Starting a Business Blog
The most important part of any website, business or personal, is quality content. A constant stream of content increases the likelihood people will return to your website. The more content, the more often the website shows up in search engine results. These days, the key to standing out from the crowd is having a website that is not just current, but beneficial to visitors at the same time.
So what does this have to do with starting a business blog? Everything! Creating and maintaining a blog is the easiest way to go about keeping content on your website fresh and interesting. Even better, blogs can be incorporated right into your website's design and made to look exactly like your homepage. Here are some key things to think about if you are considering starting up a business blog:
What Should I Write About?
Blogs are no longer the online journals they were once thought of. They now fall under a broader category, which is user-generated content. To promote your business, it's best to stay professional with your posts. Technical articles or instructional articles are a great starting point. You should limit the amount of opinion-based blogs you post, and don't forget to proofread carefully! Most important, stay focussed on what matters to your industry. We all have opinions about politics and the weather, but chances are your visitors would rather find the material they are seeking from you business.
How Often Should I Write?
As often as possible without over doing it. Do what you have time for, but don't forget about your blog! Set goals, and schedule specific times to write. A nice starting point is aiming for once every two weeks, and then move up to weekly if possible. The trick is making sure blogs are archived on a monthly basis and that posts are consistent (five in one day is too much)! If you're having trouble finding the time, consider recruiting some employees to write short posts for the company's blog. This will also help keep the content varied. If you feel like you've run out of ideas, read industry-related news and try relating it back to your company or your client's needs.
How Much Should I Write?
As a general rule, blog posts shouldn't go on longer than 800 words, or you will soon be entering more into “rant” mode, or you are at risk of over-explaining your topic. Try to keep blogs short, about the length of a brief news article. Three hundred to 500 words is enough! And if you need more space, remember that blogs can occur in a series and you can always write more the next day. The trick is to keep everything related, keep visitors coming back, and don't reveal too much, or your visitors may not call you for further information.
What Are Blog Categories and How Do I Make Use of Them?
For larger blogs, posts are generally archived on a monthly basis, or divided into categories, or both. Categories and archives help your visitors easily navigate through your blog, but the most recent posts are generally displayed on your blog's homepage. Categories are a quick way to cover more ground. For example, a blog about gardening may be divided into the following categories: Growing, Weeding, Equipment, and Industry. Within these broad categories, a variety of blog subjects can be posted. The Equipment category can contain blogs about tools, apparel, motorized equipment, or planters, etc.
There are entire blog posts written about how to use categories, so do some research before deciding how many topics your blog should cover.
How Can I Drive Traffic to My Blog?
Once you're up and blogging, the next step is to get people reading. A link to your blog on your website is essential, but you should also consider posting your blog titles to Twitter, and including a link to your blog in your email signature. Read other blogs and post comments that include your blog's address. If you use Facebook, post the link to your profile page, or consider highlighting your new blog in company newsletters (print or electronic).
Are There Any Hidden Benefits in Starting a Blog?
Yes! If you choose to create a blog as an individual, you are essentially branding yourself as well as your business while backing your company with a stronger voice. An individual's blog can personalize the company just enough to help it stand out and appeal to those customers looking to do business with companies they already feel like they've gotten to know.
How Can I Connect My Blog to My Company's Website?
A blog can be built right into your website, or appear as an external link. Talk to your web designer to discuss your options.
Where Can I Go To Get Started Right Away?
Several websites allow you to create and maintain a blog for free. Among the most popular are:
