Big Steps: Blog Posting
Blogging is a powerful marketing tool that can help small businesses with a multitude of different things. We’ve written this blog to explain why it’s important, and how you can set one up…
So, why is blogging a good idea for small businesses?
Increases website traffic and boosts SEO
Blogging can help to increase your website traffic by providing fresh and regular content. When you create high-quality blog posts which target specific keywords, you will attract more organic traffic to your website, which in turn could generate more leads, sales and revenue. We’ve banged on about SEO before, but having a blog on your website plays an important role in optimising your results in search engines!
Builds brand awareness
Having a blog on your website enables you to build brand awareness. By blogging, you’re providing valuable information about your industry, products and your services. When you create blog posts that are engaging and informative, you’ll establish your business as a ‘go-to’ in your industry – people will recognise your brand and in turn, trust will be built, alongside credibility and visibility.
Engages your target audience
Blogging is a fantastic method of engaging with your target audience and providing them with informative and entertaining content. Creating posts that target your audience’s ‘pain points’ by providing solutions to their problems establishes a connection with them, leading to more engagement, brand loyalty and advocacy.
So that’s all well and good, but how do you actually start a blog?
Most website-building platforms offer the option to add a blog to your site as standard (for example, WordPress). But here’s a mini guide if you want to know the nitty gritty…
- Choose a blogging platform
The first step to setting up a blog is choosing a blogging platform. There’s so many options available, including WordPress, Blogger, Wix and Squarespace. WordPress is the most popular blogging platform due to its ease of use and customisation options (it’s also SEO-friendly). WordPress has a large variety of plugins and themes to help you make the most of your blog’s functionality.
- Choose a domain name and hosting provider
Once you’ve chosen your blogging platform, you’ll need to find a domain and hosting provider. Your domain name is your blog’s web address, and it should be simple to remember as well as appropriate for your business. Your hosting provider is the company that stores your blog files and delivers them to your readers – some popular hosting providers include 34SP (use the code ALEX101 for 3 months of FREE hosting), Bluehost and HostGator.
- Install and customise your blog
After choosing all of the above, you’ll need to install your blog. This involves selecting a theme, customising the layout and adding features such as a search bar, categories and a social sharing button. It’s important to consider choosing a theme that is mobile-friendly, as more than half of all internet traffic comes from mobile devices.
- Create high-quality content
Once your blog’s set up, you need to start creating some content. This is the most important step in blogging, as it’s the main substance of a blog and will be utilised to attract your audience. You should aim for informative, valuable and relevant content that appeals to your target audience. Your posts need to be well-written and visually appealing!
The Quickest Way to Write a Blog
If you’re not sure about what structure to follow when writing a blog, then take a look at this:
Step 1 – Write your headings. What are you going to be talking about in your blog post?
Step 2 – Add sub-headings. Which points are you going to cover under each heading?
Step 3 – Add additional bullets with more detail. Start to refine your content for each of the sub-headings.
After you’ve collected the above, you can begin to write your blog post!
So there you have our quick guide to setting up a blog. If you want some expert help and advice, you can get in touch with us simply by clicking here.
