If you asked us if you should blog for your business, our answer would be a resounding yes!
Why? Because blogging is a valuable part of any business’s marketing strategy. According to Hubspot, B2B marketers who use blogs receive 67% more leads than those who do not. And with over 5 billion people connected to the internet worldwide, you couldn’t pick a better time to get started! In this post, we’ll share four key benefits of blogging for your business. But before we get started, let’s discuss what a blog is and how it works.
When you hear the word “blog,” what comes to mind? Many people are still stuck on the early definition of blogging—sharing a personal log or journal, or information and opinions on a variety of topics. While people continue to publish personal blogs, today’s businesses are using blogging to share valuable and informative articles about their products or services and educate current and prospective customers on important industry topics. Since it’s essentially a database of pages, visitors can easily search your blog by category, tag, date, or author. Blogging will benefit your business long after your posts are published, and here’s how:
1. Blogging helps your company rank on search engines.
The principal reason for blogging is to help your business come up in online searches—a.k.a develop and increase your website’s search engine ranking. We’ll use an example to illustrate how this works:
Let’s say you’ve opened a new hair salon and want to drive local traffic (visitors) to your website so they’ll learn about your services and hopefully, become a client. A smart blogging strategy would be to write regular posts on a variety of relevant topics (e.g. “Fall Hair Color Trends,” “Styling Tips for Curly Hair,” “Benefits of a Brazilian Blowout,” etc.). Over time, you’ll see an increase in visitors to your website as people search for the key words and phrases contained in your blog articles. As you continue to post about relevant topics, and additional visitors land on your blog pages, Google will recognize your business as a trustworthy source of information in your industry, increasing your ranking in online searches.
Got some company news to share? Include it in your blog! A blog is a great place to announce company moves or expansions, new employees, important events or special offers, new products and services, and any other relevant news pertaining to your business.
2. Blogging converts website traffic into leads.
Once visitors land on your blog, they have an opportunity to explore other parts of your website and learn more about your business.
Using the above example—your blog comes up in a local search for information on Brazilian Blowouts. The visitor finds your blog article to be informative with a friendly, conversational tone. This helps build trust and familiarity with your business. After reading your blog, this visitor might navigate to your Brazilian Blowout service page. Here, the visitor will learn more about the benefits of receiving a Brazilian Blowout and have an opportunity to schedule an appointment at your salon.
A note about your blog voice: The voice or tone of your blog should reflect the personality of your business. A real estate company would obviously have a different voice than a tattoo shop or math tutoring service. When developing your blog voice, think about the kinds of products and/or services you sell, the people you serve, and your staff.
3. Blogging establishes you as a trustworthy authority in your industry.
Sharing interesting, helpful, and informative content on your blog establishes you as a knowledgeable and trustworthy leader in your industry. It also suggests that you care about your customers and prospects.
4. Blogging is like a gift that keeps on giving.
Every time you publish a new blog article, you’re creating content that can be shared on social media. We’ve been able to create as many as five posts from one blog, saving time and money. Through your various social media channels, you will expose your business to new audiences, driving visitors to your website. A blog is like a gift that keeps on giving. The effort you put into publishing one article could turn into hundreds or even thousands of views and leads in the future.
Starting a Business Blog
Now that you know the benefits of blogging for your business—a boost in website traffic, more leads, and increased authority in your industry—you’re probably itching to get started. Sprout’s team of writers, graphic designers, and IT professionals can help you put the power of blogging to work for your business. Contact us to learn more about our affordable business blog writing services.