You’ve probably been told over and over (and over!) again that maintaining a blog is crucial to creating an online presence for your business. Now, this may seem simple (all you have to do is churn out a couple paragraphs, slap a photo on it and press publish, right?) but it can often seem like you’re making the time and effort to create posts and failing to get the results you’re hoping for. Having a business blog doesn’t have to be a chore, and by following these five super simple tips, you can go from taking your blog from drab to fab in no time.
1. Get to know your audience
Defining your target audience is one of the most important factors to consider when it comes to creating or improving a blog for your business. Once you’ve achieved this you’re able to figure out exactly what kind of content you should be posting (or not posting). Brands such as ModCloth and Starbucks are great examples of this.
Before you start typing away take a minute and ask yourself:
- What kind of content will my target audience be interested in?
- What will make them keep coming back for more?
By constantly finding ways to connect beyond trying to push your products or services, you’ll develop a loyal following to your blog and brand.
2. Content, content, content
Newsflash: quality is way better than quantity when it comes to posting on your business blog. Don’t jump the gun and publish a blog post everyday thinking that this will get you more hits because this will be painfully obvious to your readers.
Think about your favourite blog and the reasons you like it so much. Most likely it’s because the content is in line with your interests and offers useful, well-crafted information that leaves you wanting more. The best business blogs go beyond pushing their products and promotions to drive sales. They seek to inform you of what’s happening in their industry and offer unique advice, tips and insight.
3. Timing is key
As mentioned in my previous point, frequency doesn’t necessarily mean you need to publish new posts left, right and centre. But what you do need to keep in mind is that once you choose how often you are going to post you should stick to that schedule. For instance, if you decide to start blogging every day, then you should continue to do so from that point on. Take it one step further by posting on the same time and day each week. That way your readers will know exactly when to expect new content and will look forward to visiting your blog on a regular basis to see what you’re serving up.
4. Attention-grabbing titles and opening paragraphs
Let’s face it – internet users these days are extremely fickle. In order to entice someone to stick around and read what you have to say on your business blog, you need to pull them in from the get-go. One simple way is to start your title with a number. This is sets the reader’s expectations from the start and they know exactly what they’re in for. Keep your titles clear and to the point while trying to add a unique twist. The same concept goes for your opening paragraph. You want to show you have some valuable information to share that sets you apart from all the rest.
5. Keep your content SEO friendly
You’ve heard it before and you’ll keep hearing it – SEO is important in making sure your posts gain the exposure you want. Your copy can be amazing but if you don’t consider SEO you’re seriously losing out.
Start by generating a keyword list based on the topic you are writing about and try to incorporate them into your post. Be wary of ‘keyword stuffing’ where your content can come off as unnatural (a huge turn-off for blog readers). Also don’t forget to include keywords in your metadata and image descriptions. Linking to other pages within your site is also a great way to improve your SEO.
So there you have it… five tried and tested ways to improve your business blog. Make sure you keep trying out different strategies and track your results to make sure you’re on the right track. Happy blogging!
