So - here’s the question: Is blogging still relevant? Does blogging really help, or is it an outdated idea? At VisionAmp Web Design we strongly believe that blogging can drastically help your website and your business in MANY ways. We have several clients who blog every month about subjects and products that are relevant to their business. This has helped them to increase their overall exposure, generate more customers, and even more revenue. Blogging can be an integral part of your online content marketing strategy!
Here are five reasons why you definitely need to blog:
Every aggressive business owner desires more online and in-house traffic. They know online traffic not only results in more foot traffic, but to more sales. “SEO” stands for “Search Engine Optimization.”
SEO is the process of maximizing the number of visitors to a particular website by ensuring that the site appears high on the list of results returned by a search engine. The key to getting more traffic lies in integrating content with search engine optimization and social media marketing. Good SEO results are largely driven by new and fresh content (this includes blogs), and the use of relevant keywords throughout your blogs and your website pages. FRESH CONTENT is the key. Blogs provide a way to do just that!
By adding fresh content every day or week could place your website higher in the search engine results than your competition. Traffic is key! Blogging can help increase the traffic. It’s just that simple.
If your website contains articles that are not only well written, but display content that is relevant in your area of business, this demonstrates you are knowledgeable and are the leader in your industry. You are marketing your skills, your services, your products. If you are known as a knowledgeable source by your customers, they will rely on your opinion, and eventually, your product and services. A blog is a facilitator! A good leader will constantly throw out the vision they have for their company and the products and/or services they provide. The more you demonstrate being well-versed in your field, the more you and your company, and all it represents, will be trusted and used.
3. YOUR CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIPS NEED TO GROW
If you want to deepen your connection with the customer, blogs help do just that! If the customer trusts you, they will trust your business, your opinion, as well as the products and services you are offering. Blogs should invite comments and questions. This two-way discussion with consumers not only lets you provide more information, but it lets you gain insight as to what they are looking for. A relationship is a two-way street. Blogging allows you to grow deeper connections, and build trust, creating more interaction from the comforts of the consumer’s home.
Converting the traffic into actual leads can be facilitated by a blog. A blog that is targeted to the specific audience you are trying to reach is extremely beneficial. Every piece of content has the potential to reach more customers. Include links within each blog to where people can click to learn more, subscribe, contact us, and more. Once you have their contact information you can follow up with those leads.
Every blog and its content is perfect for sharing and boosting on all social media platforms. When your content is relevant and informative - or even entertaining, more people will “like,” “subscribe,” and even “share” your content on their social media pages. When this happens, they are actually directing people and driving more traffic to your website and to your business. Talk about a free marketing team! Another thing to remember regarding social media is you have to respond. The customer gets turned off quickly when there is silence on your end. Once you go social, keep the conversation going - even if the comments are critical or questioning. Every comment has the potential to drive more consumers your way.
Websites that do not blog and have stale content are seemingly clogged up. If you aren’t sending content out, nothing will come in. Blogs break the clog - and help to keep the flow going. Fresh content poured into the consumer simply results in more leads, more traffic, more presence, more success. Some businesses even decide to label their blogs as “news” or “articles.” Regardless of the label, do it! Also, know that a good blog will take time and possibly more money on your end. But realize the effort will be worth it in the long run. At VisionAmp we have seen the benefits from blogging for many years. To see some of our recent blogs, click here.
Keep it fresh! Keep it unclogged! Blog away!!
-Written by David Jackson, VisionAmp Content Specialist
