Wyoming Business Tips for Feb. 21

A weekly look at Wyoming business questions from the Wyoming Small Business Development Center (WSBDC), part of WyomingEntrepreneur.Biz, a collection of business assistance programs at the University of Wyoming.

By Lisa daCosta, WyomingEntepreneur.Biz business adviser

“I am so busy with my business, I don’t have time to write perfect blog posts. Do you have any blog post ‘hacks’ you can share?” Redd, Moran

A Google search of the phrase “blog post hacks” brings up 24.6 million results, which means you are not the only business owner searching for answers on this topic. Knowing that most business owners are balancing other responsibilities in their businesses and struggling to come up with ideas, here are a couple of thoughts on the matter.

-- Short on time? How about a quick tip or crafting a message around an article or graphic from a peer in your industry? According to Brent Riggs at linkyblog.com, by reading other blogs, you can find content you can either rewrite or respond with a reaction piece. Do you agree, disagree or have more information on the topic to share? Use the other blog post as a springboard, including links to the original article and credit back to the blogger.

-- Rely on your own company staff and customer experiences as life examples for blog topics. Write about the problems solved or customer considerations in buying decisions. These topics keep your blog posts relevant to your readers and clients.

-- Use a great photo or graphic on your post to capture attention. Tony Haile, CEO of Chartbeat, cites studies that show 55 percent of website viewers spent less than 15 seconds actively on a page. 3M Corp. noted, in a report on presentations, that visuals are processed 60,000 times faster in the brain than text copy. So, if you only have someone for 15 seconds, make sure that person gets the gist of your message with a good graphic or photo.

-- Another tip is to write in short sentences and simple words, to make it easier for the reader to get to your point quickly. Use action verbs and trim “flabby” or filler words that don’t contribute to the basic thought of the sentence.

By incorporating these concepts, you can present your followers with better ideas and content with less effort.

The WSBDC is a partnership of the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Wyoming Business Council and the University of Wyoming. To ask a question, call 1-800-348-5194, email wsbdc@uwyo.edu, or write 1000 E. University Ave., Dept. 3922, Laramie, WY, 82071-3922.