There are certain items which every business blog must have. I call them critical components. Not only should your blog include them. They should be easy to find and easy to use. I am such a firm believer these items are critical that I would be forth your blog may fail to accomplish for you what you want it to do.

Some of the critical components we are going to discuss are what you could call “static” pages. Pages that won’t change and always be available for your readers to look at.

1. Concise indication of where, what and who

I have discussed all three of those points recently in a previous blog post called, 3 key points to consider when picking a name for your business blog. And even through I only recently talked about them, I believe they are so important they should be included in the critical components of your blog.

The name of your blog should clearly indicate for your readers, target audience and niche what your business blog is all about.

You don’t want your readers trying to guess what you do, what area you provide your product or service in. And finally, you want to tell them clearly who you are. Not only will it help your readers identify you, it just might help you with search engine results.

2. Make it easy for your readers to contact you

You would be surprised how many business blogs I have visited and have not been able to find out how to contact the blogger to obtain their product or service. If you were running an ad in your local newspaper or your local Yellow Pages, wouldn’t you put your contact information there. So why not put it on your blog. You should have a link so your reader can drop you an email. And yes you will get spam. But, if you are using a good spam filter or use Gmail, the spam will be manageable.

Another way to provide a method for your readers and prospective clients and/or customers to contact you is to have a “quick contact” form on your blog. We put one of these on each of our client’s blogs. Why, it is an easy way to provide a non-threatening way for someone to contact you and tell you why they may need your service. And they don’t even have to leave your blog to complete the form and submit.

3. Services or Products Page

Again, make it clear and easy for your readers to figure out what you do or sell. This is your opportunity to tell your audience what you have to offer them. Granted, you will be putting up blog post throughout the week. And some of them will most likely discuss your services or products. However, those blog post are not “static” pages. They move down the page until some point in time they disappear off the front page. Your service or product page is one of those critical components which is also a “static” page.

Make it easy to find. Put it in your tab navigation and/or in the sidebar. This could be your company’s brochure.

4. About Page

Again, one of those “static” pages you have to have. Now, please don’t use this blog as your example of an About page. We are in the middle of doing a complete redesign and until that is done and up and going, there will not be one.

This is another opportunity for you to put your best face forward. Use the about page to really kick butt as a way to provide information about you, your company or firm and what you do.

5. Index (Categories)

The categories which you will most likely have in your sidebar are your blog’s index. This section in your sidebar should be towards the top so it is easy to find. And, in my opinion, you should try to limit your categories to no more than 20.

Each blog post should have a category assigned to it. This in turn will enable your readers to find those topics by using the categories as someone would use an index or even a table of content. Also, in my opinion, when someone is looking for information on a blog, they are most likely going to use the categories just like I am a suggesting. Like an index. They will use categories before they will use an archive calendar. Which is why I am not a big fan of archive calendars on a blog. I think they are a waste of space.

6. Call to Action

Your blog needs a call to action. You want to provoke your readers to contact you, get prices, sign up or buy from you. A call to action could be an opt-in for a free ezine or newsletter you are providing to your readers. Or it could be as simple as a quick form for them to request information about a new product you just come out with. The ways you can use a “call to action” are really never ending.

In addition, if done right, you are building a list of individuals who have opted-in to receive information from you. Take advantage of this tool to further your marketing efforts.

7. Search this site

Provide your readers a way to actually search your site. Easy to do and this is a feature which can be used right along with your index (categories) to help your readers find information on your blog.

8. Subscription Options

This should be another one of those easy to find critical components you have to provide. Make it clear and easy for your readers to either subscribe via RSS or Email. Why both? Because there are still some who don’t know about RSS, let alone understand it. Everyone knows what email is.

Just do it…

All of the critical components we have mentioned are not hard to provide to your readers. Most blogging platforms have easy and simple ways to include them on your blog. And if you are hiring a professional to design and implement your blog, they will usually include them in the blog’s design.