Can Blogging Harm Your Home Business?
(Oops! Somehow this title got posted instead of saved. So I’d better finish and let you know what I was thinking. So if you saw only the title, here’s “the rest of the story.” )
Generally we regard blogging as a method to help promote a business by informing customers, providing added information resources, bringing a more personal side to one’s business and reaching customers/clients whether you have an online or walk-in business. So, in general a blog connected with a business adds value.
However, can blogging by disgruntled customers (someone who thinks their feelings have been slighted, a person who doesn’t like your product but doesn’t give you the opportunity to make it right) hurt your business? In this era of reaching around the globe via blogging, web sites and Internet news, are businesses more susceptible to imagined and real complaints without being able to provide their side of the story?
Within minutes, actually seconds, the blogging customer’s take on the situation can be spinning around the blogosphere and you’re not even aware they’re upset. In the pre-blogging world, complaints generally were made by phone calls and letters to the business owner, perhaps a letter to the editor of a local newspaper, a complaint to the Better Business Bureau. They were made and handled relatively locally.
Now we’re dealing with a new way of marketing by the business owner, as well as comments and complaints by the customer.
What is your opinion about business and blogging from this aspect? Will it spin out of control? Serve public good? Should businesses respond on their blogs? Or ignore/answer on a case by case basis?
(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen
Tags: bloggers, blogging, business marketing, business-blogging, business-blogs, customer complaints, customers, home-businessShare This
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POSTED IN: Books, Business Blogging, Changes, Communication, Customer Service, Marketing
9 opinions for Can Blogging Harm Your Home Business?
Grant D Griffiths
Feb 27, 2008 at 2:18 pm
Blogging can do nothing but help your home business. Want more?
Mary Emma Allen
Feb 27, 2008 at 2:20 pm
Hi Grant,
Don’t know what happened here! This was supposed to go into the saved folder to be finished for a future post. I’ll add more to it.
Grant D Griffiths
Feb 27, 2008 at 2:22 pm
I don’t know. I think it is a great way to get comments on your blog. I look forward to “the rest of the story.”
Steven
Feb 27, 2008 at 9:03 pm
The biggest problem with many of the blogs in the industry today is they dont update or they peter out.
We created OpTree so that people can have a reliable source which is updated multiple times a day. The key is making sure you stay current and update to create a reason for people to come back and be engaged.
Mary Emma Allen
Feb 28, 2008 at 6:36 am
This is a good point, Steven. It’s so important to update frequently if you want visitors to keep returning. Thanks for visiting Home Biz Notes and sharing your views.
Mary Emma Allen
Feb 28, 2008 at 6:38 am
Thanks, Grant, for visiting and commenting. I wonder…should I try that more often (only post the title) and see what visitors think!
Mary Emma Allen
Feb 28, 2008 at 6:40 am
To explain what Grant and I were commenting about. For some reason, this posted with only the title, when I thought I’d saved it and would complete the article later. So when Grant commented, I realized the title had gone “live.”
Grant D Griffiths
Feb 28, 2008 at 6:59 am
I thought it was a pretty cool idea and I just may try it on Home Office Warrior. Great post BTW. David’s book is great and I was actually featured in the section on blogging.
Mary Emma Allen
Feb 28, 2008 at 7:57 am
Thanks for that info about David’s book, Grant. I’ll have to pursue it, and your information on blogging. Congratulations! Incidentally, your letting me know you were featured in David’s book goes along with my post on Feb. 27, “5 Ways to Brag…Discreetly.” I didn’t mention using comments when the appropriate occasion arose. Thanks for letting me know.
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