When you publish new content on a consistent basis, it encourages you to continually ask the question: What is my ideal client looking for now? And how about now?
You'll get new answers all the time – and that also means more new ideas for your blog posts.
Customer service benefit #1: When you approach blogging with the intention of meeting your clients' needs in each moment, it will ripple through the rest of your business. Your services are bound to be more relevant, and your delivery more effective.
Earlier, I wrote that if you want to write more, read more. Specifically, read blogs, articles, books, reports and websites about your specialty area. Don't forget these important sources – often free and right at your fingertips – when you're planning your continuing education and professional development for 2011.
Customer service benefit #2: When you immerse yourself in the current voices of your industry and/or your clients' industry, you will be able to share the latest and greatest ideas, tools and resources with your clients and readers.
"Nobody cares how much you know, until they know how much you care." (I've seen this quote attributed to both Theodore Roosevelt and John Maxwell.) Swooping in once a month to write a brilliant thought leadership post doesn't do much to show that you care.
Instead, stick around through the month with a variety of posts, and take part in conversations via the comments section and/or social media.
Customer service benefit #3: When you publish new content consistently, several times a month (or more), you demonstrate to your readers and clients that you are committed to their development and success.
Although you will not meet or even speak to everyone who visits your blog, it is a natural place to express your commitment to customer service. Yet another benefit of blogging!