A business blog is a hub of content, where you can share everything from company updates to industry knowledge, tips on how to use your products and services, opinions on different trends and concepts, and so much more.
It is, in essence, a space which allows your business to create, build, a nurture, a personality and the unique tone of voice you need when interacting with your customers or clients.
Yes, it’s a marketing tool – but in the modern world of constant updates and instant access to anything and everything your customers want to know and find out, a business blog is a way of presenting the world around your brand in your way – in your own words and built upon your own expertise.
Here at Social Loop, we believe that a blog isn’t just a nice-to-have anymore – it’s a necessity, supporting your website’s SEO and establishing your brand as a reputable name in your industry. And by the end of this blog, you’ll be thinking the same.
The Benefits of a Small Business Blog
The competition is huge out there, no matter what space or sector you operate in. As a small business, finding ways of standing out and retaining customers’ loyalty is key – and what better way to do this than with regular updates and check-ins which keep your brand front of their mind, even when they don’t need to buy anything from you.
When you curate and manage a business blog, you are essentially giving away your expertise and insider information for free – using it to draw in potential customers and continue to entice and excite existing customers, so that when they need your product or solution, yours is the first brand they think of.
That means that a blog can not only drive conversion, but it can help you to build a loyal and repeat customer base. And that’s just scratching the surface.
Why Your Business Needs a Blog
Think for a moment about why you clicked on this specific blog – and what has kept you reading up until this point.
Either you follow Social Loop and want to stay in the know about everything we do and offer, or you are a small business wanting the answers to the questions that this blog poses. You could be a competitor of ours; you could be a client; you could be a potential client. Really, who you are doesn’t matter at this stage – the point is that this blog provides immense value. We are giving away this knowledge and understanding of the importance of blogs for free – empowering you to use the information as you wish.
And that’s where the real value of blogging comes into its own.
Content Drives Customers
There are two branches of this. The first relates to our next point – SEO – and is all about making sure that customers can find your website when they need your product. Updated and valuable content is favoured by search engines, and so a regular blog provides the perfect outlet for the kind of postings which will keep your website top of the search list.
The second relates back to the customer – the more you can tell them, share with them, and prove yourself to them as a reputable source of information, the higher the chance that they will trust you and buy from you.
SEO Benefits
In the former point, we mentioned the importance of blogging in boosting your search relevance through the eyes of search engines like Google. The fact is, SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) is a tough nut to crack – but the more you can do to nurture your online presence and prove to search engines that your website is reputable and reliable, the better. That means updated, relevant content; internal and external linking; keywords; and more – and remember, it’s not all in the quantity but the quality as well, with tone of voice and style all integral to creating a consistent presence online.
If you’re still struggling to get your head around SEO, Social Loop offers a comprehensive SEO marketing service to help boost your online presence and conversion with the help of blogging and other SEO tools.
Website Finesse and Presentation
The design of a website is an important stage in fine-tuning the customer journey. As a digital marketing agency, we work with a multitude of clients across all manner of different sectors and industries – but one thing they all have in common is the need for a design plan when building their website. And every website needs a content section if you want to succeed.
When you decide to build a website, establishing a blog becomes a key part of that design process – allowing you to dictate the customer journey, how your blog will be found and received, and in what format you want your blogs to be presented – i.e., with or without imagery; how long the content will be; what CTAs you use.
Recycle for Social Media and Email Marketing
If, as a small business owner, you struggle with the demands of social media updates, email marketing, blogging, and building your business, frequent blogs can actually provide you with some great ammunition for your other touch points – and nurture your link-building for SEO at the same time.
From sharing snippets from blogs on social media, to linking to your blogs within your email marketing, creating a cohesive and consistent journey across your touch points is easier with regular blogs.
Is Blogging for You?
If you run a small business, blogging is something you should definitely start channelling time into – no matter your industry, sector, or business.
From establishing your brand as an expert in the eyes of both search engines and customers, to helping you curate a valuable and interesting online presence, blogging has never been so important in helping small businesses compete with the larger corporations.
For more advice, information, and guidance on implementing an effective blog and marketing plan into your business, Social Loop can help. Get in touch with us today.