Five Reasons Why Every Consultant Should Have a Blog

Unless you’re already a super-famous millionaire consultant, you’re probably pretty keen on ideas for marketing your services and getting new clients in the door. Ditto for speakers and coaches. And authors. Also anyone who’s trying to sell products online. But I digress.

I’ve had the opportunity to work with several dozen clients over the past few months through The Blogging School and many of them have been consultants (or aspiring consultants) who seek to market their services online. I usually offer up one or more of the following five reasons for why they should have a blog and, more importantly, MAINTAIN IT.

Here are the main five reasons why every consultant should have a blog:

1. Your blog is a billboard for your expertise.

For potential clients who don’t know you from a stick of gum, your blog can show them who you are, what you know and how you can help them. It’s the “front door” to your personal brand and the first opportunity you have to make a splash. A plain ‘ol static website, on the other hand, makes it hard to distinguish yourself from all the other consultants out there in the same niche.

2. Your blog will help you get found faster on Google.

Blogs typically get more visitors than static websites. Why? Because of frequently updated content and search engine traffic. People are searching for answers to their questions online, and if the solution to their problem is in your blog post, they might find it – and you. Google loves blogs so much, they even has a special Blog Search function. In short, blogging makes it easier for your site to rise to the top of the search engines and get you in front of more leads for your business.

3. Blogging can connect you to other consultants, a.k.a partners and collaborators.

I’ve been fortunate to meet other consultants and entrepreneurs over the last few years through my blog and we’ve worked together on projects. Sometimes, it makes sense to partner with others in your industry instead of going it alone, and your blog can be your calling card for attracting like-minded consultants to your network.

4. Your blog can get you noticed by traditional media.

Because of the knowledge I share on my blogs, I’ve been featured on local and national TV, radio and print outlets such as JET Magazine, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Washington Post, Fox 5 News and WPPR 1680 AM in Michigan. And the more people see you in the media, the more they perceive you as an expert in your area of consulting.

5. Your blog can be used for market research to figure out what your potential clients need and want.

With a blog, your readers have the ability to give you feedback on your posts and ask you questions. You might even host a survey through your blog where you ask them what problems they need help solving. Then, when you see a topic coming up frequently, that’s a good clue that your services would be welcome in that particular area.