Have you got a business blog?
If not, let me explain why you should and give you a firsthand example of the benefit it can bring in terms of being ‘found’ online.
Recent changes by Google Panda (Google’s search results ranking algorithm) means that SEO is no longer all about cramming as many keywords into the homepage of your website. In fact that method can actually have the opposite effect.
Nowadays content marketing is king.
Brian Clark CEO of Copyblogger says “Content marketing isn’t a buzz phrase, and it isn’t a fad. Rather, people are starting to realize that content is the foundational element of all effective online marketing… From the allure of building a direct relationship with prospective customers and clients, to smarter pay-per-click strategies, to social media sharing, to SEO – content is what works.”
Now let me give you my example.
4 months ago I first started my blog. To begin with my website was ranked way, way down the pages of Google if you were to do a search for the term “Virtual Assistant Services”.
After just 4 months of blogging once a week (and guest blogging on relevant websites and online publications) I now rank on page 1 of Google.
I don’t write with search engines in mind at all. And in fact if there’s one word of advice that all the experts give, is don’t. Write naturally about your industry and it will happen automatically.
Still need convincing?
Below are 5 reasons why you should have a business blog:
1. Gain more website traffic. Active blogs draw 6.9 times more organic search traffic than businesses that don’t blog at all*. This means that as long as you write interesting and helpful content, you will be seen as an authority in that field and more people will find your business through a natural search engine search. Blog regularly, link it to your social media platforms and then check out Google Analytics – you should be pleasantly surprised.
2. To connect. Reach out and speak directly to your customers, answer their questions, respond to any negative comments and start conversations through your blog comments section. This will help to build trust, something that is more and more important particularly for small business owners where competition is rife.
3. Be real. Use your blog to show your personality, rather than the perhaps slightly more professional corporate image that tends to come across through company websites. You will seem more approachable whilst still being able to highlight your expertise, experience, and skills in that area.
4. To increase credibility. Blogging allows you to drip-feed your readers with information about you, your business, your products, your service, and your experience. When a customer is looking for your specific product or service and you’ve already engaged with them through your blog, they’re more likely to turn to your business to make a purchase.
5. To be seen as an industry expert. Set yourself apart from the competition by blogging about your industry. Demonstrate your expertise in that particular field by offering high quality content to your readers.
But one word of advice, if you do start a blog make sure you keep it up. A blog that was last updated 6 months ago, looks worse than no blog at all. So the best thing to do is make a plan, set aside a couple of hours each week and stick to it.
If you need help creating a plan for your blog, creating blog topic ideas, and even with drafting articles, speak to a Virtual Assistant – you may start seeing results in a matter of months.
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