Wonder Why (or How) You Should Blog? Here are 10 Reasons.
Would you like customers seek you out instead of the other way around? Imagine, your prospects find you, like you and already want to do business with you.
That’s one way blogging can help your small business.
In fact, the marketing software giant Hubspot states in their “The 2012 State of Inbound Marketing Report” that 56 percent of businesses that blogged at least once a month acquired customers through their blogs. Businesses that blogged weekly saw that number increase to 70%.
Here are 10 Reasons Why Blogging Helps SMB’s:
1–Boosts your credibility – Writing a helpful blog post shows what you know. If you can provide value in the form of writing a blog post others will see it. When you have a stack of useful posts, you build credibility with your audience.
2–Increases traffic to your website (SEO Value) – this alone is reason to blog! When you bring new visitors to your website, you have the opportunity to start building a relationship through blog commenting or inviting them to sign up for your newsletter/email.
3–Builds trust—When people read you regularly, they start feeling as though they know you. People recommend and do business with those they “know, like and trust”.
4–Connect – Your website copy has the job of conveying who you are, what you do and for whom. Your blog can expand on that in a million different facets.
5–Answer Questions —Answer your top 5 (or 15) most asked questions in 5 or 15 different blog posts. Then, when your prospects Google that question, you have the opportunity to turn up in their top search results answering the very question they asked. Isn’t that cool?
6–Share Your Experience – Blogging is the opportunity to share your experience with others. Tell a story, be conversational. This builds rapport.
7–Share Others’ Experience – Whether opening the blog to other staff members, or inviting others to guest blog, open your blog to other voices. The popular grocery chain Wegman’s has been successful in this arena. They have executives, chefs and deli workers all contributing to the blog. That keeps it interesting.
8–Focus on your Audience – Press releases are not blog posts (even if some companies put them there). A blog should be conversational and offer helpful information.
9—Technology – The technology makes it simple (and inexpensive) to create and distribute your blogs. 10 years ago it was impossible to reach thousands of prospects easily and inexpensively. Now, you can publish your blog post and voila! It can be seen by thousands.
10–It doesn’t have to be long – 250-300 words is sufficient if you’ve said what you need to say.
Here’s a bonus: You don’t even have to write! You can video blog too!
One question I’m often asked is, “What should I blog about?” GREAT question! Read this post for ideas.
What’s the biggest blogging benefit you’ve seen in your business? Love to hear in the comments below.
