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Sometimes small businesses are the victims of trends. Everyone pushes us to get on Twitter, Facebook, G+, Pinterest. Everyone says we need a blog in order to succeed. But is that always the case?

The answer lies in knowing your target audience. Are they using any of these online tools? How much time are they spending there, and are they looking for new businesses while they're there? If your customers don't read blogs, you may not need one.

In Raj Sheth's post, Why You May Not Want To Do Content Marketing, he talks about the importance of having something to say. If you don't, there's no reason to start a blog. Don't start one just for the sake of having one, or you're wasting your energy.

My point is: make sure you have a solid strategy before you decide to start blogging. Know what you will talk about and how you will reach new customers with it. Without a plan, you're just taking up cyberspace with your blog.

Links to Love
Top 10 Reasons to Start a Blog
Seven Reasons Not to Blog
10 Things Bloggers Should NOT Do