Turn Facebook Posts Into Blog Posts

A blog that promotes your brand is one of the best inbound marketing assets you can have. If you've been around the block a bit, then you have knowledge in your niche that is highly valued. It's up to you to use this to your advantage.

Facebook vs. Business Blogging

Unfortunately, many small businesses fail to take advantage of blogging. They may get their web developer to integrate one into their website but that's where it ends.

Yet many of these same people can spend hours on Facebook each day (between clients or appointments) offering advice, opinions or other information pertinent to their niche. And when I see these blog-length Facebook posts full of valuable insights, I think: What a waste!

Why so? For starters, your Facebook audience is confined to your own social network. It’s a bit like preaching to the choir (ie: “there's Wayne going on about whatever again”). That's okay, but keep in mind that Facebook is also the ultimate distraction beast and your friends may just as easily skip on by. Ask yourself this: Is the amount of time you spend on Facebook worth it in terms of your business goals? Or does it fulfill some other needs?

Don't get me wrong here. Facebook posts and fan pages certainly have their place in the marketing tool box, but one of the cool things about blogging is that it has greater potential reach through type-in search. This means new folks will find you—which is the whole point of having an online presence. True, google searchers can skip off your blog post just as quickly as any attention squeazed Facebooker, but blogs are generally more attention holding and they encourage lengthier postings. Blogs also drive website traffic and page rank.

If acquiring new business leads is not why you’re on Facebook, then that's fine. But if you joined Facebook, at least in part, to fill one piece of your overall marketing strategy—but you’re spending many hours there with little ROI—consider time shifting some of those hours over to blogging. Take some of those long-winded Facebook musings and turn them into blog posts! Link to them from Facebook and create another traffic funnel.

You have a perspective in your field that is valuable. If you find yourself showcasing your knowledge to your Facebook friends over and over, it may be time to reach further a field. You can monetize that knowledge by blogging about it.

And if you don't have the time, consider hiring a blogger ;-).

The top 10 reasons business blogging is better than Facebook:

The Home page versus the About page

Website owners often muddle up their content messaging on key web pages. At EditMe Communications, we've noticed that even in the face of commonsense arguments against content decisions, some business owners cling to web copy that makes no logical sense simply because they wrote it themselves. Perhaps it's just human nature to have difficulty letting go due to emotional attachment.

But when irrelevant content is written for web pages that should serve a distinct marketing purpose, uncertainty arises in the mind of the web visitor.

Take the Home page versus the About page. Ideally, the Home page should be a gateway to the rest of the website. It is often the first page encountered through search or type-in traffic. It is also the place web visitors first land when they already know you or have heard of you. Creating a positive image is number one. It should welcome the visitor, outline key services, and highlight any specialties and unique selling points that separate this business from the competition. It should be short on text, heavy on visuals and have intuitive navigation that addresses the user's needs. The Home page can also give general geographic location (if you are after local traffic).

On the other hand, the About page is where you should provide more details about your organization. It should give a brief company history, and list any charities your company supports. You may choose to outline the skills of the people involved or you can provide a separate page with personnel bios.

The Home page may summarize some of the About page but the overlap should be minimal.

Unfortunately, many businesses jumble or cross-pollinate content on these two crucial pages. I often see Home pages that leave me perplexed as to what the person/company/organization actually offers, why they are unique and what action I should take next. They may tell me a thing or two but they fail on other key points. They may have images but little or no text, no logo, or only the logo. These Home pages leave me with an impression only—and not a good one.

If I'm patient I may click over to the About page where I may find information that should have been on the Home page. Or not. Chances are, I'll just give up and click away.

Don't leave users and potential customers trying to decipher what the heck your web space is all about, especially when marketers, content writers and web designers are here to help.

Obtaining impartial and expert advice is an excellent way to start anew.