Keep in mind that marketing is merely letting potential customers know how you and your business can solve their problems.  A blog is a GREAT way to share information to let potential customers know how YOU can solve their problems.

For example, think of the last time you assisted a customer.  What questions did he/she need answered before he/she made the decision to purchase?  That type of interaction would make a GREAT blog entry.

Let’s say you own a hardware store and you had a customer who came in with a question about hanging a mirror.  One question the customer may have asked is, "Which wall anchors work best for a large heavy mirror?"  While you may field that question ten times a week, you may not have thought that it’s a GREAT blog entry. 

Of course, the ugly "protective" monster tends to rear it’s ugly head at this time during conversations with actual clients.  They worry that if they share their expertise, that people will visit their blog for information and then go to Lowes or Home Depot to buy their products.  I can’t promise you that it won’t happen.  But remember, if people are coming to you for answers, it goes to follow that eventually they’ll come to you for your products.  (This is assuming that your products are priced fairly, that your customer service is acceptable, etc.)

Expedia built a multi-million dollar web resource for travelers.  They only convert 5% of their visitors into customers…. but that 5% has resulted in a profitable business.  Expedia knew that if people came to them for travel answers, they’d convert some of those browsers into customers.

Chris’ guidance is SUPERB, however, there were many comments lamenting the lack of "true" direction.  What the commenters were seeking was a way to find FRESH content without writing it or paying for it. 

See, a web site or blog filled with nothing but duplicate content will get your site sentenced to the "Siberia" of the Google Index…. also known as the Supplemental Index.  So what Chris’ readers were seeking was a way AROUND getting slapped by Google while still finding an easy source of original content.

My clients too face a similar dilemna.  Busy executives and professionals rarely have uninterrupted hours in their day to devote to writing, whether it’s for a blog or for other publications.  There is a time honored way AROUND this restriction: the ghost writer.

I once read that as a business owner, you’re either short on time or short on money.  If you’re short on BOTH, then you’re spending your TIME doing the wrong activities.  Within 6 months of reading that quote, I broke the 4 digit barrier on my monthly income. 

So, assuming you don’t have the TIME to blog, then surely you have the money to hire a ghost writer.  Of course, there will be time invested in finding the right writer for your business, but it’s the best investment you can make in your business.  See, your ghost writer can write 1500 word ARTICLES which you can then submit to publication to various MAGAZINES, NEWSPAPERS and other print media.  Don’t expect to be PAID for those articles.  Your byline should be enough.  Or you can choose to break that 1500 word article into SEVERAL blog posts.