Do I need to blog?

In the world of fast paced social media, you could be forgiven for thinking that blogging is out-dated. Almost everyone, from your grandmother to your potential business partner, is on Tik Tok or LinkedIn – and anybody who is anybody is on various platforms daily (including Presidents and Prime Ministers). Social media is now so dominant that there are constant messages that blogging is dead.

Nevertheless, blogging still has its part to play, not least because the popularity of these social media platforms is also one of its disadvantages. They are extremely overcrowded and, while paid ads can make a difference, beating the algorithm and rising to the top of news feeds is a constant struggle. People  can be reluctant to interact with long form text on these platforms too and almost all algorithms have a propensity to favour images and videos.

So, if you want to share original content, particularly in long form, blogging is almost always your best option.

The power of a blog for your business

If you want your website to be found, blogs are also essential. They are seen by all the experts as the most effective way to improve how the search engines see your website and rank it in search results (SEO, in other words). Every blog can focus on another keyword, the regular updates show your site is well maintained and now, Google is stating that content which is answering customer questions, and which is original and thought provoking will be up-ranked.

For businesses, a blog serves as both a platform for original content and a series of continuous demonstrations of the value you bring. Potential customers are more likely to trust a business which engages with its audience directly through blogging. A blog can also keep established customers abreast of new information and developments in the service. Add to this the changes that came with GDPR, making email marketing more difficult, and a blog becomes a vital part of your communication toolkit. Not only does it increase your visibility in the marketplace, but also keeps existing customers engaged.

Personal brand building through blogging

For individuals, blogs are a great way to share your personal journey and build your personal brand. This beats social media because, for a start, your blog posts are more easily found using a search engine. That means someone under similar circumstances to you is more likely to discover your story online. Your blogs are hosted in one place that’s unique to you, which makes it much easier for followers to find and read similar posts. You can still share blog entries on social media to raise awareness, but blogs are still a better platform for sharing your stories.

A blog can increase interest in your cause

For charities and non-profits, blogging is an inexpensive way to increase interest in your cause and feature case-studies and success stories. Encouraging volunteers from the people you’ve helped to write guest blogs can also serve to drive up engagement. Their friends are more likely to read and share something if it’s written by someone they know. In addition, blog hosting is usually free, with potential for adding fully-fledged websites and custom email domains at reasonable rates.

Finally, if you’re writing about something with which you’re familiar, the whole process is easy! To write a good blog you don’t need to be a professional writer or a journalist. You just need to be enthusiastic about the topic and write from your heart.

That’s what I do!

If writing just isn’t your thing but you’d still like to have a blog, we’ve got you covered. Our team of talented blog writers can create and implement regular and impactful content for you that speaks directly to your target audience – get in touch to find out more about our regular blogging services.