Blogs = Authority
Blogging has become one of the most popular digital marketing tools available. Although they were once seen as only an outlet for self-expression, blogs are now viewed as very effective methods of generating sales and building brands.
Your blog can be a platform to build a relationship with your existing customers, engage new ones, and position yourself as an expert in your industry.
No technical skills? No worries!
One of the best parts about adding a blog to your content marketing toolbox is how simple blogging is for the non-technical set.
Blog software, such as Blogger and WordPress, is designed with the average computer user in mind. And if you already have a company website, you might be able to just add a blog to it and start posting. Simple as that.
Blogging is a Great Way to Boost SEO
A blog that’s been integrated into your company website can help give your search engine ranking a surge and bring in more traffic.
The fresh, new content that you consistently add to your blog is noticed by the search engines, and they push your site up the search ladder — it’s the freshest and most informative sites that hit the first page of search results.
Blogging is also a great chance to make regular use of the keywords that your potential customers are typing into the search box.
All those targeted keywords help to position you as an authority to those that visit your blog, and you can link from your blog keywords to sales pages on your website. Boom! Cross-traffic.
Keep It Real (for Real)
Blog posts can be as long or as short as you would like them to be. Just be sure to stay on topic!
When it comes to the actual writing, forget what you learned in Comp 101. Today’s blog readers want an informal, approachable style. Use a conversational tone, and don’t stress about sentence structure too much.
You can always send your posts to a good copy editor to look over before posting them, if you want to make sure that they’re clear to understand and read well.
You want your blog posts to be passionate and show personality. Let some humor shine through — don’t be afraid to get personal.
Your audience wants to see that there is a human being on the other side of the screen. Keeping your blog content real is one of the best ways to create a lasting connection with your customers, and bring in new ones.
What to Blog About
To keep your blog fresh and engaging (and keep readers coming back for more), you need to share content that is interesting and valuable — forget the sales pitch and tell a story!
Coming up with new and informative blog topics can take some creativity and forethought, but the results are well worth it.
You want to offer blog content that is relevant to your niche or you run the risk of losing your ideal audience.
So what do you blog about?
Here are 10 blog topic ideas to get you started:
1. Introduce new products
2. Highlight upcoming events
3. Discuss industry trends
4. Share customer success stories
5. Reveal product or service reviews
6. Give a “behind the scenes” tour
7. Talk about charitable efforts
8. Start a contest or giveaway
9. Engage readers with a poll
10. Publish a short “how-to” guide
Be sure to also make your blog content easy to read and appealing!
Add relevant photos, use short paragraphs, and make use of subheadings, bulleted lists, and even infographics.
Don’t Forget to Socialize!
Blogging and social media go hand-in-hand.
After all, what’s the point of having awesome blog posts if nobody knows that they’re out there?
Social networks like Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Google+ are great places to share your new blog content and get it read.
Social sharing can also attract new readers to your blog, and new visitors to your website.
Some content that is shared on social media can even go viral — imagine what that will do for your traffic and sales!
Get Help Producing Quality Blog Content (Consistently)
One of the key components of successful content marketing via blogging is consistency. Fresh content needs to be shared on your blog at least once a week, and many marketing experts recommend as many as three posts per week.
Don’t have that much free time? Don’t feel bad — few business owners do, which is why many of them outsource the writing of their blog content to freelancers.
Working with a freelance blogger can take some work off of your plate, while also ensuring that you have fresh, engaging content for your blog on a regular basis.
And one of the best parts about working with a professional blogger is you can have as much (or as little) involvement in the process as you want. You can come up with the topics, writing style, and outline for the blogger or you can sit back and let the professional take over. It’s completely up to you.
Amanda French, Freelance Blogger
Need help writing blog posts that your readers will love — on a regular basis?
Based in the Tampa Bay area, I help business owners from all over the world turn their blogs into lean, mean, traffic-generating machines with consistently fresh, engaging blog content.
Ready to wow your readers? Let’s talk about your blog!
Writing That Wows 