6 Business Blogging Pointers

Nancy Author

"Marketers always ask me how to make more or better content, and it’s almost always the wrong question. The right question is: How do I get my content in front of the right people." 

- Joe Chernov 

Blogging is an effective marketing strategy that gets your content in front of the right people. A well-written optimized post can boost your SEO, generate organic traffic to your website, increase leads, and boost sales.

Unlike social media posts on platforms like Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram that have a short lifespan based
on the algorithms, blogging is a powerful evergreen way to share your voice and build an online presence with readers. Your content showcases your expertise and makes you a source of information related to your specific industry. When it comes to content marketing, a blog post is a crucial touch point that increases the Know, Like, and Trust factor. It educates your consumers and helps them make decisions along their buyer's journey. 

But managing a blog can be overwhelming. There are a thousand and one things to take care of. However, whether you’re starting a new business blog or looking to revive an old one, with the right tools and tips, you too can reap the benefits of blogging for business without the overwhelm.  

Studies show that businesses that maintain blogs bring in new customers who otherwise would not have heard about the company.  

Here are six pointers to simplify setting up and managing a business-building blog.

1.  Define Your Objectives.

Before you start blogging, ask yourself these three important questions:

• Why am I starting a blog?
• How will it benefit my brand?
• How will it benefit my ideal audience?

Your answers to these questions will help you create a strategy with key blogging goals that align with your business objectives. Set specific goals that are realistic no matter where you are in the blogging process.  

2.  Research About Your Audience. 

If your audience is "everyone," chances are your blog will speak to no one. And that is why you have to get clear on exactly whom you’re targeting and why they should visit your blog. To attract the ideal audience, you have to understand who they are and what they need. That way, you can create content that is both relevant and helpful to them. Use your customers’ demographics and psychographics, needs, behaviors, and core values to create buyer personas, which will help your content creation. 

3. Determine Your Blogging Frequency and Set a Schedule.

Getting clear on your audience and their needs helps you create a plan that answers questions like how often you will publish new posts and how much time you can commit to content creation. Based on your answers, create a content schedule that sets reader expectations and works for you. Because information overload is a thing many of us deal with, experiment with quantity versus quality. But remember, whether you blog weekly, monthly, or quarterly, consistency is crucial. And that's where templates, done-for-you planners, and editorial calendars come in handy. They help you to avoid writer's block and procrastination so that you write compelling and engaging content, even on days when you are not feeling inspired.

4.  Write and Publish Compelling Posts.

For your audience to subscribe or keep coming back for more, you want to write posts that they love to read! The way you develop, write, and organize your blog determines whether or not first-time visitors consume your content and become loyal readers or quickly bounce off, never to return again. 

To write a compelling blog post that is easy to read and digest,

• Focus on the reader's benefits.
• Avoid complicated words and write shorter sentences.
• Speak directly to the audience – use “you” in your writing.
• Have short paragraphs for visual appeal and effective impact.
• Break up long posts with headlines and illustrate with images.
• Use bold fonts, bullet points, and italics for emphasis and easy scanning.

5.  Offer a Variety of Content Formats.

Many people automatically think of long articles or text posts when they hear the word blogging. But content goes way beyond putting together a few paragraphs on a specific topic.

There are many formats to deliver valuable, engaging content that captivates your ideal reader. That's why I included the 31 content format ideas in the Blogging Bundle.

Here's a taste of some of the ideas:

• Resource Lists: According to LeadPages, this is also the most popular lead magnet format. Everybody loves good resources. Share yours freely.

• Quick Tips: Who says you have to write long articles? Share a daily tip that your readers will find valuable.

• Quotes: People love quotes. Compile inspirational ones or some that are relevant to your niche or industry.

• Product Reviews: Your readers will appreciate in-depth and honest reviews of products you use or promote.

• Interviews: Audio, video, or text interviews are easy to create. Introduce your audience to different perspectives.

• Screen Capture Video: Share a slide show on your computer, demonstrate software, or do a product walk-through.

6.  Give Your Readers Options to Subscribe, Comment, and Share Your Content.

"If you build it, they'll come" sounded great in the Field of Dreams movie, but it is not a strategy when you publish content. Let people know you have a new blog post, and make it easy for your readers to share your content by adding social share buttons on your blog. More shares mean more visibility and organic traffic that grows your audience. You can also drive paid traffic to your posts.

Add sign-up forms to every blog post and encourage readers to join your email community. But instead of vague and ho-hum scripts like "join our list" or "subscribe to our newsletter," tell readers what benefits they'll get when they opt-in. If you have readers in Europe, be sure to follow the GDPR guidelines to avoid legal trouble when offering lead magnets.

Bonus Pro Tip

Based on the blog post goals and objectives, always finish off every piece of content with a call to action and encourage your readers to share their thoughts in the comment section.

To apply these simple pointers and improve your blogging workflow, download this free template. No opt-in is required. 

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Are you ready to attract and engage your ideal audience with blogging? 

Let's talk about your goals and objectives. Contact me here today.