Six ways blogging can benefit your business
Can blogging really benefit your business?ย
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Do some people say blogging is overrated? That itโs been overshadowed by social media? Sure, people say lots of things. That doesnโt mean theyโre correct – and I can assure you, blogging has been a major benefit to my business.ย
Hereโs how:ย
Visibility is the name of the game
If I could sum up one major benefit to blogging, itโs visibility. Each blog post you publish gives you a multitude of opportunities for exposure. A single blog post can show up in so many ways:ย
- Social media like Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter
- Google or other search engine results
The more blog content you have, the more likely it is for a new audience to come across your brand online. And the more chances you have to convert a casual reader into a loyal customer.
Blogging is a (mostly) free way to generate leads
I say mostly, because of course youโll have to pay for a domain and possibly hosting fees, but blogging is a very inexpensive way to market yourself.ย
When you include a clear call-to-action at the end of each post, youโre generating leads. Ask someone to sign up for your email list? Thatโs a lead. Invite someone to join your Facebook community? Thatโs a lead. Give someone an easy way to share on social media? Youโre opening yourself up to more leads!ย
When you compare the cost of publishing a blog post to the cost of running a Google or Facebook ad, blogging is hands down more affordable.ย
Blogging creates connections
Social media has its place, but I really believe that blogging is where you can let your personality shine through. You might have the best product on the market, but without building a genuine connection to your target audience, you wonโt get very far.ย
When you blog, itโs a way to let readers see the passion, inspiration, and drive behind your business. You can (and should) show these things on social media, but a blog gives you a broader platform to let your voice shine through.ย
Your blog establishes your authority
When you publish regular, high quality content, your blog becomes the go-to space for your niche. I worked hard to establish thinktankteacher.com as an authority on escape rooms for the classroom – and now people come to me first to find high quality information and resources on the topic.ย
Your regular blog content should offer loads of value to your readers – let them know how passionate and knowledgeable you are in your area of expertise. Itโs okay to give information away for free because this establishes your authority and builds loyalty. Trust me, the sales will follow when you build a loyal following and become known as an authority in your space.ย
Blogging helps you harness the power of Google
I mentioned Google earlier, but itโs worth expanding on this topic by itself. An excellent strategy for business owners is to use blogging in order to rank higher on Google. SEO, or search engine optimization, is a whole other topic on its own, but suffice it to say that the higher your blog ranks on Google, the better.ย
When you use your blog to answer frequently asked questions in your niche, and when you produce regular, consistent content on the same general topics, Google notices. And itโs definitely a good thing when Google notices you! One post that you wrote a year ago could climb the ranks slowly but surely, eventually ending up on the first page of Google results.ย
As you brainstorm topics for blog posts, think about what problems your product solves for people. What would they search for on Google to find you? Some simple keyword research can help you come up with tons of topics to get noticed by Google.
Blogs live longer than social media
Social media is here one moment, gone the next. With blog posts, your content lives as long as your site is live. You can keep re-purposing it into other mediums. Have a really popular post? Turn it into a YouTube video or a podcast episode! Have a post getting lots of traction on Pinterest? Cross-promote it on Facebook or Instagram to encourage more shares.ย
The beauty of blogging is that your content keeps working for you even when you log off. And when your content is packed with value, your leads and sales will flourish.ย
Does your business have a blog? If not, whatโs holding you back? If so, do you have any tips to share with us? Leave a comment below!ย