Why Blogs Are (Still) Important for Your Business
After the socially devastating experience of the Facebook, Instagram and Whatsapp blackout a couple of months ago it made individuals and businesses panic over the fear of losing their data, followers and influence.
Not only would online accounts lose their content but also a majority of their customer base, as many individuals shop off social media, like Instagram shop or Facebook Marketplace.
Getting our voices heard became tricky that evening, which took the older generation back to the 1960s/70s - but in this day and age, what are businesses to do if this happens again?
Well, that’s where blogs and SEO come into the mix. When people want advice, answers or facts they turn to Google, people are not generally on social media seeking these things.
Social media is still crucial, being a great way to create brand awareness, credibility and build a targeted audience but in reality, it's called "interruptive marketing" or "demand generation" marketing. Users are scrolling through their feeds to be social, duh! They are not actively looking to be sold to.
Whereas marketing via blogs on Google is what we in the industry call "direct marketing” or "meeting demand" marketing. Meaning we target people directly, who are actively seeking answers and want advice on how to solve their issues. This is called "meeting demand" because we are directing them to offers that help them.
Why should I use blogs on my website as well as social media?
Businesses can target Google users at the best possible time. These users are placed right in front of our marketing messages at the right moment, just when they are actively searching for certain information, which your business can provide.
Putting a blogging digital marketing plan in place is something to be considered if you want to reach, connect and impact an audience for maximum marketing potential. Also, it’s important to remember that no social media is 100% ours - as we could see during the last blackout, so your website and your blog are your safe spot, where you can truly be yourself (and share on social media, because your communication must work 360 degrees).
Websites that are using blogs are on the increase, and Google knows this better than anyone. Make sure that your website is fully updated and optimized so the platform can rank your blog post high on their search results.
Should I use SEO in my blog?
Yes! SEO is a vital element of creating successful blogs with large marketing potential. You can track population engine searches to find out precisely what people want to find. For example, you can see via the site Google Trends that one of the top searched terms relating to digital marketing is digital marketing agency - so you would organically use this term if you wanted to target an audience looking for these topics.
But don’t go overboard! The aim is to have a beautifully optimized website which means you need to find natural ways to incorporate these keywords. You can’t force them otherwise the content is considered illegible.
What are some useful blogging tips?
Include backlinks to credible sites that are relevant to your content. This will help search engines create an accurate sitemap. And helps the audience on your site understand your business as trustworthy and credible itself.
Be consistent. If you’re planning on doing a blog, stick to it. Make sure you have an editorial calendar considering relevant dates and events, your business objectives and, of course, your audience needs.
Speaking of your audience: make sure you educate them. Your blogs are the chance you have to offer information, knowledge and entertainment to your audience, whilst also telling your story and explaining your product and/or service so your potential customers understand why they need it. If Social Media is your window, your blog is the inside of your shop! However, don’t be overly promotional. Think like a publisher.
Engage your audience using integrations and calls to action. Ask questions, spark conversations and don’t forget to add links to your email or social media - eventually moving the discussions over to other channels too.
If you are still unsure about blogs - if they are right for your business or you don’t know how to get started then our team is trained and are here to help with any queries you have. If you would like to contact us for more information then drop us an email.
