Blogging for Business: No More Excuses!

Do you own or run a small business?  Do you blog?  If not, it’s more than likely because you don’t have the time or you don’t see the value. Using that logic, think of all of the efforts you put into promoting or marketing your business then look at the return on your investment (time AND money).  

Blogging on a frequent basis is a relatively easy, inexpensive way to enhance your inbound marketing efforts, drive traffic to your site, and attract more prospective customers.

Don’t like to write?  Don’t know what to write?  Get help! If you’re not blogging, you’re opening the door for your competitors to come in and grab your potential customers.

According to Hubspot, 57% of companies who have a blog reported that they actually acquire business from their blog.  Still don’t have the time or resources?  Find it!

The Case for Small Business Blogs

Here are some of the most important benefits of having a blog for your business:

1. Boost Search Engine Optimization: Search engines love fresh content. What better way to provide frequent content than with blog posts? By blogging consistently, you give Google and other search engines new content to index and you create opportunities to plug in those all-important keywords to increase your visibility on search engine results pages.
   
   
2. Develop Relationships with Potential and Existing Customers: Blogging allows you to connect with your site visitors. This can be accomplished by asking your visitors questions at the end of your posts to get the conversation going or by simply allowing comments and feedback. By reviewing and responding to readers’ comments, you can create a rapport with your audience, build trust, and gain valuable insight into what your customers are looking for.
   
   
3. Establish Your Business as an Industry Leader: No matter how small your business is, you can build trust and clout within your industry by providing valuable, expert information in your blog posts. Over time, you become a “go to” resource for helpful, informative content, which can ultimately lead to higher customer conversion rates. This is especially important for small businesses looking to gain credibility to compete with larger companies.
   
   
4. Connect People to Your Brand: Blog posting allows you to show a personal side of your business that potential and current customers may not see through traditional marketing techniques. Blogging gives consumers a sense of the standards, vision, and personality of your company.
   
   
5. Create Opportunities for Sharing: Every time you blog, you create an opportunity for your audience to share your blog with others. Whether they link to your blog post, tweet it, or email it to others, it’s free marketing and it further validates you as a credible business.
   
   

From a practical standpoint, blogging just makes sense. With minimal effort and expense, you can build credibility, boost search engine rankings, increase website traffic, and foster relationships with potential and current customers. This is an opportunity no small business should pass up.

If you have questions regarding the benefits of blogging, or need help getting started, we can help!  What are you doing to promote your brand?  If you’re not blogging, you’re missing out! Contact us if you need help with your blogging and branding plan!  www.stonekingconsulting.com