Introduction
“You can buy attention (advertising). You can ask for attention from the media (PR). You can bug people one at a time to get attention (sales). Or, you can earn attention by creating something valuable and interesting and then publishing it for free (blogging).” ~ David Meerman Scott (Marketing Strategist/Speaker/Author)
- Blogging is an effective, budget-friendly marketing technique that if done properly, can attract new customers, build loyalty and trust amongst current customers, and drive sustainable revenue.
- Blogging is essential for small businesses looking to stand out in crowded fields.
- In this post, we’ll discuss the unique value of blogging, consider blogging best practices, and get you started creating beautiful blogs to attract, delight, and convert your consumer base.
Why is Blogging Important for Small Businesses?
Blogging provides a unique opportunity for small businesses to establish themselves as authoritative and trustworthy in crowded markets. The goal is to continually add value by publishing informative, well-written articles that your niche audience is interested in.
For example, if you are the owner of a company that sells health & fitness products, you will want to write blogs about this niche.
Some blog titles may look like this:
- How Do You Know You’re Getting the Most Out of Your Fitness Routine?
- Why Yoga Is So Crucial for Runners
- Getting In-Shape in 30 Days
- 5 Healthy Dinner Options You’ve Never Considered
- Whey vs Soy: Which Protein is Right for You?
The idea is to write about topics that are interesting to your audience, and also relate to your brand.
The 5 Benefits of Blogging
1. Increase Website Traffic
When you consistently post blogs on topics that are relative to your brand, you are filling search engines with results to show people when they’re seeking advice, guides, tutorials, recipes, tips, tricks, and everything in between.
The more blogs you have written, the more opportunities for someone to search up a topic you’ve written on, and find and read your blog. If they like what they read, they sign-up for your newsletter, and you now have a new lead!
The best part about blogging is that they provide benefits long after publishing. And the more you write, the more benefits you’ll receive; so get writing!
2. Generate Leads
Once you have attracted that new visitor via your blog post, you’ve got an opportunity to delight, engage with, and provide a call-to-action for your email list.
Here’s an example:
It’s always good practice to prompt a call-to-action to sign-up for your email list so that your readers receive updates when new blogs go live. Capturing their email also marks the transition of that person from an impression into a lead, and you can utilize this to point them towards other content you put out, as well as any other marketing of your products you’d like.
If you’d like to learn more about Email Marketing, you’ll love this blog written by Full Speed Advertising’s founder, Ahmed Elbortoukaly, on how to craft high-performing emails designed to convert.
—> Pro tip: Be sure to not overwhelm your audience with too many emails, or they may choose to unsubscribe and be turned off from your brand.
3. Establish Authority & Build Trust
Blogging is a great way to earn the trust of your audience.
If you are consistently putting out informative, well-written content, you are demonstrating that you’re an expert in your field. If your audience feels like they can trust your knowledge and advice, they will certainly feel more confident in purchasing your product.
Blogging also allows you to humanize your brand, which is extremely powerful. Have you ever felt a certain bond with a person after reading their book, memoir, or article?
People seek human connection, and writing allows a level of intimacy that builds loyalty and trust.
4. Nurture & Convert Customers
Blogging is primarily used to attract and delight visitors, but it can also be used to nurture and convert customers. As impressions turn to leads, and visitors to a community, you are presented with an opportunity to market your products on your blog.
People generally don’t like being sold to, so it’s important to be selective about your product placement. Too much selling might come across as pushy, so keep it to a minimum.
The beautiful part about blogging is that by building your community’s trust, you are naturally nurturing them towards a purchase decision. It might not be immediate, but your product will be first in mind when they’re ready to buy.
5. Is Extremely Cost-Effective
Last but not least, blogging is exceptionally cost-effective.
All you need is a computer, wi-fi, and a willingness to learn. There are countless tutorials on YouTube and Google on best writing practices, as well as pre-made templates with aesthetically pleasing formats and easy-to-follow instructions.
—> Click here for my favorite (free) templates from Hubspot.
If writing isn’t your thing, no worries, you could always hire an agency to write for you. Full Speed Advertising writes blogs for clients for a flat rate, click here to get a free quote from our blogging experts.
Final Takeaway
- Blogging attracts new customers, helps build a loyal community, and humanizes your brand.
- Blogging is cost-effective and helps small businesses stand out in competitive markets
Comments are closed.