When you’re running a business, it’s important that you get noticed online, and in a big way. Even if you’re running a brick-and-mortar store, and sell amazing products that you show off in your window display, that’s not enough to get customers interested. You need a huge presence on social media, on Instagram and Facebook–and if many of your customers are younger, like millennials or Gen Zers, this is even more necessary. In the same way that you use the best URL shorteners for marketing, you also need to use the Internet to show off your brand and services. But it’s not just social media that matters; you also need a blog.
Many people seem to think that blogging is dead, but nothing could be farther from the truth. There are so many benefits to blogging, especially if you’re running your own business. Here’s why.
1. You’ll up your SEO
The main reason that most businesses have a blog is to up their search engine optimization (SEO). Basically, when your SEO is good, that means that when someone Googles something related to your industry or the services you offer, you’ll show up sooner in the search. Considering that websites on the first search engine results page receive almost 95 percent of web traffic, you need to do what you can to get there. And blogging is one of the best ways to get those results. Google will rank your website higher if you blog often, and if someone blogs something related to one of your posts (for example, ‘how to fix an iPhone without spending too much’), then they’re likely to come across your iPhone screen protector website. So especially if you’re starting a new business and want to put it on the map, creating regular blog content is essential.
2. Blog posts move traffic from other sources to your website
Let’s say that you’ve got a lot of followers on Instagram because you’re always posting beautiful pictures of the awesome clothes you sell. If you’re sharing your blog posts on that account, every time you have a new one, then that’ll lead readers directly to your website. And that means that they’ll have the chance to see what other products you’re selling, which means higher sales. They might also sign up for your newsletter so they can find out about future sales. They’ll also get a sense of your brand, and what your values are, which is key to customer loyalty. It’s no surprise, then, that marketers who prioritize blogging efforts are 13 times more likely to see positive ROI.
3. You can do more internal linking
Once you start having a robust blog, you can start internally linking from one article to another. For example, if you’re running an accounting business, your article explaining taxes to freelancers can also link to another on deductions. According to Velocitize, “Internally linking to other blog posts and pages on your website can also improve your SEO success. The more relevant links you have, the more likely it is you’ll rank better, which can lead to more traffic and potential leads.” It’s not only a great way to get your readers to know your brand; it’ll also improve your visibility.
In 2017, 66 percent of marketers reported using blogs in their social media content, and you can well see why!
4. You’ll be considered an industry expert
If you’re constantly providing high-quality content that answers questions that your customers often ask, they’re going to start seeing you as an industry expert. And once you become popular in your industry, influencers might reach out to work with you (or advertise your products for cheaper rates!), and your blog posts might be shared by other industry businesses. This will only make you more popular, and because you’re trusted, customers will prefer to buy from you instead of your competitors.
77 percent of Internet users read blogs regularly–and if you become one of these regularly-read blogs, your business will do great!
5. It’s part of your brand
Finally, you have to see your blog as an opportunity to demonstrate what makes your business so special. It’s part of your brand; by developing your voice and your interests in blog posts, you’re putting in as much work as you should in designing a website that represents your company. So take it as seriously as you take engaging on Instagram and creating that perfect logo design.
Whatever you do, remember to post often. 60 percent of bloggers who are posting daily, reported very strong returns.
These are some of the best reasons why your business needs a blog. What other strategies do you use to get your business noticed online?
