Let’s use a live example here, Podiatry Rochdale. At the time of writing (and hopefully still!) Walk Right Podiatry appears at the top of the standard Google results; however you can also see them firmly at the top of the local business results supported by Google Maps. Interestingly there are no other business specific websites listed in the first few pages, yet we see many other businesses listed in the Local Business Center results.

It’s encouraging that companies are opting to appear in the Google Map results however it’s also a shame to see that none of the other listed companies have websites. Correction, they don’t have websites attached to their Local Business Center listing, if this is the case they haven’t taken advantage of all the local search features offered. These businesses seem to have embraced what is still a somewhat obscure system for listing your business, yet completely ignored the more widespread idea of their own website.

Local search results will become ever more important as the quest for precise search results continues. The iPhone is also setting a trend in this area for mobile devices, by searching on Google Maps on your iPhone you can search the local area for a Podiatrist and find the exact Local Business Center results as in the example we used - because it’s coming from the same source. In this instance it perhaps isn’t the best example, but its compelling reading for local pubs and restaurants who may have so far snubbed the idea of a website.

I’m not likely to search for a Podiatrist on a whim whilst using my iPhone, but I may well search for a restaurant to visit for lunch and if you’re not on Google Local Business Center I’m afraid I won’t be heading in your direction.

Now the issue I normally have is I jump on anywhere from 5-10 different blogging platforms in order to get myself out there sufficiently, but they realise that it involves copying your article, or even just a quick status update, on 10 different sites. This week however I discovered Ping.fm.

Ping.fm is basically a one stop shop for updating all of your social network sites at once, now it’s not an entirely new idea, but it’s just so simple that it works, very well indeed. I’ve been using it regularly since I set Twitter, Linkedin and Facebook up to work with it and even better the iPhone version actually works well.

So as a small follow up to the business blogging article last week you now have an easy way to keep up with all of your social networking platforms, we’ve no excuses now.

Search Engine Optimisation

From a buzz word and technical perspective this is probably the most stand out reason for business blogging to the uninitiated, you recognise the word as a way to get more sales from your site (or more precisely increased hits). From simply adding regular, naturally relevant content the search engines have fresh, relevant content to index from your site, importantly this content appeals to a larger audience who then may take the time to link to this content – now that really is something the search engines like.

Building Customer Relationships

Typically much of your website content will be rather ridged and professional in its tone – your blog is a way to personalise the business and really focus on the things that make you stand out from the competition away from the necessary technical speak located on the other areas of your site and by providing regular content you’re enabling your customers to keep in contact with your business activities, hopefully leading into repeat business. Best of all a blog allows for that all important customer feedback; write a post and let people comment, solicit their feedback in a way that they are comfortable in doing.

Establish Your Expertise

By blogging about your business you are in effect writing about what you know about, you’re sharing your knowledge on a topic and establishing your position as an expert in your field. What better way to achieve a positive view on your company’s products and services. You’re also likely to expand your potential market by business blogging – RSS and Social Networking is becoming big business and you’re positioning your business at the right end of this trend.

So now I’ve no excuses not to continue blogging in the future, it’ll enhance my search engine optimisation, help build customer relationships and establish my expertise position in the industry.