If you have a business website – you need a blog! Sadly many business owners fall into the trap of thinking they don’t NEED a blog, that they have nothing to write about and that no one will bother to read it.
It doesn’t matter if you are not the world’s best author or you don’t know how to set up a blog, sure a blog can be a lot of hard work and it does require a LOT of commitment but a blog can do wonders for your business.
Why should you have a blog on your business website?
- To let your customers know about you – A potential customer has just stumbled onto your website – what can you do to help them decide to use you? After all, they don’t know you, they don’t know how much you can help them, and they don’t know if you are really qualified. Once a customer finds your blog it can help them get to know you a little more and they will realise you do know what you are talking about. This is a great way to gain trust from new customers, the more trust you have the greater the chances they will use your product or service and once they are loyal customers they will be able to help *spread the word* leading to an increase in business or sales.
- To help with Search Engine Optimisation – You’ve spent time and money on a great website that you love and it looks good – so the next step is finding a way to make sure that search Engines – such as Google can find it. For this to happen you need to have a site that has WORDS on it – especially the words your customers are looking for – you also need to update your content regularly and keep it looking fresh and dynamic. The way to achieve this is to include a blog on your website, by adding a blog you can include posts that carry the special *keywords* that your customers are looking for. You can commit to adding new content once a week, once a month or a couple of times a week. The success of your site depends on it being picked up by search engines, and adding a blog is the easiest way to achieve this.
- A blog gives your customers something that is *free* If you are serious about helping your customers then a blog is the perfect way to make that happen. While not everyone is looking to buy or use your product or service *now* a blog is the perfect way to let your readers know what you do, what you offer and how you do it. This can be extremely beneficial when a potential customer wants to take on a new product or service. Sometimes you get customers who just want to *pick your brains* so your blog can be a handy way to direct people to your site. Occasionally you get customers who have no intention of buying, so rather than waste your time direct them to your blog for the answers they seek
- Help solve your customers problems One of the hardest things about having a blog – and maintaining it – is coming up with new, fresh and interesting topics to write about. You will need to focus on the things your customers really care about, or need to know, this will help you find topics to write about that your customers want to or need to read. The more interested they are in what you have to say will lead to increased business.
- To show your customers you are there to help them – A blog can help show to your customers that you not only understand their problem, but you can help them solve it. Customers come to your site because they have a problem, they need your help, but they may be concerned that what you do or offer isn’t what they need or want and they are going to make a mistake. Your blog can help show them that you know their problem and that your product or service can help them.
- Writing a blog can help your writing skills – Don’t worry if you are not a *writer* – that’s fine; you don’t need to be a published author to write a blog. You can hire a blog writer if you don’t have the time, or you are worried your blog won’t sound right. Blogs come in different shapes and sizes, and can be all photos, recipes or instructions and can be anything from a short 300 words to up to 5,000 words. Your blog if you choose to write it yourself is a great way to gain some practice and improve your skills. Remember the only way to find *your voice* is to keep at it, so writing regularly is the only way to improve your skills.
- To attract the right kind of people to your business – There are people who just *get you* and there are people you would really like to work with – the ones who adore your service or product and are willing to tell others about you. The people you love to work with or for, those who connect with your style – these are the people you WANT to read your blog. If you can write your blog for these people you’ll attract more like-minded people to your business and hopefully in time you’ll be working with and for your ideal customers!
- Find out what your customers are really interested in – Blogs come with a comments section and this is how you’ll interact with your readers, don’t worry if you don’t hear from a customer for days or even weeks, this is how you will learn about your customers and what they want. If you get feedback on a certain topic, or a new product or service you might be thinking of starting, you can test your ideas through your blog. This way you can find out what your customers are thinking and feeling and you can build your business around this feedback.
So, what is stopping you? A blog can be one of the best advantages for your business; just ask yourself can my business afford NOT to have a blog?