A company blog is one of those things a lot of people think about, but many find difficult to keep up with, and maybe even see a little pointless. A good blog requires a time investment and a flow of ideas that can be hard to find during the hustle and bustle of day-to-day life and work. But while it might sometimes seem like a chore, running a well-kept blog can be one of the most beneficial things you can do for your business and can expand your marketing toolkit for very little outlay.
A Few Facts About Blogs
Businesses that blog get an average of 67% more leads than those who don’t. That 67% more leads, which are coming to you even when you’re at home enjoying a glass of wine. Your blog works hard 24 hours a day 365 days a year to get you seen, sell your products and make a good impression online.
Businesses who actively engage in regular blogging are 13x more likely to see a return on their investment. That’s because your blog is helping you get found online in a completely different way, and helps catch all those uncertain leads that you wouldn’t even know about otherwise.
They’re great for SEO. That mythical goal of reaching page one of Google is closer than you realise once you start blogging regularly. Not only is it providing fresh, original content regularly, which Google loves, but companies who blog also generally receive 97% more backlinks to their website than those who don’t. By producing new insights and opinions you are increasing your reputation in your industry, and the likelihood that people will come to you as a reliable information source. If you run an interesting blog, odds are your blog will end up on Pinterest or Instagram for it’s beautiful pictures (you are using pictures right??), or on someone’s blog roundup or review. This all adds to the cocktail of things Google loves about blogs.
Blogs are incredibly trustworthy. Recent surveys rank blogs as the 5th most reliable information source on the Internet. People trust blogs to deliver accurate information, personal opinions and product reviews. A blog shows a personal side to a company, taking you away from being a faceless corporation and towards being a business customers can trust.
But What Do I Write About?
This is, hands down, the most common question we get asked about blogging. It all sounds well and good on paper, but for a lot of people finding something to write 600 words about 2 times a month can be extremely difficult. To help you get started on your blogging journey, we’ve rounded up our favourite types of blog. These topics can be applied to nearly any industry, so they are a great starting point!
- Problem Solving
- Interviews
- Event Write Ups
- Why’s & How To’s
- Comparative & Best Of Posts
- Personal (mini!) Essays
- Reviews
- List Posts
- Predictions
- Analysis
- What X Can Teach You About Y
What Are The Risks Of Blogging As Part Of Your Marketing Toolkit?
Well, we say risks, what we really mean is risk. There really is only 1! That is the risk of becoming a ‘blogging school drop out’, ad giving up after a few posts because you can’t find the time. The golden rule of blogging for business is to keep it up and post regularly; otherwise you might as well not bother. If you don’t keep your bog updated regularly (that’s at least once a month) then it isn’t going to do you any good. Google won’t have as many pages to index and rank, and your visitors might even think you have gone out of business because your last post was 9 months ago!
If In Doubt, Hire A Professional Blogwriter
Finally, as with every job, if you aren’t sure you can manage it, hire a professional. A professional blogwriter loves writing – it’s all they do day in and day out. Professional blog writers know how to hook readers and keep them interested, and can deliver work quickly. So what would take you 2 days of scratching your head and rewriting the same section will take them about an hour. Blog writers (like us, for example) are also fairly cost effective. We can get you started blogging for as little as £40 a month, and for all that gain, it’s not a lot to give.
Interested in starting a business blog for yourself and expanding your marketing toolkit? Get in touch to chat about our blog writing services, or ask us about our new blog training programme, to get you writing like a pro in no time!