Blogs aren’t just for bloggers. They’re for businesses, and the benefits are many. A blog isn’t just about sharing information and engaging with your customers. It can have a direct impact on reaching new customers, growing your business, building your brand, and establishing yourself as an industry expert.
Here are five of the top reasons to start a blog for your business so you can complete in your industry.
Thought leadership – A blog is a simple (and inexpensive) way to demonstrate your expertise and establish yourself as an industry leader. Sharing your thoughts, opinions, and analysis about industry news and trends, as well as the latest about your own products, positions you as an authority and an expert. How do you want potential customers to view your products and business? Soon those who read your blog will turn into paying customers.
Real value of content – There is tremendous value in creating original content. By creating quality content as the hub of your content marketing on all of your social media and digital channels, it acts as built-in content to power all of your platforms. These platforms (including podcasts, YouTube channels and photo-sharing sites) can create conversations and reach new customers, all of which points back to your site.
Blogs fuel Search Engine Optimization (SEO) – Original content also plays big on search engines, which reward you for fresh, original content. With a blog that is correctly optimized for searches, you will boost your SEO ranking and make your content much easier to find than a static website. Why do search engine results matter? Research shows that 44 percent of online consumers begin by using a search engine and 61 percent of internet users research products online. If your website appears on one of the first pages of search results, people are more likely to find your website.
Reaching new customers – Wouldn’t you love to reach new customers? Blogs are an ideal way to reach customers and introduce them to your products at basically no cost. A Hubspot survey suggested 60 percent of businesses who blog acquire more customers. If you provide valuable information and high-quality content, your blog will develop a following and then be shared through your readers’ networks. Then, you can use public and media relations to turn your blog and industry leadership into interviews and media appearances.
Building your brand – A blog gives your business a voice and helps customers relate to your brand by differentiating it from your competition. It’s a space to share what your business is about beyond your static website. You can tell people what your brand is all about, create customer service opportunities, and let your personality shine. Customers will find your brand accessible, giving you the opportunity to create long-term relationships.
Target market insight – Analyzing your blog traffic and those who are using your content marketing will help you better understand your target market. Not only can you track how they respond to your content to find out what works and what doesn’t, but you will get a clear picture of who is interested in your products.