Start A Business Blog in 2020
Start A Business Blog in 2020
We’re nearing the end of 2019, and with the slow season fast approaching (January and February are generally the slowest months for retailers), it’s the perfect time to start thinking about customer engagement. Today, we’re breaking down the Why and How of small business blogs.
The Why?
Blogs are an ideal way to increase visibility for both current customers and prospects, giving you a platform to showcase what sets your business apart from competitors. They also serve to let your consumer base know you’re an authority in your industry—which can lead to increased loyalty and retention. Your blog can also be a great spot to address common questions or concerns you hear from your consumers.
The more content you generate, the more likely it is you’ll show up in organic search results. Increased blog posts = increased SEO rankings. And we all know that in digital, SEO is king. An added bonus? HubSpot reports that companies with blogs have 55% more visits per month than those without. Just how much should you blog? We found a ton of interesting statistics at Marketing Insider Group about the frequency of blogging. They found that publishing 2-4 articles per week, or at least 11 per month, is the best bet for increased traffic to your website.
Business blogs are also an expectation of today’s consumer. The Content Marketing Institute did a study and found that 79% of businesses surveyed use blogs to communicate marketing information with their customers, so folks are generally expecting to find one on your site.
The How?
Think of starting a blog just like it’s part of your marketing plan. The first step toward a successful marketing plan is coming up with a strategy. Jot down a few of your goals: Why are you blogging? Why does your business need a blog? What story do you want to tell? What types of content do you want to publish? What will the “voice” (or tone) of your blog be?
In addition to laying out your goals, consider how you’ll monitor traffic and analytics. There is no point in posting content if you have no idea what’s working and what’s not. You will also have to determine a marketing strategy to raise awareness about new posts. This can be through social media, emails, or digital newsletters.
Establishing your blog is much easier when you have a clear path forward and well-defined objectives. And through all of this, remember that you need to focus first and foremost on your customers. Always keep their needs in mind as you move forward.
The Wrap-Up
We love the sense of community that we’ve created with The Pantry. Clients and small business owners across the country know they can turn to ARF Financial’s website for the latest small biz trends, marketing strategies, and tricks of the trade. So as the holidays wind down and the slow winter months start to take hold, make the most of your down time by building a blog strategy and creating some killer content. Trust us, it’ll pay off.