A big thank you to Kirsty for this amazing guest blog all about what a blog can do for your business.
I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve heard people say that you have to write a blog for your business if you want your marketing to succeed. I’m sick of it and I love blogging. Of course, I’ve also seen just as many posts announcing the death of blogging. The reality is that neither extreme is true. There are loads of ways to market your business, it doesn’t have to include a blog if you don’t want it to. Equally, the business blog isn’t dead and can be incredibly useful for small businesses like ours. Here are just five reasons why you should consider writing a business blog.
Your website belongs to you
I’ve seen lots of people talking about how they don’t need a blog, or even a website, because they do all their marketing on social media. The brutal truth is, you have no control over changes to Facebook. They could even decide to take your page down altogether and you might not even know why. With a website, you’re in control and if one platform disappears it’s not the end of the world. If your Facebook page goes and takes all of your client contacts with it, it’s not so easy to adapt.
It’s great for SEO
Please don’t be scared of SEO. Most people will still head straight for Google when they’re looking for information. Google’s search spiders (actual technical term, honest) love websites that are updated regularly so writing a blog really helps you to be found.
Keyword research can sound horribly technical but it really boils down to writing about topics that your customers are searching for. What words describe your business, your products and services? Focus on those in your blog and you make it much easier for your customers to find you.
It builds your profile
When you’re a small business, building a profile can feel like an uphill struggle. People buy from big brands without a second thought because it’s a name they recognise. Smaller businesses have to work much harder to build trust. Writing a blog lets you share your knowledge. When you post regularly people start to recognise your name and learn from you over time. It’s not a quick fix but it helps your reputation grow in a really natural way.
A blog helps your customers
If you’re wondering how to avoid turning your marketing into an endless round of pushy sales posts, a blog is the answer. Your customers can find your blog via a Google search when they’re looking for information or click through on social media just because they’re interested. Either way, if your post shares something useful then it builds trust. You might think that being helpful for free might mean they’re less likely to buy from you – usually the opposite is true.
It’s endlessly reusable
When it comes to marketing, consistency is key. People become familiar with your business by seeing it regularly and being reminded of the ways you can help them. The trouble is, it means that you end up having to create lots of marketing content so you don’t vanish from view. When you write a blog you can recycle it in loads of different ways. Take the theme of your post and do a quick video, a graphic, a tips post or a quote and save yourself a load of work.
Kirsty France
Kirsty is a copy and content writer from Leicestershire. She works with small businesses everywhere to help them tell great stories in their marketing and make connections with their ideal customers.
