A blog is a highly advanced and yet very simple way of marketing your business by profiling a member’s, client’s or employee’s experience. A blog is simply an online journal. It is public and can be read by anyone. Although client testimonials and reviews are the strongest sales tools for a business, online blogging can also work as a major marketing tool to increase online exposure and spread the word about your company much farther than you thought possible.
Blogging can be done by an employee of the company, a client you are working with on a regular basis or someone who retains a membership with your business. In fact, many successful CEOs use blogging as an informal way to get information to consumers, as well as strengthen brand presence online.
As an example, we’ll focus on how a fitness brand uses blogging as an effective sales tool. The company encourages its coaches and trainers to approach existing or potential members who have a significant amount of weight to lose and a strong back story on why they need to lose the weight. Ideally, the member should be highly-motivated and also possess good writing skills, which can be assessed indirectly by profiling her educational background, current career, and speaking skills.
Once a potential blogger has been identified, the company encourages them to write regularly about their weight loss experience and their experience with the company. In exchange, the fitness company provides them with incentives such as a discount on membership fees. The company also gives the member access to all of the club’s facilities so they are able to write about the entire club experience. The member, with a minimum of 3 entries weekly, will write the blog. Because other readers can view and post comments on blogs, a community can be created and the blogger will be more motivated to accomplish their own goal while acting as an example for others. Meanwhile, the fitness company is strengthening their online presence without overloading the wary consumer with expensive marketing campaigns.
In addition to the member’s personal blog, blog postings can also be used on corporate sites, in customer/member testimonial sections, and even in marketing materials. Blogs can also be added to numerous online blog directories for even more exposure. It is recommended that blogs are closely monitored to insure that they are being properly managed and the company is not unjustly portrayed in a negative light. Setting up a blog is easy, and the more members, clients and employees who are blogging about the company, the more online exposure and brand awareness can be generated.
Here is an example of a series of typical blog postings from a member:
Sept 9
I got my 40 minutes of exercise in today. The elliptical was much harder than I anticipated. My walking pace was 50 rpm while my running pace was 60. Tomorrow, I’ll run for 1 minute and walk for 39. I’ll probably do hills to keep it interesting.
Sept 7
I signed up for the 5K. I’m going to do it. Maybe not perfectly, but it’s a step towards my picture of health and fitness. I am so nervous, but I know I can do it. I need to start training for it!
Sept 5
I've hit a plateau with my weight loss goal and I really need to get going and drop the final 5 pounds. My Lifestyle Coach suggested that I try something different and enter a race. She said mixing up my workouts will maximize my results and I’m into that! I am thinking about it. She suggested a 5K then a 10K then maybe even a marathon. I laughed when she mentioned a marathon. Imagine?!
Blogging as a Sales Tool - To learn more about this author, visit Christopher Palumbo's Website.
Like this article? Share it with your friends
 |
Related Articles |
|
 100 Ways to Succeed #39
|
| |
 Blog As If Your Life Depended On It!
|
|
To Blog or Not to Blog
|
| |
Blogging is a great way to promote your business on the internet. But, make sure you know what's involved before you start.
|
|
Happy One Year Blogging Anniversary!
|
| |
November 3, 2007 was actually my official one year anniversary as a blogger. It has been extremly fun and eductional. The goal for my upcoming year of blogging is to further merge my blogs into my offline activiti...
|
|
Blog Less, Earn More
|
| |
Should you be blogging? Most seem to think yes, but some say no. See the pros of *not* blogging.
|
|
Blogheads
|
| |
For those of you who haven't yet started a Blog, you won't understand. You weren't there man! Just trying one Blog will get you hooked. Sure, you say you're just experimenting with blogging.
|
 |
Related Businesses - Evan Elite Authors |
|
Dave Kurlan
Dave Kurlan is the founder and CEO of Objective Management Group, Inc., the industry leader in sales assessments and sales force evaluations, and the CEO of David Kurlan & Associates, Inc., a consulting firm specializing in sales force development.
Dave has been a top rated speaker at Inc. Magazine's Conference on Growing the Company, the Sales & Marketing Management Conference and the Gazelles Sales & Marketing Summit.
He has been featured on radio and TV, including World Business Review with General Norman Schwarzkopf, in Inc. Magazine, Selling Power Magazine, Sales & Marketing Management Magazine and Incentive Magazine.
He is the author of Mindless Selling and Baseline Selling – How to Become a Sales Superstar by Using What You Already Know about the Game of Baseball.
He created and wrote STAR, a proprietary recruiting process for hiring great salespeople, and he writes Understanding the Sales Force, a popular business Blog and is a contributing author to The Death of 20th Century Selling and 101 Great Ways to Improve Your Life, Volume 2. - Visit Dave Kurlan's Website |
|
Leanne Hoagland-Smith
Are your sales where you want them to be? Will you be one of the few who achieves sales success or one of the many who have failed to change? So what are you doing to change those results? Let’s be honest, with companies moving globally and at lightening speeds, the traditional business solutions are outdated and dead. My approach moves your business out of its comfort zone and secures your competitive advantage now. If you are seeking to increase sales, build customer loyalty, create a culture of great attitudes or just achieve some sleep filled nights, then we should talk because my clients have experienced exactly those types of results. Learn more about customer loyalty at http://www.processspecialist.com/customer-loyalty.htm Give me a call at 219.759.5601 for a free strategy session. P.S. If you are seeking a motivational speaker, sales trainer or small business expert that will leave your audience smiling and remembering, please feel free to contact me at 219.759.5601. - Visit Leanne Hoagland-Smith's Website |
|
Dr. John Oda
John Oda Ph.D NLP is a business peak performance expert, an author, and speaker frequently called upon to provide corporate training, workshops and seminars for many companies in the United States. He is an expert in coaching sales and business professionals in overcoming the behaviors and obstacles that may impede their sales results and affect their bottom line. Since 1995, John has created a speaking bureau such topics, which include: time management, sales training, human diversity, leadership programs and etc. He provides companies with a strategic plan to increase their bottom line by over 25 percent yearly. - Visit Dr. John Oda's Website |
|
George Ludwig
George Ludwig is a recognized authority on sales strategy and peak performance psychology. An international speaker, trainer, and corporate consultant, he helps clients like Johnson & Johnson, Abbott Laboratories, Northwestern Mutual, CIGNA, and numerous others improve sales force effectiveness and performance.
Though it's George's strategies and processes that help corporations increase productivity and performance, it's his tremendous energy and dynamism that spark the transformation. Again and again, clients remark on his amazing ability to unleash human capacity and inspire men and women to break out of their comfort zones. The result is a whole new type of salesperson.
His customized presentations teach achievers to make stunning advances in their lives. From helping salespeople realize cherished dreams to helping corporations exponentially accelerate revenue streams, George Ludwig leaves audiences and individuals empowered, emboldened, and clamoring for more.
George is the best-selling author of Power Selling: Seven Strategies for Cracking the Sales Code and Wise Moves: 60 Quick Tips to Improve Your Position in Life & Business. - Visit George Ludwig's Website |
|
Anne Barr
Anne Barr has over 26 years experience in sales and marketing, six years as a franchisee. She has assisted over 367 business owners and purchasers to achieve their goals in career change, transition and exit strategy. She holds the designation of Certified Franchise Executive from the International Franchise Association, Certified Business Intermediary from the International Business Brokers Association and Board Certified Broker from the Texas Association of Business Brokers. Anne is active in professional organizations,
networking groups and volunteers for non-profit entities. As owner/operator of four successful businesses, Anne has proven people skills and enjoys helping clients find the right "fit" in business
ownership. Visit www.FranchiseOpportunitySpecialist.com for more information about me and my company. - Visit Anne Barr's Website |
|
The Evan Elite Authors program is currently in beta phase. For details please contact us.
|
|
|
Christopher Palumbo
(Visit Christopher's Website)
Brand Director, Christopher Palumbo
Christopher Palumbo holds degrees in
Industrial Design, Economics, as well as
an MBA in Industrial Administration from
Carnegie Mellon University. Following
business school, Mr. Palumbo began his
career as a partner in a real estate
development company, where he developed
branding concepts for resort communities
in South Florida and the Carolina's. From
there his business accomplishments grew as
he orchestrated the complete turnaround of
a failing national real estate developer.
Soon after, Christopher changed gears and
used his talents to create an
award-winning World Gym concept store,
which now serves as the working model for
the Company's retail based fitness centers
worldwide. He owned and operated two
successful health clubs in the Carolinas,
which were purchased by Gold's Gym in
2003. Chris utilized his position within
the organization to orchestrate a
turnaround and capitalization plan for the
World Gym™ brand. To date, he has worked
with many of the largest and most
reputable companies in the fitness and
leisure industries, and is frequently
featured in industry and national press.
www.c
hrispalumbo.com/
|
|
 |
|
Health CEO - elements(tm) is the premium fitness
and lifestyle brand for women. From
New York to Seattle, our boutique style
clubs and stylish lifestyle branding are
setting a new standard.
|
|
|
|
![[Get Copyright Permissions]](http://license.icopyright.net/images/icopy-w.gif){kind=small}
