Are you still debating whether or not your business should have a blog? We think it’s time to make up your mind - and to start blogging!
Maybe you’re hesitant to start a blog because you think “No one will read it,” or “I have nothing to say…” Don’t worry, you’re not alone in this thinking. But you are wrong! We are fairly certain that you have a lot to share in your realm of expertise - and trust us, if it is unique, valuable content, people will read it!
Before I started working for Rough Draft Solutions, I had written one… maybe two blog posts ever. Now, I write one or two posts per week! Turning a blank screen into a page filled with high-quality, appealing, and informative content hasn’t been easy, but it has been beneficial to RDS, our clients, and myself as a professional.
After writing blogs on a consistent basis for almost a year, I have learned A TON about blogging. In part 1 of Business Blogging , I will cover the 6 things your company is missing out on by not blogging and what you need to do to get started. Writing blog posts consistently is not always an easy thing to do, but the benefits blogging brings to a business makes it worth it.
6 things your company is missing out on by not blogging:
Valuable content for your customers
If you’re not blogging, how are you providing valuable content to your customers? Maybe you are using a different medium to communicate, but for most small businesses, they simply aren’t doing anything to proactively connect with their customers.
The goal of a blog is to take the focus off of your business and to put it back on your clients. A blog is a tool that will help you connect with your customers, provide them with useful information that addresses their needs, and overall, give your customers the real value they are looking for from your business. Blogging creates a platform for conversation and positions you to become a valuable resource to your clients.Customer engagement
Unless you are strategically thinking about how to communicate and engage your customers, you are most likely missing out on strong relationships and brand ambassadors.
Blogging helps you build relationships with your customers and keep them engaged. You do this by breaking away from traditional marketing and addressing your customers directly while serving their needs.
The point of blogging is to consistently deliver information to your audience that they genuinely care about and want. It’s when you stop talking about yourself and start asking “What problems do my customers have that I can solve?” that you can provide actionable content that directly impacts your customers lives. If you do that, you better believe they will be engaged!Active links to your website
If you’re not blogging and actively sharing those posts, what content are you publishing that will lead people back to your website? The more interested people are in your blog, the more clicks you will get, and the more people will be on your website.
With each blog you post, your links will become more relevant, and customers will grow more familiar with your website. The more they click on your links, the more often they will be driven to your site! And if your website is setup properly and leads them through your site, more clicks should eventually lead to more conversions!Tools to potentially boost your social
If your business is currently on social media but doesn’t blog, you are missing out on a key strategy that can increase your views and engagement on social.
Blogging gives you substantial content that your audience can explore and interact with. Instead of sharing someone else’s content, share yours! Post content that will involve your audience and start conversations, and you are likely to see a boost on your page’s activity.Tools to potentially increase your sales
Did you know consumers typically make decisions through emotion before logic? Your blog is a place to talk about what matters most to your customers and bring out their emotions. When your customers feel like their voices are being heard, they will feel more connected to your business. Building these relationships may affect your sales and help your loyal clients stick around.
Your customers want to feel valued, taken care of, and understood. When the time comes for them to make a purchase, who do you think they will use - someone they don’t know or someone who consistently provided value and was a resource to themPositioning your business as an expert
If you don’t share your expertise, how will anyone know you are the expert? Blogging is a powerful medium to share your expertise and to give away value that will boost your credibility and enrich your customer’s lives.
When a consumer chooses your business, it’s a big deal. If they choose you above other businesses, you know your customers have chosen to depend on your company as a reliable source. When you blog about the information your audience is seeking, you can consistently show them that you are the expert they can rely on.
What you need to do now:
1. First, memorize the 4 vital parts of a blog post
2. Set aside time to brainstorm ideas:
Brainstorming concepts to write about can be tough. However, once you come up with one solid idea, you can always narrow down your topics. For example, if you wanted to write 5 tips for social media, you could always break it down into various subgroups for the different social media platforms. Writing about topics that are more specific will give your audience more detailed information and could be more helpful to different individuals in a variety of ways.
Start by writing down the questions you get on a regular basis, write down the problems that your customers are facing that you can solve, think of lessons you’ve learned along the way that could benefit your customers. These are all great starting points!
3. Remember, write for your customers… not for yourself:
As much as you are inclined to write about your favorite topics, that’s not the best idea if you want to create a captivating blog for your business. Customers will only read what interests them and what solves their problems.
Write content that will give value to your clients. And if you’re not sure what their wants, needs, or frustrations are, ask them!
4. Make your content easy to read and skimmable:
Nobody wants to read huge paragraphs of text. Writing your posts in short sections or creating bulleted lists throughout the post will make a big difference for the reader, allowing them to follow your content more easily and quickly find the information they’re seeking.
We hope you now feel equipped to start blogging! You’ve got this! With well thought out topics, value-focused content, and easy to read organization, you will be well on your way to creating content that is useful for your customers and profitable for your business. It’s time to stop missing out on all of the benefits of blogging!
Stay tuned for Business Blogging part 2 where we will discuss SEO, keywords, and everything technical you need to know to create a blog that will engage your customers and grow your business.
- Emily
Do you have specific questions on how to start or grow your business blog?
