The #1 Benefit of Blogging is…
The world of blogging has changed since its inception. Sure, mommy blogs, cooking blogs, and story blogs all still have their place. But the benefits of blogging for small businesses have really come into full focus and changed the way I think about blogs in general.
It’s not just about telling stories and entertaining an audience anymore. It’s not even about gaining a readership and making money with affiliate links (although those types of blogs are still going strong.) For small businesses, entrepreneurs, and large companies alike, the gold is in using blogs to reach potential customers right where they are— on search engines, entering queries about their interests.
What will a blog do for your company?
Let’s say you’re an outfitting company specializing in guided backpacking excursions in Yellowstone National Park. The way you make money is by people booking your services. The way you find them is multi-faceted…
Word of mouth
Social Media
Google Searches
That last one is where your undiscovered gold is buried. Hopefully, your on-page SEO is optimized for all the right search terms to snag the people who are already convinced they want to book a trip. But there’s a whole other demographic that needs to know you exist.
The backpacking curious.
This group may not be ready to sign on the dotted line just yet. They’re still exploring the topic of backpacking, trying to decide if that’s how they want to spend their summer vacation. They’re going to be searching for things like…
Is backpacking in Yellowstone safe?
Are there bears in Yellowstone?
Best hiking trails in Yellowstone
You can use your blog to answer those questions! Meeting them where they are gets your foot in the door and demonstrates your expertise.
Blogs grow your company’s online presence by establishing you as an authority on relevant topics and answering your ideal customer’s questions.
The primary benefit of hosting a blog on your website is the boost in organic traffic. But there are other ways to use your blog for overall business growth.
Repurpose blog posts for social content.
Offer lead magnets to capture email addresses for future marketing.
Feature new services or products to boost visibility.
Tell stories that entertain or develop your brand identity.
Make statements on social issues or news stories that concern your target audience to encourage shares and conversation.
Share behind-the-scenes glimpses of your team and events to offer a personal connection.
Opportunities abound, and so much content can live on your blog. Be strategic with it and prioritize whatever you need to further your overall business goals.
How to blog for your business
Blogging for your business involves strategy, creation, and execution. Let’s look at each of these steps separately.
Strategy
This step will save you from headaches down the road! Perform keyword and ideal audience research. Set your pillar topics. Create a list of supporting topics. Don’t start blogging for yourself until you’ve invested the time and mental energy to strategize and lay a plan.
Creation
Once you have an ideal audience in mind and select your keywords and topics, it’s time to write. You need to optimize your blogs for search engines, but write for real people! It’s a balancing act that takes practice, but it’s important to get this right.
Execution
After you have an article worth publishing, start using that content to your advantage. Publish it on your page, create graphics to push it on your social media platforms, and repurpose it in your newsletter. Be sure and index the page after it’s published to ensure the web crawlers know it’s there.
Your blog is the perfect place to grow your online presence. Be strategic and let it shape your content marketing efforts across all your platforms!
If you don’t have a blog on your website, adding one can tap a whole new online audience. Don’t sleep on this opportunity!
Where to find help for your small business blog
It can be understandably overwhelming to think about all the work it takes to start a blog. You don’t have to do it alone if you don’t want to! Even if I’m not the right blogger for you, there are plenty of freelancers with the skills required.
Booking a free call with me is a quick and easy way to see if I can lighten your load. Or, you can browse a list of vetted writers to find your perfect fit.
