Starting a business blog is tough. When I first started blogging for my branding agency it was difficult to generate ideas consistently and then write clearly and concisely about them; but over time, I became better—and faster. Blogging for business starts with the intention to solve your customers problems and to answer their hardest questions.
I set a goal to become a better writer. No matter what it took, I committed to writing at least once a week, twice if I got lucky. Every time I came across an interesting piece of content that sparked an idea I wrote it down. Over a few months, I had a growing list of healthy topics.
This in turn allowed me to create a content calendar that aligned with my inbound marketing campaign efforts which turned my idea list into a blogging factory.
I love this video from HubSpot that explains how to become a better writer:
Like training for a marathon, it’s hard at first, but you eventually become stronger and faster.
1. You stay on the cutting edge of your profession
Inbound marketing and blogging forces you to change your mindset about marketing. You become a natural curator of content as you peruse daily articles and blogs. By committing to blogging that leads to the search of new ideas, you become keenly aware of your industry and your client’s industries.
2. You have more things to talk, post and tweet about
Blogging creates the basis of your social media efforts. By posting and tweeting your content, you begin to attract visitors and gain followers.
3. Solve your customer’s problems
By blogging on topics that solves and answers your customer’s toughest questions, you become—over time—a recognized resource and expert.
4. Generate website traffic
Blogging is the secret sauce to generating traffic to your website. By blogging on topics that answers your customer’s questions, you create a bastion of posts that expand your keywords’ digital footprint on Google and other search engines. You increase your website’s authority by generating inbound links, social media shares and authorship through Google+.
Check out these stats:
- 37% of marketers say blogs are the most valuable type of content marketing. (Source)
- Brands that create 15 blog posts per month average 1,200 new leads per month. (Source)
- B2B companies that blog generate 67% more leads per month than those who do not blog. (Source)
- Blogs give websites 434% more indexed pages and 97% more indexed links. (Source)
- Blog posts incorporating video attract 3 times as many inbound links as blog posts without video. (Source)
5. Establish thought leadership
By blogging consistently, you quickly begin to establish thought leadership within your industry and amongst your prospects. By earning followers on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter, you begin to establish top-shelf awareness that allows you to constantly remind your prospects of your products or services.
In conclusion, the task of taking on blogging for your business may make you gag, but once you get the ball rolling, it becomes a habit that is easier to maintain over time. The benefits of being on the edge of your profession, having interesting topics to grow your social media networks, generating traffic and establishing thought leadership is an essential component of doing business with today’s skeptical customer.
Interested in learning more about our Indianapolis or Nashville inbound marketing agency? Contact us today to learn how we can help your business through blogging.
