Starting a business blog can seem to be daunting, especially if you’ve just woken up to the benefits of leveraging content for your business. Nevertheless, you’ve chosen the right path, and all you need to do is get started!
Without much ado, check out these 7 amazing tips to get your small business blog up and running.
1- Plan Your Content
Blogging is going to be a long-term commitment; you can’t publish 10-15 posts and be done with it. You also want to make sure that you don’t run out of topics or ideas for your niche. So choose what you want to say and what you want your blog to do wisely.
Brainstorm topics and plan how you’ll publish them. Think of your blog as a publication: How do you want your weekly or monthly issues to look like? Planning your posts beforehand instead of hammering them out haphazardly will keep your blog from looking unorganized and disjointed.
2- Be Consistent
For small business owners, blogging twice a week is not only great as a starting point, but also manageable. This means you’ll need to have 8 posts in order each month. If this seems like too much, organize one post for each week, and build on it gradually.
Try to publish your posts on the same days each week for consistency. This way, your audience will notice a pattern and know when to look for new posts. Do have spare posts as backup so you can simply publish them when you’re in a time crunch.
3- Publish the Best Content
Don’t worry about anyone ‘stealing’ your content! Most of your readers are going to be on the lookout for someone who is reliable and an expert in their field. Be that person by posting valuable content that you could otherwise sell for a fee. Again, don’t think you’re giving away something for free; sharing in-depth content is guaranteed to bring in leads and secure clients over time!
In addition to this, make sure the content you share is fact-checked and free of grammar errors. Avoid jargon and strive to present ideas in simple words and sentences. Quoting industry experts, and using examples and case studies in your blogs will help establish your expertise.
4- Develop a Unique Voice
Developing a unique voice and tone for your blog is important to help you stand out from the rest. Differentiate your blog from hordes of others with your own viewpoint on topics of interest. Also showcase your interests by weaving personal stories and experiences into your posts.
Furthermore, determine your business identity and how you want to be perceived by your readers, and pump up your posts with personality! That being said, refrain from being too formal irrespective of your business. Write the way you’d speak; use a conversational tone and speak to your readers instead of at them.
Check out MailChimp’s Voice and Tone guide here!
5- Keep Your Audience Engaged
Don’t make your blogs monologues; intersperse your posts with questions aimed directly at your readers to keep them engrossed in the conversation. Asking relevant questions at the end of your posts can encourage readers to leave comments, interact with one another, and share your posts on social media.
Stir the pot by being brave and discussing controversial topics. You don’t have to necessarily give your opinion – ask readers to share what they think! Holding contests, Q&A sessions and giveaways, or asking readers to vote for what topic they want you to cover in the next blog also works wonders.
6- Don’t Promote Your Business
Yes, you read that right! Bear in mind that your readers are going to flock to your blog to get answers to their questions, not to accomplish your marketing goals. While being interesting enough is important, you also need to be interested in what your audience wants.
Be clear about who you’re blogging for and what their likes and dislikes are. Stop talking about your products and services; offer real value by sharing content on topics that aren’t directly related to your business. Take property records website Arivify, for example – their blog covers topics ranging from builder’s warranty on new construction and effects of the new tax bill to tips on home shopping!
7- Promote Your Blog
Again, you read that right! While you shouldn’t promote your business on your blog, promoting your blog will increase brand awareness and website traffic, eventually helping you promote your business.
The most effective way to promote your blog is to share post links on social media platforms. You can also share content in groups and forums related to your business and industry. Do consider working with influencers – either invite them to write a guest post for your blog or ask if you can write a guest post for their blog. They might even be able to link their post to one of your posts!
Make your blog shareable using social media share icons. Place icons prominently so readers don’t have to look hard for them.
Conclusion
Digital marketing remains a cost-effective marketing solution for small businesses worldwide. And while blogging can take time to reap rewards, incorporating it in your content marketing strategy is an amazing way to consistently drive traffic, create leads, and generate revenue!
So get started with these actionable tips right away and make your business blog work for you!
