92% of companies that update their blogs more than once in a day attract at least one customer from their blog, according to Hub Spot's 2012 State of Inbound Marketing Report.

What does this mean for your business? Blogging is increasingly one of the most effective inbound marketing strategies for small businesses today. But, while creating content that speaks to your target audience is an essential first step, marketing your blog attracts the right people, and provides your business with essential online visibility.

In comes blog marketing.

The barebones definition of blog marketing is, marketing your blog. Blog marketing incorporates the usage of social media to share your blog content, to make new connections with prospects and to point them to your resourceful blog and without a doubt, to your business. Other than social media, blog marketing also entails the proper use of long tail keywords in your content to attract organic traffic.

How useful is a blog marketing plan for your business? Do you need a plan at all? Yes, you do and here's why:

The Jackpot Is In The Traffic

There are at least 350 million blog readers in the U.S. alone, according to a survey conducted by blogging. Most web users report that they would consider doing business with a brand that they can easily find online. Having a strategic plan to market your blog places your business right in front of the people who may have an interest in your brand. Without visibility for your content, no one will know you. If no one knows you, that is trouble for your business.

Permission Based Lead Generation

Blog marketing can help you build the right traffic and it can help you convert some of that traffic to potential leads for business. It is much easier to ask your followers to give out their information in exchange for something e.g. a free ebook, than it is to ask people who do not know you at all. Your avid blog followers can be converted to being your best customers.

Build A Fan Base That Spreads The Love

The best and worst thing about an online audience is that it can make or break your business. If your content is valuable and helps your community solve problems, this same community can help build your brand in ways you couldn't possibly have imagined. A blog marketing plan allows you to progressively build a community of emissaries for your brand.