If you’ve spoken to a copywriter, SEO expert or web designer in the past, they’ll have probably (hopefully) mentioned to you the importance of having a blog.
You might have dismissed it as something you didn’t think you needed or maybe you added it to the long list of ‘things to do’ but have never got round to actually starting one.
Or maybe you have one but can’t remember the last time you updated it because you don’t have time and/or can never think of anything to write about.
Sound familiar?
Take a look at my thoughts on why you should have a blog and how I can help you make it a success.
What is a blog?
A blog is a regularly updated section of a website, which tends to be written in an informal and conversational style. It’s a way of sharing information about a given topic to be seen as an expert in your industry.
In the early days of blogs, they were often created for personal use as a way of journaling thoughts and opinions or as a diary entry. My first blog was a collection of random thoughts vomited onto a webpage. There was no strategy behind it, but it helped me express my feelings and kept me writing.
Nowadays, it’s a common marketing tool for businesses. And used properly, it’s a good way of demonstrating your experience and expertise.
Plus, it can boost your online presence and help you engage with your audience, as blogs often have a comments section or the ability for people to share the post on social media and enable conversation.
Why should I have a blog?
It might sound like a massive, time-consuming commitment, but there are many benefits of having a blog for your business. Here are 6 reasons why you should have a blog:
1. Blog posts help your website rank on search engines
Search engines favour websites that are regularly updated with fresh and relevant content. By having an active blog, you can help improve your business's search engine rankings. And by adding more posts, you’ll show up more in searches.
Thinking about what your target audience will search for and including these terms in your blog will also help get you found. And including links to other pages on your website lets Google know your blog is credible and that you’re an expert in your field, so it’ll rank you higher in search results.
2. Blogs drive more traffic to your website
If you’re showing up in more searches, it’s likely you’ll get more traffic to your website.
It’s also a good idea to consider how you can make the most of your blog, so think of other places you can promote it – like a social media post that links to your blog post and helps drive traffic to your website.
3. A blog establishes authority in your industry
By creating valuable and informative content on a regular basis that’s relevant to your target audience, a blog can help establish you and your business as a thought leader in your industry or niche. This can help attract new customers, clients, partners and other opportunities.
4. Blogs can help you generate leads and sales
A blog can be an effective way to generate leads and sales by attracting visitors to your website, providing them with valuable information, and then offering them the opportunity to purchase a product or service.
By adding a call to action button in your blog posts, you can give your readers an extra opportunity to buy from you.
5. It gives you content to post on social media
Ever get stuck on what to post on social media? Promoting your blog post can not only boost traffic to your website, it gives you ready-made content to post about on social media. And it’s something you can promote again and again, assuming the content is still relevant.
6. Blogging gives you a voice and can add personality to your brand
Blogs are a great way to get your own personality across and connect with your audience. By writing in your own voice and giving your take on a topic of interest to your target audience, you can start a conversation with your readers, who could potentially go on to become customers.
Why isn’t my blog working for me?
Maybe you’ve already got a blog, but it’s not really working for you. That might be because:
You haven’t updated it since 2019.
You post interesting blogs but they’re not SEO optimised, so no one can find them.
You share random blog posts without an overall strategy.
You use it to post business news (I’ve got news for you – that doesn’t belong on a blog).
You’ve been using AI tools to update your blog (tut tut).
If any of these sound familiar, you could definitely benefit from my help.
We’ll work together to create an awesome content plan so you can confidently publish regular, engaging and informative blogs that are SEO optimised to help you rank on search engines and drive traffic to your website.
Maybe you're not in a position to outsource your blog right now. That's fine. With a few simple tips, you can make your blog a success.
Top tips to make a success of your blog
1. Always keep your audience in mind. What do they want to read about? What questions do they have? What challenges do they face?
2. If you’re stuck for what to post about, use Google to find what questions or challenges your target audience have. Answer The Public can also help you generate blog post ideas.
3. It’s a good idea to create a content plan so you’re not just posting random pieces, and have a schedule that you can realistically stick to – whether that’s posting once a month, once a fortnight or twice a week.
4. Always try and include internal links within your blog posts – whether that’s to your contact page, homepage or another related blog.
5. Include a CTA at the end of your blog to encourage your readers to stay on your website and potentially become a customer.
6. Add your own personality into your blogs so people get an inkling into what it’s like to work with you. Write as though you’re talking to a friend.
If you need some help to get your blog started, or want someone to keep it updated, my blogging services start from as little as £225 per month.
Interested? Let’s chat about how I can help you.
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