Blogging May Not Be A Bad Idea

A few months ago, I wrote a blog titled "Two Sacrifices Not Worth Making In A Recession". While it was well-received, I have to say that there are some changes that you should be willing to make.

When was the last time you reviewed your marketing plan? (You do have a marketing plan, don't you?) Now is the time to look at all the things you scoffed at before and consider them again. Maybe it's not such a bad idea to start a business blog.

You used to say that you just didn't have the time to blog. Well, with the recession, less clients, and less business - how are you on time now? You used to say that you didn't have anything interesting to write or say in a blog. If you don't have anything interesting to say or write, how do you function as a salesperson selling your services?

According to Scribd 's Social Media 2008 Statistics , 60.3 million Americans read blogs. What a fantastic opportunity to get your message out! Social Media - including blogging - needs to be a leg of your marketing stool.

Consider these points:

1). Blogging Contributes to Your SEO Plan. (You do have a SEO Plan, don't you?) Using all the right tags and keywords, your blog will help direct more traffic and exposure to your business.

2.) Blogging Confirms You As An Expert. Do you read blogs about your field of interest? Don't you consider those bloggers experts in the field? Establish yourself as an expert and go-to person by expressing your ideas and opinions.

3.) Your Competition Is Blogging. According to the same Social Media 2008 Statistics , 26.4 Million people in the U.S. started a blog last year. You think any of those can be your competition?

JOIN US AT OUR C.H.I.P.s EVENT: Chicago Home Interior Pros, come Join C.H.I.P.s on July 29th for a Networking Lunch and Blogging Workshop . The event is free, you just need to pay for your lunch. You can also RSVP on Facebook.

Other posts on the C.H.I.P.s Blog about Blogging:

Social Networking For the Busy

Attention Marketers: You Can't Afford Not To Blog

This post by Israel Retana. Israel is the founder of C.H.I.P.s and 2ndgeneration craftsman at Retana Cabinet Works , where they've been specializing in custom cabinetry and antique furniture restoration for nearly 30 years. He can be followed on twitter (iretana), friendedonFaceBook , connected with on Linkedin, or contacted atisrael@retanacabinetworks.com

Why targeting selective markets captures immediate attention.

Originally published by Deborah Flate on http://www.deborahflate.wordpress.com , re-published with permission.

It’s all about VALUE.

Although there are similarities, branding (longer term) has significant differences from marketing.Everyone needs to focus on a target market! You can cast a wide net, but it’s all about quality not quantity. Quantity can sometimes bring time wasting activities.

Sales people, designers, product companies and showrooms need to get their marketing message to their target market as quickly and efficiently as possible. The days of just doing “business as usual” and relying on only referrals, advertising or even show houses can have you just waiting for business. I am not suggesting these are not all good methods. I am suggesting we need to be more specific as how and to whom we market our services and always add value.

Being pro-active about getting business is an essential part of your business plan.

Passive marketing is like “throwing spaghetti at a wall”, some sticks, some does not. We need to make a concerted effort so we are not wasting precious time and resources. But first we need to ask ourselves specifically, who is that client?

1.) First step is to carefully and strategically define your target market.

Some examples of current target markets in design are:

1. Green design
2. Resorts/Spas
3. Retirement/assisted living
4. Historic design
5. Empty nesters

2.) Once identified, you will need to find out where your target “lives.” This means researching their buying habits, what they read, what associations they might belong to, what websites they visit, income and life-style, just to name a few. Defining that can ensure all your time, effort and money is targeted.

3.) You also need to think about how your target is changing their buying habits, direction, style, and how they are finding sources. Obviously an elderly person looking to downsize will read different magazines and attend different functions than a gen-xr looking to build a green home.

Once defined, your marketing message will then add VALUE to that target audience. It’s important to uncover this before and not just during your consultations with your clients. You will be providing value instead of being one of many designers they may be interviewing. Instead of talking about what YOU can DO for them, it becomes about filling THEIR NEEDS.

Submitted by Deborah Flate. Deborah is a member of C.H.I.P.s and owner of Dialogue Consulting, Strategic and Business Consulting for the Interior Design Industry. You can follow her on Twitter ( @deborahflate ) and read her blog here.

Where to Find Interior Design Twitter Users

1) Twitter Groups

Twitter Groups (twittgroups.com) is a directory of groups formed by Twitter users based on similar interests. The following are groups I belong to and would recommend for you to join if you are looking to follow and be followed by others in the interior design industry:

Interior Design : http://twittgroups.com/group/interiordesign

Wood Workers: http://twittgroups.com/group/woodworkers

2) Twibes

Check out the furniture twibe : http://www.twibes.com/group/Furniture . Maybe even browse through other twibes in their home & garden category : http://www.twibes.com/category/home-garden

3) Search.Twitter

Twitter Search allows you to do a pin-pointed search. Not only can you find some one who tweeted about "architect", but you can do an advanced search to find an architect by city as well.

4) Just Tweet It:

Just Tweet It is a directory of Twitter Users, check out http://justtweetit.com/interior-design/

5) Mr Tweet

Mr Tweet is a fun application that searches for people for you to follow. You simply sign up, follow Mr Tweet, and in a couple of days you will get a direct message with a link to your own personal list of suggestions.

6) C.H.I.P.s Blog

A while ago, I wrote a short blog post with recommended follows. I got great response for it, see it here .