Blogging for business can be an effective way to reach new customers and grow your brand. Yet, there are a few things that many business owners don’t know about blogging that can hurt their success. In this post, we’ll discuss some of the most important things you need to know to blog for your business. Whether you’re starting out or you’ve been blogging for a while but haven’t seen the results you want, read on.
Generic content isn’t going to do it anymore.
What I mean by “generic” content is those vague, boring blog articles that answer questions that could be written by any business. This type of content isn’t going to help you rank in search results and it’s not going to drive traffic to your website. Blog articles need to be based on your expertise and your business. There are hundreds of other sources that answer general questions but to get the questions that actually generate sales for your business, it takes a more thoughtful approach.
For example, instead of an electrician sharing “how to install an outlet,” try something more specific to your local area like “Our Process to Updating Electrical from Knob and Tube in Historic Downtown XX”. This type of content positions you as an expert for converting electrical work in old homes, educates your audience on exactly what you do to make that happen, and anyone who searches for “updating electrical in historic downtown XX” will likely come across your article.
Related Reading: The Search Engine Benefits of Corporate Blogging
Every article does NOT need to be written for search engines.
There are some topics that are captivating but they won’t be searched for on Google. These are great social media pieces. They tend to generate traffic because these articles pique the interest of your audience online. If you have a local service area, both types of blog articles are important because they get you in front of your target audience. For example, an article on the “Best Burgers in Frederick, MD” by a real estate agent might not make it to the first page of Google, but local Frederick residents would find it difficult to turn away from clicking on it if they see it on their newsfeed.
You don’t have to write every article yourself.
Shoot, you don’t have to write any article yourself! There are plenty of options when it comes to freelancer copywriters or content writing services that can help you. remember that there are huge differences when it comes to hiring a copywriter versus a content marketer. A copywriter is often told what to write (you need to identify the topic) and may or may not have experience with search engine optimization or marketing-related activities. This is good for a business that needs a less expensive option to help with the heavy-lifting of writing. However, think of it like that. They are helping with the writing and that is it.
A content marketing professional does a lot more to help you reach your business goals. My process is to interview you (the subject matter expert) and then write articles that have a catchy or SEO-friendly title to send you for review. After approval, I’ll get them up on your website with an image and, depending on our agreement, promote them on your social media channels. Minimal time on your part and all the rewards.
It can take six months to see results in your search ranking.
Especially if you’re only doing two blog articles per month. Be patient. If you’re starting to feel skeptical about your marketing professional, ask them about the content that they are creating and what sort of early results they’ve seen. They should be able to tell you the progress that’s been made. Ask about website traffic, how many people you’ve reached, and what they’ve learned through analytics so far.
Conclusion
Many businesses had a company blog and then stopped publishing articles because it was too much work. Blogging for business doesn’t have to be a lot of work on your end! Outsource to the right person or company, and reap the benefits of increased website traffic and visibility of your business.
Ready to get started? Book a free 30-minute consultation with me and let’s see if we’re a good fit. You can also join The Credible Brand Facebook Community where we continue to add educational content each week on how you can build a credible online presence.
