“Post And Go” Blogging

Quick Blog Posting Method Drives Customers To Your Front Door

The biggest concern new bloggers have is whether or not the investment of time to blog is worth it. It's true that blogging consumes a lot of time. It's also true that, if done consistently, blogging change your business and your life in ways you never imagined. Take IBN member Pooka Pure & Simple, for example.

Dawn Fitch (bottom left in the picture) started Pooka in 2000. You can read an in-depth Pooka company spotlight here, and you can enjoy my interview of Dawn on Indie Business Radio here.

Dawn launched the Pookalitas blog in 2006, and she says that the results have been tremendous. But you don't have to take my word for it. Here's Dawn to give you the scoop.

dM: When and why did you start a blog?

Dawn: I started the Pookalitas blog in 2006, after a great conversation with dM about the importance of branding myself, as well as my business. dM suggested that, since the business is named for "Pookalita," the term of endearment my mother used for me and my business partners when we were little girls, we should call the blog the Pookalitas blog.

When I told dM that all 3 of my business partners were getting married within months of each other, she advised that we had the perfect excuse for a blog and insisted that we start one right away. Our customers wanted all the juicy, romantic nuptial details and the blog kept them informed while also keeping our products front and center.

I noticed an almost immediate improvement in our Web statistics after I launched the blog. Today, we rotate posting among the 4 of us to keep the Pooka brand at the forefront of the minds of our customers.

dM: How much of an investment of time was it to set it up your blog?

Dawn: We had a lot of options when it came to choosing a blogging platform. We chose Blogger and set it up in less than an hour! We had some help incorporating the blog into our website, adding bells, whistles and widgets and setting up the video capability. Once the foundation was laid, all we had to to was start writing.

dM: How do you decide what to post about about?

Dawn: When the blog launched, I was the only one blogging. Honestly, back then, I posted about once a month if I was lucky. That was pretty easy, but it wasn't doing any good. It's much easier now that all 4 of us are blogging. Still, each of us still suffers from what I call "blog block" now and then.

We try to just write about things that interest us, and that we think will interest our customers. With all of us writing, it's a nice variety. I think we're all finding our individual grooves so it's getting easier with time.

dM: Are you posting to other people's blogs?

Dawn: I do post to other blogs, but I usually don't have the time. I'm going to make an effort to read and research different blogs and start posting.

dM: Are you glad you launched a blog?

Dawn: Oh, yes! The blog is a wonderful thing. You have to find unique ways keep people coming back to your website, especially when you have a product-based website. Generally, if people don't need to order anything they don't visit your website. A blog gives them a reason to come back every day.

We add specials and contests to our blog, so it provides even more reasons for people to visit and reminds them to purchase something. dM was right on point with how the blog helps us brand ourselves as Pookalitas, and brand Pooka as our product brand. Now that the blog is set up, the investment of time is minimal. We just write little tidbits and we get a wonderful return.

dM: How much time a day do you spend on your blog, on average?

Dawn: Each of us posts at least once a week, and we rotate publication of the posts in different genres. One partner is a mom, so most of her posts include some of her funny mommy experiences. Another talks about being a newlywed. Another is focused on the arts and career.

Me, I'm all over the place! Mostly I blog about alternative health, organic things and going green. For example, yesterday, I posted some tips on maintaining a healthy home. But I do love to blog about a great pair of shoes! Content rotation and different perspectives keeps our blog fresh and exciting.

Today, I probably spend 10 minutes a day on the blog. I just post and go.

What I love about what Dawn said. Dawn was honest about the fact that it takes time to get into a blogging groove. She also got help with some of the more complicated blogging bells and whistles. She and her partners have figured out how to rotate interesting content so no one Pookalita is doing all the work. What I love most is that they have found unique ways to incorporate themselves into their blog. This keeps visitors coming back, and buying sugar scrub from them instead of from someone else.

Post And Go

One of the best things Dawn said is, "Post and go." How cool is that? Once you set up your blog, just sign in, post, and go take care of the rest of your business for the day. I just love that!

What About You?

If you like Dawn's "post and go" mindset as much as I do, let her know in the comments section below. Tell us your "post and go" strategy? How do you post as quickly as possible, yet still include substance? I think "post and go" is a brilliant mindset. Dawn, I'm going to be using it, if you don't mind!

Now that I've posted, it's time to go!

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