Creating a Kick-Ass Blog for Your Business
As a business owner, you’re laser-focused on driving traffic to your business because...traffic means sales. Sales mean you can pay your bills. You can pay your employees. And – you can keep the doors open for business. But in order to drive traffic to your business, you need a good marketing strategy.
What’s it going to take to create marketing magic, especially if your business is new?
You’re going to have to wing it – at least for now. You’re going to need to put together the best website you can afford and create social media accounts on platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Google +. Lastly, you need to create a business blog.
If the idea of writing your own blogs makes you sick to the stomach, or if you have no clue where to begin, that’s okay, you can learn! As a business blogger and ghostwriter for small business owners who’s written over 5,000 blogs, I’d be happy to share a few tips on creating great content that ranks well on Google. But first, let’s look at a few reasons why your business should have a blog:
Blogs drive traffic to your website.
If you have a blog, your website will likely rank higher in the search engine results.
The more traffic your blog receives, the more it will be shared and the higher your website will rank.
According to Small Business Trends, “81 percent of U.S. online consumers trust information from blogs.”
“Companies that blog have 97 percent more inbound links,” reports Small Business Trends.
HubSpot reported that B2B marketers who use blogs receive 67% more leads than those who don’t blog.
How do you get started if you draw a blank every time you try to come up with an idea for your blog? After all, writing about your own business can be hard! If you’re thinking, “I have no clue what to write about. Nobody will want to read my blog. I’d rather have a root canal than blog,” these tips on how to write great content will help you start pumping out kick-ass content in no time.
How to Write Awesome Content
All content is NOT created equal; your content has to be good. It has to be relevant. It can’t be boring. If your readers can’t make it past the first couple of paragraphs, you’re through.
When you crack open up a new book, if it’s not good in the first couple pages, you never finish it. Blogs are no different. If you can’t hook the reader in the first two paragraphs, you’re off point.
What makes good content that readers actually want to devour:
Your blogs should address questions, problems and concerns faced by your customers. Start with common questions that come up all the time. If you’re constantly answering the same questions, blog about it! Your customers’ issues will be one of your best resources for blogs.
Add value. Your blogs should offer tips and advice for consumers. By creating value, you will establish yourself as an influencer in your field of expertise.
Know your audience and write as if you’re speaking directly to them. If your customers are Baby Boomers, don’t write as if you’re talking to a twentysomething. Customize your content to fit the reader – your target demographic.
Share personal experiences; it humanizes you and helps people “connect” with you, the business owner.
Don’t copy others’ content ever. Plagiarism can subject you to legal action, especially since many savvy businesses utilize duplicate content software like Copyscape, which scrolls the web for copied content.
Be clear and concise. No overly-wordy sentences that bore readers.
To rank well on Google, be unique. Say something that hasn’t been said before. Google eats up on unique content.
Always use spellcheck and re-read your work before publishing. If you’re not comfortable editing, have someone read your blog before it goes live.
You should publish at least one blog a week. Consistency is key!
Your blogs should be between 300 and 700 words; that’s the sweet spot.
In today’s marketplace, all businesses large and small should have a business blog. A great way to find new ideas is to look at your business differently. Constantly be thinking, “Oh, that’s a great idea for a blog!” Shift your mindset and always be on the lookout for new blog material. A great resource for blog material is your customers. Wh
at problems are they having? How does your product or service help them? What advice do you dole out day-in-and-day-out? Once you answer those questions, blog about them and I promise, you’ll become a great resource for consumers in no time.
Elainna Ciaramella is an independent journalist, business blogger, and ghostwriter for entrepreneurs and business professionals nationwide. She has written extensively on the topics of business, entrepreneurship, law, and medicine. She is well-versed in search engine optimization, content marketing, and social media. You can connect with her at www.elainnaciaramella.com and on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Google +, and Instagram.
