sneak peeks two ways: 1) By posting images of products that will be coming out soon, but that haven’t been put out in the shop yet, and 2) By posting about something that inspires me (it could be a Tim Burton image or a music video or even another blogger’s website). Sneak peeks are beneficial because it’s something you know well and can write about quickly and it’s also an opportunity for your audience to provide feedback. For example, in the comments section they might agree or disagree with your music choice, display excitement over a product launch or ask about another related service.
2. Promotions. What better way to entice customers to keep reading then by rewarding their loyalty? If you have a brick-and-mortar location, post a promotion where customers have to say a password when checking out to receive a discount. Web based? Post a 24 hour coupon for a percentage off all sales that day or a free gift with order.
3. Vendor Highlight. Sometimes the best marketing tool is to take a step back and focus on someone else. Making a blog all about you and your business can sometimes come off as too aggressive. Switch gears and post about a new vendor or a local restaurant/bar/retail shop that you love.
4. Make yourself an expert. Maybe your job requires you to attend trade shows or industry events. Use this to your advantage and write a post about the latest show, trend or industry buzz. There’s nothing wrong with paraphrasing an existing article (as long as you link to it in your own post). Concentrate all the information into a few helpful hints and don’t be afraid to use bullets or numbered lists.
Kristen Scalia is the owner of Kanibal Home, a lifestyle store offering new and vintage home goods, apparel and gift items in Jersey City, NJ. She can be found in the social media universe over at kanibalhome.blogspot.com, twitter.com/kanibalhome and kanibalhome.com.
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