Some of you have experience in running offline business, and some don’t. And those of you do, probably have realized that blogging, whether for money or not, is just like running a business. I have noticed that there are a lot of things that I did for the success of my offline businesses that I am doing for this blog.

1. Keep your business technologically updated: In your business you will keep your pos updated, your product tracking updated, or you will have your website updated too. With your blog are you updated??? Do you have the necessary plugins installed to make the most of the blog? How many blogs you see out there that do not have the mobile plugin installed? I for one visit blogs regularly on my cellphone, and it pisses me off that I cannot read most of the blogs because they do not have a mobile browser interface.

//edit - For bloggers wanting to post using mobile phones, try the wphone plugin

2. Customer feedback helps keep your business in check: Keeping an open line of discussion via comments on your blog is absolutely necessary. There have been several times that some comments have made me realize that I was probably wrong or some changes that I needed to make, to make the site better.

3. New inventory has the customers coming back: Adding content will keep your readers coming back for more. If you are like me, and read one of the blogs that doesn’t get updated regularly, it’s rss feed will very likely get bumped to the bottom of the page on my Google homepage.

4. Presentation is everything: A well lit store will very likely attract more customers. If you live in the US, you probably have noticed that Circuit City stores are poorly lit, and dull looking, and I for one would rather go to a Best Buy. A well designed blog, will give it a more professional look, and look more appealing.

5. Always have multiple suppliers lined up: For a blog it means that you need to be affiliated with more than a single network for your affiliate promotions. Just as in any business, who gives you the best price, which in this case, which affiliate network gives you the best CPA for any given promotion.

6. You have to promote your business: Advertise. Run contests. Comment on other blogs. Attend blogging conventions. Join social networks like MyBloglog etc. Guest blog at other bigger blogs out there. Hand out your business cards. Many ways to promote your blog, just like any other business

7. Can your customer get in touch with you?: In a regular business you will have your phone lines, but on your blog do you have your contact form up? Or have you made your email address available to your visitors?

8. Don’t be afraid of competition or to compete: Just because there is already a blog out there that is categorized into “Blog about chocolate” or “Make money online” does not mean that you cannot compete in it. All that matters is whether you are doing it right or not and if you have a blog about chocolates, talk about chocolates. Don’t make it a Seinfeld episode and “blog about nothing”

9. Once your business starts to become work, it’s time to get out: There have been times that I have sold my businesses that I was making really good money from, simply because I just was not enjoying myself anymore. Blog about something that you are passionate about and it will show in your writing. If you think that writing on your blog is a pain in the ass, its time you chose another way to express yourself.

10. Differentiate yourself and your products: “You will not know, unless you try it”. I have followed this mantra religiously ever since one of my bosses uttered it. You have to try different things with your blog to differentiate yourself from others, and not be scared to try it. You think John Chow loses his readership when he blogs about his previous night’s dinner? That’s what differentiates him. Shoemoney has his Free Tshirt Fridays, and that’s what differentiates him.