Blog regularly and often. According to HubSpot, companies who blog 11+ times a month had almost 3x the traffic that those who blogged 0-4 times! But the most important point . . . get started with a couple of blogs a month and then gradually increase the number if you can.

1. Use mind maps to develop topics and outlines. What’s a mind map? Click here.
2. Include data but always acknowledge the source with a link.
3. Develop an email list of followers
4. Send links to your blog to your mailing list.
5. Post links to your blog on social media
6. Multipurpose blog content. Break down your blog into 20 individual points and post one every business day on your favorite social media platform.
7. Break up long text with subheads, spacing and bullets to make it more scannable.
8. In order to help your blog articles rank higher in search results, your keyword should appear in all of the following: “On-Page” SEO areas: URL, Page Title, Section Header, Subheaders, Main Content, Image ALT Text, and Meta Description.
9. Use photos, illustrations to give your blog post eye appeal. Include the title of the blog in the illustration in case someone shares it with a link back to your post.
10. Include a form on your blog where readers can subscribe to your emails.
11. Promote blog.
12. Add a Call to Action at the end of EVERY blog post!

If you don't have the time or skills to dedicate to blogging, you should seriously consider hiring someone (like me) to do it for you.   Call 636-394-4148.

Does the thought of driving new traffic to your website appeal to you? What about converting that traffic into leads? Or establishing authority?

But does working closely with search engines and social media scare the #%$^& out of you? Well, I’ve got news for you! One of the most effective methods of accomplishing these three things is BLOGGING for business.

Just what is business blogging?Blogging is posting to your website’s blog content on topics relevant to your business. Blogging is NOT selling! And it’s NOT talking about just you and your company! It’s providing valuable, requested information to your readers.

There are plenty of blogs out there, but what we’re talking about here is a business blog. A business blog is a marketing platform that supports and encourages business growth. It covers topics in which you are an influencer or expert!

Why should we have a business blog? Remember the YellowPages? Blogging is as important to your business as the Yellowpages used to be! And it’s actually better because you can change and add to your blog as new opportunities arise whereas your YellowPage ad was the same the entire year! Plus it was more expensive than the cost of the time you’ll spend writing.

Remember going door to door to get leads? Blogging is a whole lot easier than that and more effective as well! According to Hubspot, 60% of businesses who blog acquire more customers. And blogging is the heart of all of your content marketing efforts and is fodder for Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, email newsletters, e-books, etc.
So you may be asking, what’s the down side of blogging? No doubt about it, blogging is a time consuming endeavor so if you don't have the time or skills to dedicate to blogging, you should seriously consider hiring someone to do it for you.

But what I blog about?The prospect of coming up with topics for your blog may be overwhelming but inspiration is everywhere. . . if you know where to look.  Here are some places you can visit to get your creative juices flowing.

• Trending topics
• Headlines
• Social media
• Other blogs
• Emails
• Newsletters
• Your customers
• Conversations
• If you’re a pest control company, here’s a list of topics just for you! ((link)))

Watch for my next post about business blog tips you can use NOW!

As your business grows and becomes more successful, your responsibilities and projects also increase. The solution? Outsource the business functions that are not your specialty – such as MARKETING. Be cautious, however, and consider the following before doing so.

1. Do you have an annual marketing plan against which you can measure each marketing effort? This is most vital because without a plan, you cannot budget and cannot grow! As a marketing professional, I’d need to know exactly what you plan to accomplish for the year.
2. Do you have an outside resource that knows pest control and can help meet your goals? It’s easy to find a freelancer, consultant or agency that claims to help with marketing, but the key is finding someone who actually knows the challenges you face every day in your pest control business. The main question I get from potential clients is, “Are you familiar with the pest control industry?” And my answer is YES!
3. Do you have a total marketing budget figure in mind? I NEVER try to spend all my client’s budget but knowing the figure allows me to determine what they can afford when we start the creative process.
4. Are you prepared to do your part in your own marketing even while outsourcing? Outsourcing doesn’t mean simply turning your marketing over to someone else. The success of outsourced marketing depends on you spending time reviewing projects, answering questions, giving feedback and approving or making changes to projects.
5. Are you willing to accept new ideas or are you committed to how you’ve always done it? If your motto is “This is the way we’ve always done it,” then don’t waste your money outsourcing your marketing. You will be paying for fresh perspective and ideas that you won’t use!
6. Do you have your marketing ducks in a row? Can you find your logo in a high-resolution format? Do you have on-the-job pictures or the capability of having them taken? If you’re introducing a new service, do you have all the details written down?

 
As you likely know, I’ve specialized in working with pest control companies for 20+ years and create marketing materials, websites and other marketing projects for my clients. If you’d like to explore how I can help you, give me a call for a FREE 30-minute, no obligation, no-strings-attached marketing conversation. 636-394-4148.

P.S. February is a GREAT time to think about these things!

Facebook has become a staple in the marketing arsenal of pest control companies and rightly so. And  keeping in touch with customers and prospects, getting your message out there and making a good impression on readers is why you use facebook. Right? But I’ve found three major mistakes pest control companies make and I’m sharing those and their solutions here.
1. Posting information about JUST your company or JUST pest control.
Why this is a mistake. People like variety and will tire of seeing your posts if the posts are completely self-serving.
THE SOLUTION. If you post once a day for five days each week, plan your posts with something like the following formula. Monday: Inspiration; Tuesday: Bug of the week; Wednesday: General (recipe, tips, hints); Thursday: About your company (video or photo); Friday: Humorous post. 

2.  Posting sporadically or just when you have something to post.
Why this is a mistake. If your posts appear irregularly, you will not remain uppermost in your readers’ minds and you’ll be forgotten.
THE SOLUTION. Create a schedule of regular posts, whether that means once a day for five days a week or three times a week. Stick with the schedule of regular interesting posts.

3. Posting inappropriate, offensive content.
Why this is a mistake. It pretty much goes without saying that if you post inappropriate content, you will offend readers. And that certainly should NOT be your facebook goal.
THE SOLUTION. Avoid posts regarding: politics, religion, profanity, off color jokes, rants, unprofessional behavior, discussion of negative dealings with customers or criticism of your competitors.

4. Using no graphics or videos
Why this is a mistake. Statistics show that the posts that get the most comments, likes and shares are those that include a picture or preferably, a video.
THE SOLUTION. Take photos of your technicians on the job for the two pest control posts each week or carefully choose relevant photos or graphics from some of the sites in my free report below.
BONUS: Email me a list of potential facebook post ideas!

So there you have it! If you need help with your facebook posts, give me a call 636-394-4148!
Other information
https://kimgarst.com/17-killer-facebook-post-ideas-for-small-business-owners