Five reasons to keep that blog going on your website

Although I only started blogging on this website recently, I’ve been writing blog articles for my copywriting clients for a while now. Along with website content, blog articles are one of the main reasons a professional copywriter like me is hired. If you have a business and you don’t currently maintain a blog on your website, there are so many juicy reasons for having one. Or, you might already have one but are feeling a little tired of the blogging game, and need some motivation to keep going. Either way, here are five compelling reasons to get that blog cranking:

Improve your search rankings
Publishing regular fresh content on relevant topics is the best thing you can do for Search Engine Optimisation (SEO), so that your organic search rankings improve. Google loves content, particularly in-depth content about topics that are relevant to what people are searching for. Your blog articles can also appear in search results, providing more opportunities for people to find you, increasing your website traffic in the process. And by updating your blog every so often, Google knows that your website is being kept up-to-date and will be more likely to send people your way.

Engage people with your brand
I’ve learnt so much about businesses by reading their blogs – what they stand for, what they’re passionate about, and how their business can help me. A blog is an opportunity for a brand to show their personality and provide engaging content that adds value to the reader. You might be an interior designer who wants to showcase examples of your work, or a personal trainer with lots of client success stories to inspire others. Perhaps you have helpful tips on how to use your products effectively, an ethical or environmental stance you want to highlight, or you want to share stories behind some of your customers or suppliers. Useful, inspiring, interesting or just plain amusing, your blog is the place where you can attract, engage, and hopefully, convert.

Demonstrate your expertise
If you have plenty of great articles on your website, you’re not only keeping visitors there longer but you’re also demonstrating your expertise and authority. Maybe you’re a financial adviser, and you want to show your clients how much you’re across what’s happening in the industry and how it could impact them, for example, new government legislation. I know that I’m more likely to be drawn to a website with high quality, useful, up-to-date content, than something that hasn’t been touched since 2010. And if I think you’ve got more authority on a topic that’s important to me, I’m more likely to engage your services.

Answer customer queries
Although some businesses might like their customers contacting them with questions, answering common queries through website content is a massive time-saver. This is usually done through an FAQ page; however, your blog is a chance to go a little more in-depth and provide useful information about your business, service or products. You could even embed a video into a blog article that visually demonstrates how something is made or used. If you’re a service provider, such as a freelancer or consultant, you can explain how your process works in a friendly and engaging way. If you’ve got a bit more detail to include than what can typically fit into an FAQ, blog it!

Generate content for social and email
Your blog acts as a central repository of content which you can then use on your social media channels and in your customer emails or newsletter. If you’ve got a new article popping up on your blog every now and then, you’ve always got something to share with people. Plus, by amplifying your blog articles through social media and email, you’re drawing people back to your website to continue reading, which can only be a good thing. And if you’ve managed to build an audience with your blog posts, then when it’s time to announce a new product line, special offer or event, you’ve already got the attention of people who are familiar with your content and brand.

So if you’re um-ing and ah-ing about starting a blog, I’ve given you a few good reasons to go out and do it. And if you need some help coming up with ideas and writing great content, just drop me an email.