Is your business blog an enabler or a deterrent?
There is an interesting discussion going on in a copywriter group at LinkedIn.
- Should your blog be a part of your business site – or–
- Should it be separate and send readers to your site?
It’s not a new topic, but this one took several interesting spins (as discussions often do).
Drive-by or Drive-in?
The owner of the Group questioned if an integrated blog drives people away from your message.
- Links within posts lead away from the message
- The owner contends the blog should be separate, linking back to your site
The group owner compared it to the “olden days” of marketing where the goal was keeping distractions away from your message.
Someone ought to let TV commercials know that.
Spinning Out of Control?
Several spins to the discussion bloomed.
- Does the blog as a new form of marketing dismiss old marketing principles?
- Does a small business owner – like a copywriter – treat the blog question differently?
There is no right or wrong answer (no matter what the experts tell you).
Each business has its own spin. You decide what’s best.
A Happy Marriage
My response to this discussion (and so many others) is – it depends – with a nod to my colleague Jake Pointer for those profound words.
- What is the purpose of your blog?
- What is your message?
- Does your blog support that message?
I choose to integrate this blog with my business site.
- The purpose of my blog is to provide help for business writing
- My message is Keep it simple, clear & uniquely yours
- My goal is that my blog supports my message
You can let me know how I’m doing.
I do understand the flip side.
- I have a separate blog, Simply stated health care, for my health care niche
- It’s message is Keeping health care simple & informative
- It links back to my business writing site
Is your blog separate from your business site?
What are your thoughts on the discussion?
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Helping you Keep it simple, clear & uniquely yours – contact me for help with your business writing needs.
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Sometimes I think I should have ‘it depends’ tattooed on my forehead… seems like that’s my answer for almost everything these days – a sign of maturity perhaps?
I have never thought about this before. Here’s what I have observed having some of one and some of another. I get to the blog quicker where it stands alone. It can get lost in a button somewhere on the top. On the other hand it can also be put in a primary position on the website so people go there. I like the last one best.
Anne Wayman – I would say it depends How much do you like your forehead? 😀
I know what you mean though. I’d like to think I get more accepting as the days go on. 🙂
Thanks for stopping by, Anne.
Ann (with no ‘e’) 🙂 It all depends where you’re coming from in search of the blog. If you are linking from a post to a social media site, it takes you right to it. But, you’re right, if you come straight to the site, you need to find the tab/button for the blog.
That was one of the points of one of the LinkedIn members. She felt when it was integrated, the blog could get buried.
Thanks for commenting, Ann.
I’m with Anne, Cathy; it depends. I have a blog on my business site though I don’t update it often so I don’t make it prominent. It’s more to show clients what I’ve been doing than to attract them in. But I can also see the value of having a stand-alone blog as a traffic driver.
It’s unanimous (at least with you, Anne & me) 🙂 I use my posts here to support my business writing business, but I have the stand-alone health care blog, too.
Thanks for weighing in, Sharon.
Ah, Cathy, you have to stop running taps on our board (bored?) meetings!
We are perpetually arguing this point. (OK, two of our board members are thrilled that our site houses my blog, as opposed to my blog housing our site…) And, given no resolution to this dilemna, the status quo obtains. (No, it is not an example of “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”, rather “the canoe is moving forward, don’t rock the boat”.)
Roy: Good to know I’m plugged in. 🙂
One of the group members had a great quote – the “Blogging Problem” isn’t that it leads people away from the desired action. The “Blogging Problem” is doing it properly and making it a success.
Amen. Thanks for sharing your story, Roy.
The correct answer is… there is no correct answer. If it works for you then it works for you. Go with what best fits your style. I believe we over analyze such things. On any given day people will decide to click or not click for millions of reasons. Be honest, be genuine and people will find you.
Stealing a quote from one of my favorite movies, Bull Durham, “If you are winning because you’re wearing ladies underwear, then you’re winning because you’re wearing ladies underwear.” No truer words have been spoken.
Wade: I am soooo there with you about the over-analyzing. I also don’t know why we persist in putting all people in the same, neat little box – ladies underwear or not. 🙂
Thanks for sharing your perspective, Wade.