Did you know that businesses with blogs actually receive 55% more traffic than those without? Blogs can be overlooked, but they’re actually a really great way of reaching people. As a small business owner, brand awareness, traffic and spreading the word is a priority, so why not get started on a free way to attract new customers? Here’s our top tips on how to start a small business blog!
Why Should You Start A Small Business Blog?
Blogs are an often underrated source of traffic, and above all, a free type of content marketing for small businesses. They’re also a great way to reach potential new customers whilst also providing value for existing ones. Blog content can be repurposed into various other mediums, maximizing the return of firing out some articles.
Writing articles related to your small business will help you establish authority in your industry. Customers can also ask questions, articles can spark up conversations or debates and above all, a blog will drive traffic to products, services, websites, social media and more. Blogs also help improve your website’s ranking in search results, helping you get towards the top of page one. Appearing higher in searches also equals more clicks, so it’s a win-win all round!
Top Tips For Starting A Small Business Blog
1. Keep It Consistent
Consistency is truly one of the best things you can do for your small business blog. The more you blog, the easier it will become, and you’ll get into a rhythm, get a format going and enjoy the process more! A posting schedule can help with consistency, and planning ahead always helps. Your full-time job is, of course, running your business rather than writing about it. But if you can set aside time to get a couple of articles out a week, your business will truly see a lot of benefits.
2. Keyword Research & Optimization
Keyword research is an important tool in targeting what people are searching for. The process involves looking up popular keywords that people are typing into search engines. This can help you come up with article ideas for your small business blog, as well as knowing what keyword or phrase to feature in your title and throughout. This will help you to rank higher, help more people find your small business and blog, and provide value for those who read your articles!
Optimization also involves things such as article length, descriptions, image captions and more. Length-wise, blog posts that are around 2,000 articles are the optimum length. However, managing to get this amount down multiple times a week may be a little unreachable. Remember, quality over quantity – just get going and optimize where you can until you can maybe devote more time or share the responsibility with another team member. Keep your title to 6-13 words long, and make it eye-catching and intriguing!
If you want to learn more about optimization, keyword research and SEO, check out our articles on YouTube SEO and Affiliate Marketing For Small Businesses.
3. Add Visuals
Adding images, videos, infographics, charts and so on are a great way to keep readers interested, and get them to engage with the page. Short attention spans are one of the greatest hurdles for marketers, and visuals help with memory and absorption of information. Use your images to support or highlight key points within your article, also extending the amount of time users will spend on the page.
4. Engage With Readers
Answering readers’ questions is a great way to engage with your audience, creating a stronger connection between brand and reader/consumer. You can also use these questions to your advantage, by turning them into other blog posts! Jot down any ideas that come from the comments and get prepping your next article.
In your articles, encourage questions and discussion, pose some questions to readers and more. You never know who could be out there commenting and who you can reach, and as always, engagement is great for boosting any new venture.
5. Reach Out To Guest Contributors
If time is an issue, there’s always the option of guest contributors. This can help keep your blog fresh, show a different perspective and alleviate some of the time restraints whilst keeping post consistency up. You could reach out to an industry leader, similar small business or blog – and of course, encourage them to share the article with their audience, too. Perhaps an interview would work better, for a business leader, for example. Once you’ve introduced yourself and your business, why not ask to fire over some questions for them to answer?
6. Feature A Range Of Topics
Your blog should be focused, branded well and relevant to your industry and audience. However, that doesn’t mean each article should be repetitive or boring, as your audience will quickly switch off and stop tuning in.
Some ideas for blog posts can include:
- Industry news or announcements
- Customer stories or testimonials
- Product launches
- Introducing your brand, how you started and so on
- Meet the team
- Company news or announcements
- Educational, informational ‘how-to’s or pieces from experience, e.g. ‘how I started my own business’
- A monthly or weekly roundup of your top articles with summaries
Get creative, and remember to check in on keywords to see if topics are generating traffic (although niche topics are also great to sprinkle in, as there is less competition for keywords!)
Final Thoughts & How Audiosocket Can Help
This article is all about how different forms of marketing can help your small business thrive and reach as many potential customers as possible. If you’re planning on creating content for your business such as branded content, website or social media content, YouTube videos, podcasts and so on, it’s time to start planning aspects like music. That’s where we can help!
If you are looking for authentic, top-quality music for your project, why not check out Audiosocket? Your content deserves the best, so sign up today and access 80,000+ songs, Sound Effects, and more to bring your vision to life!
For further helpful small business tips, check out our articles on video marketing ideas for videos, alternative social media platforms for small businesses, and creating a content strategy and plan.
