Why Every Business Should Blog
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With two-thirds of customers now using social media as their primary means to contact customer support, setting up social media accounts has never been more essential. However, one of the biggest challenges for new businesses is not communicating with customers, but making them aware of your services. It’s one thing to start your own business; it’s another thing to promote it!
Few people need to be told that it’s important to take their business online–if your customers can’t find you online, they can’t use your services! According to an analysis by Sage, as more and more growing businesses embrace online marketing, blogs are becoming a tool to open up new business opportunities like never before. Here are a few reasons why every business should blog:
The Benefits of Blogging
Indexing & SEO
Search engine optimization (SEO) is the little understood science behind the search engine ranking system. How does Google decide if your website is going to appear on the first page of the fifteenth? Well, only the developers at Google know for sure.
Fortunately, every new page you write on your blog gets indexed into your website. Google then counts any and all links back to your main page toward your ranking score. Furthermore, it indexes the keywords you use, increasing the likelihood that your potential customers will find your website when they search for the kinds of goods or services that you offer.
Connect with your Customers
Loyal consumers that value your business are 90% more likely to become customers, which is why it is so important to engage with them. By writing a blog, you don’t just promote your goods and services–you give your readers an insight into who you are. As your readers get to know you, they’ll empathize more with you and therefore become more interested in what you have to offer.
Tips for engaging on your blog:
Reply to comments – Let your readers know that there is someone on the other side of the computer! Reply to any comments and questions they have. That way they get to know the voice behind the page.
Host a giveaway – Not only does this help you get more readers and attraction to your business, but it also lets you show your personality within the blog. You can also connect with other businesses with blogs to do a group giveaway.
Pose a question – Always ask for your readers’ input and encourage them to let you know in the comments! This will encourage engagement and let your readers know that you care.
Become an Industry Expert
The more you share your thoughts, ideas, and skills through interesting and engaging blog posts, the more your readers will come to respect you as an industry leader. Not only will this generate trust, encouraging your readers to use your services, but they will be more likely to recommend you to friends and family members, too.
As you become more established as a reliable and skilled professional, other industry leaders will be more likely to take notice, which can open up new business opportunities. This can lead to free promotion via local or online media via interviews or article mentions, or partnering with similar companies for cross-brand selling. Just putting yourself out there can go a long way!
E-Mail Campaigns
Offering your blog readers the option to sign up for email notifications is a must-do for any new blog. While notifying consumers when your latest post has been published will maximize the number of readers, you can also use it to launch targeted marketing campaigns, informing your most loyal customers of your latest news and deals. Also, signing up for notifications is voluntary, so it won’t alienate any readers that would rather not receive emails.
Blogging FAQ
Q: How often should my business blog?
A: Don’t stress over it! Start out small, with a post once a month, and as you get the hang of it, increase the amount! Always remember that quality is better than quantity.
Q: What should I write about?
A: Your blog should offer relevant information to what your business is about! Answer any questions that could be answered and have fun with it! For example, a coffee business could blog about ‘Tips For Great Coffee Art,’ ‘Why Coffee is the Best Way to Start the Morning,’ or ‘How to Start Your Own Coffee Business.’ The possibilities are endless.
Q: What platform should I use?
A: There are a lot of different platforms that are all great! Check out our post here that explains the different platforms and the pros and cons.
Blog Post Brainstorm
Here are a few ideas for your first blog posts to get your started!
- Answer questions everyone is asking.
- A behind-the-scenes look at your biz
- How-To.
- Explain a process that’s relevant to your industry (step-by-step).
- Share a personal story.
- Promote a giveaway!
- Lessons learned as a business owner.
Wanna learn how to perfect your brand’s digital strategy? Send us an email at hireus@bloguettes.com to learn how we can help!
