Coffee Cup Chats | Making the Online World Work For YOUR Biz

Welcome to our weekly feature, Coffee Cup Chats! Today I am thrilled to introduce you to my sweet bloggy friend, Kyla Roma who is not only the oh-so-charming author of the blog Kyla Roma: Daydreams From a Handmade Prairie Life, she is also one of creative masterminds at Freckled Nest where she designs online identities and killer blogsites. She is sharing on the topic of making the online world work for your business, and I am so excited for you to see what she's put together for you! Snuggle up with your coffee (or tea!) and let's get going...

Blogging when you're representing your business can be intimidating to take on- after all, just because you're creative doesn't mean that you're also a writer and photographer like Becka! :) While I'm a web designer, a lot of my work involves one on one marketing and branding consultations with clients so their new website or blog fits their goals and brand. Those consultations are one of my favourite parts of my job because I get to help my clients discover new opportunities for their business that start when they become more confident and engaged in their online presence. These are some simple steps you can take to look at your online presence with fresh eyes and that will help make sure your online presence is working for your business.

 Let's Talk About The B Word 
Some of my clients are really hesitant to have a blog for their business. I think the word reminds them of junior high, or gives them nightmares about business owners publicly venting their frustrations. But if we look at what a blog really is, it's a place for you to pull back the curtain and show the reasons behind what you do for a living. It's a platform to reach a new market in a casual way that's not focused on selling to them, which makes it easier for readers and potential customers to trust and engage with you. This casual, light environment sets the stage for you to share your talents, services, products and personality- and for them to fall in love with what you do.

 Paint a Picture 
To make sure that you stay on track and are showing the side of yourself and your brand that you're comfortable with, sketch out an idea of what you want your online presence to be. As the business owner, what will you share about yourself and your business? What will be off limits? Consider what feeling you want your online space to leave people with, and the ways you can achieve that through your content. It can be really helpful to come up with key words that communicate your business values, brand and style. Using those key words in your blog post will help you intentionally connect with your ideal clients. Setting guidelines for yourself helps you create a playing field where you know the rules and can have fun representing your business inside of them.

Show Your Personality
The concern I hear most frequently is that if a business owner starts blogging their customers might judge them or be turned off by their personality. Here's the thing: you are not for everyone, and neither is your business. Potential customers will have a reaction and make decisions any time they come in contact with your brand- from your storefront to your business card and beyond. If those aspects of your business are backed up by an intentional and personable online presence, you'll only give more reasons for potential clients to fall in love with what you do. Every business is focused on attracting their ideal client, and adding yourself into the equation gives you another tool to draw that ideal client in by giving them someone to relate. Personality doesn't mean being brash or loud- it's making yourself present in small ways. Your commentary on what you post, how you present your business and share the work of others, your sense of humour and reaction to things are all ways that you can add depth, authenticity and relevance to your brand.

I'd love to hear how you manage your online presence for your business- have you struggled with how to represent your business online in a way that you're comfortable with? Has your approach for blogging for your business changed over time?