Here’s a question I get from local business owners when pitching my blog writing services to them. “Do I really need a blog when I have a website?”
The consensus amongst most business owners is that a website is enough to propel their business to digital success.
The truth is you’ve only done the barest minimum.
For your business to succeed, you need to set up a blog and publish regular content. A blog is a great way to connect with your customers and prospects. It’s also the ideal way to help them solve problems related to your niche.
Still not convinced? Here are 15 reasons why starting a blog can help your business to succeed.
1. Business Blogging Increases Search Engine Traffic
While SEO is harder for small businesses, frequent blogging does wonders for your SEO. Studies have shown that frequent blogging skyrockets your traffic by over 150%. Search engines reward you for producing fresh content, meeting the needs of the online searcher and using relevant keywords and.
2. Humanise Your Brand
In my experience as a blogger, I noticed that business blogging gives you a personality. Customers attach a voice or a persona to your brand. It makes your brand more human and less mechanical. Blogging showcases the individuality and character that makes your brand relatable.
It complements your public relations. As you blog and talk about your business, you are gradually creating a humanistic brand identity.
3. Supports Your Social Media Strategy
Which online platform should you use to promote your business? Twitter, Facebook or Instagram? The answer depends on where your audience hangs out. But what’s more important than promotion is creating useful and relevant content. A social media presence without great content is useless.
Your blog should support your social media activity not the other way around. When you create quality content such as blog posts, videos and infographics, your social media becomes cohesive.
4. Business Blogging Makes You an Industry Authority
When I want a decisive opinion on a tech issue, I Google it with the name of a popular blog. I go to blogs that have established themselves as authorities in their industry. Your blog post demonstrates your expertise in a particular niche.
Business blogging provides an opportunity to share high-quality and valuable information with your readers. You become the go-to resource for information in your field and enjoy a steady stream of web visitors.
5. Elaborate On Your Product and Services
Blogs allow for in-depth explanations and teachings about how your products and services solve a problem for your audience. You could explore specific benefits, write customer case studies, or provide “how to” guides on your technical services. High-quality content solidifies your position as an industry authority.
6. Business Blogging Generates Qualified Leads
Studies have shown that e-commerce businesses that blog regularly generate more leads than those who do not. Custom content warms prospective customers.
A blog creates opportunities for you to generate leads and convert them. By discussing your offering and the individual challenges of your target audience, you are getting your name in front of clients who need your services.
7. Increased Social Sharing
Each post on your business blog is an opportunity for your audience to share your blog with their contacts. They could link to your blog post in their own article, tweet or email it to someone else. You get free marketing and validation as a credible business.
8. Boost Your Digital Marketing
Blogging improves your digital marketing efforts. A business blog is statistically proven to help businesses achieve their marketing goals. Create a buzz for your campaign through your blog. It’s a great way to promote a new product or event.
Relevant content attracts loyal followership. This is the simplest way to earn readership and subscribers. Blogging also helps you generate visitors for your main site. Blogs with good content and a growing base is a good source of visits to your site homepage.
9. Build Your Community
Before Linda Ikeji Blog became a massive success, she created a community with her blog. Linda replied every comment on her posts, featured consistent commentators and encouraged people to comment by offering monetary incentives to the 20th or 50th commentator.
She grew a community of avid readers who became part of “LIB-ers”. Long after the incentives, the community she created remains. Consistent blogging helps you develop a community who become fans of your brand for a lifetime.
10. Grow Your Email Database
Email marketing is a great way to promote your business and publish relevant information on new products and company updates. A business with a robust email list increases sales through promotions. Email enhances your audience’s experience and improves the sales process. It’s also one of the biggest drivers of traffic to your blog.
The snag? it’s often difficult to get people to sign up for email newsletters. However, an interesting and informative blog compels your readers to sign up for more amazing content.
11. Encourages Feedback from Your Customers
Business blogging provides a direct channel of communication with customers. You present your content in a personal manner. Ideas are exchanged and you understand your readers’ points of view.
This is an opportunity you won’t get with just a website. Nothing beats feedback from your customers and that is what blogging offers; a two-way interaction with your customers.
12. Business Blogging Strengthens Your Own Expertise
Blogging breeds innovation. Maintaining a business blog means you are constantly on the lookout for interesting news, issues, and trends. You have to dig deeper, stay on top of your industry and practice articulating effectively.
It keeps you on your toes and helps you learn more about your business. The best part? Your business becomes a reputable resource on issues within your niche. You earn trust with great content.
13. Improves Internal Linking
Unlike inbound linking, internal linking is within your control. Use internal links in your blog posts. It helps your visitors with site navigation by directing them to the most important pages on your website.
Internally linking to other blog posts and pages on your websites improve your SEO. Relevant links equal to a higher ranking.
14. Business Blogging Provides an Avenue for Fresh Content
Companies are in competition with each other. To keep customers interested, they must publish new and intriguing content. Blogging gives you an avenue to attract new customers. Your blog post makes a customer interested in your business.
Also, search engines love to see new content and rewards sites that do this with increased visibility. Blogging guarantees better exposure on SERPs.
15. Audience Insight
Use reader feedback, blog analytics and comments on social media posts to learn about your audience interest. The data you collate serves as blog ideas to create appealing and engaging content for your audience.
Conclusion
You need a business blog to set your brand apart from the competition and capture your audience’s attention. Regular blogging turns interested viewers into customers and current customers into brand evangelists.
What are you waiting for? Start blogging today! Call us now on +2348037422278 to get started with your business blog