March 29, 2024

Chicago Mattress Store: Blogs Help Local Businesses, Too

Posted by: of AndyWibbels.com on 01/31/06

I finally bought a leather couch a couple weeks ago. Nothing says ‘acclaimed author’ like sliding off a leather loveseat as you type on a laptop – sliding because you’re still in sweats and it hasn’t been broken in.

Anyway.

Ron and I went couch shopping and on our way stopped by Sleep City mattress store in Chicago on Diversey Avenue because we wanted to see about getting him a box spring and a bedframe. We’d been to this store a year ago to get him a mattress and returned this past summer to get me a mattress, box spring and bed frame. The guy at Sleep City set me up with a supah-soft Englander mattress that is like sleeping on a freakin’ cloud. Money well spent.

Anyway.

I wrote a quick entry about this Chicago mattress store on my personal blog and how fantastic the service was, how affordable the prices were and how I generally just had a great experience there (compared to the over-price place just a block away).

Recently, I’m at the gym and a guy we know comes up to me and says ‘Oh, I stopped off at that mattress store you recommended and got a bed.’ Strange, I hadn’t mentioned to Sean about the store. ‘Oh yeah, he’s got that review from you posted at his store.’ Strange, I hadn’t mentioned to Sean about my blog.

So Ron and I go into Sleep City and we’re talking to the guy about the bed frame when Ron spots my blog post. Printed out on the guy’s desk. ‘Look honey, this is your post!’ The salesman then says, ‘You’re Andy! You wouldn’t believe how many people have come in because of that review – and how many people know you!’

Sidestory: I have a massage therapist that I highly recommend back from my structural integration (aka Rolfing) days. I blogged about him too and I get at least one email a month of someone inquiring for his contact info. He recently called to thank me for the referrals.

This is why local businesses should blog. Or give discounts to bloggers in exchange for reviews and posting. You don’t have to be in a ‘techie’ business. If you aren’t findable online you’re dead. Blogs are word-of-mouth made trackable, searchable and archived.
Bonus sidestory: I’m walking out of my apartment building when a car horn honks and I hear somebody yelling my name. I go up to the car and meet two guys I’ve never met before. ‘We though it was you. We love your podcast!’ Then there was the time I got recognized in a local diner for having a blog. You never know your reach…

This is why you should be blogging. To forge meaningful relationships globally and locally. Bloggers can help new customers find you, a blog can help you find new customers.

7 comments for Chicago Mattress Store: Blogs Help Local Businesses, Too

  1. Andy this is also why I tell people that they need to be mining the blogosphere for these types of reviews that they can capitalize on when they promote themselves. They need to learn how to search out and find reviews about their company. Great story! I need to add this story to my presentation on “Why Blog?”

    Comment by Jim Turner — February 17, 2006 @ 3:43 pm


  2. Andy,
    Blogging can definitely be very powerful, once the blogger has a significant following and a Search Engine Ranking. For example, this post here is currently #3 on Google for ‘Chicago Furniture Store’. That’s a LOT of clout. We’d be happy to give you a discount for blogging about us. We’d even post your testimonial on our testimonials page & link it to your site. We’ve started a blog for our furniture site, but it’s still a baby. Our authors need to learn to post things people will care about. It’s like anything – you need to add value. I wish yours was linked to ‘My Yahoo’ so I could add it to the list I regularly read. Also, with a site that gets as much traffic as yours, why don’t you sell ads on it? You seem to link to hundreds of places.

    I look forward to more great posts!
    Sincerely,
    Dave Zirnhelt

    Comment by Online Chicago Furniture Store — April 10, 2006 @ 10:25 pm


  3. Sorry – a correction on that post. You’re not #3 for ‘Chicago Furniture Store’ you’re post is #3 for ‘Chicago Mattress Store’.
    -Dave

    Comment by Online Chicago Furniture Store — April 11, 2006 @ 10:34 am


  4. Brilliant! This is just the example I need to show my therapy colleagues… that blogging is worthwhile and to get in there now!

    Comment by Steven A Harold — July 25, 2006 @ 10:43 am


  5. Interesting story, I think it shows that blogs aren’t simply a short term fad that will fade. I have a few posts on mattresses at my blog (www.chrismerriman.com), and a little site with articles on them (www.mattress-tips.com). Hope you don’t mind the links

    Comment by ChrisM — October 5, 2006 @ 6:05 am


  6. Well, you may have noticed that this blog post now appears #1 on Google for ‘Chicago Mattress Store’. That’s the power of well written & referenced content.

    Comment by Online Chicago Mattress Store — November 1, 2006 @ 5:50 pm


  7. I think FINALLY, more and more businesses are understanding the power of blogs. Our phone is ringing more now than it did a year ago. – And you know what – I remembered this post. And needed a mattress this week – and where did I go? Sleep City!

    Comment by derrick sorles-web 2.0 consultant — September 10, 2007 @ 10:22 am


Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.

 

Syndicate:

RSS RSS Feed



Posts via e-mail

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Recent Posts:

Archives:

Buzz Cloud:

Recent Readers:

Tag Cloud:

Categories: