Blog.

Close to a quarter of internet usage is spent reading blogs, believe it or not!  

People don’t just access your blog on your website. They read it via a social media share, or from clicking a link that leads to your site. When people read your blog, they form an opinion of your company. They understand your brand ethos, your values and your message to the world. They learn more about your products and services, and get tempted to buy!

As you can see – blogging has enormous value, and if you’re not currently doing it, you’re missing out on a valuable business opportunity. Here’s how to get started.

Get Blogging – A Quick Guide

1. Get set up. Hopefully, your site should already have a blog page. If not, now is the time to call your web designer and get it sorted out, pronto! Your blog page should include some basic features; such as comment boxes, tags and room for appealing images. You should also make your content as easy to share as possible (add social media buttons!).

2. Know your audience. As you know, taste differs wildly from person to person. A teen girl may find a post on One Direction completely fascinating, but we’ll wager a 50-year old man would find it rather tedious! However, it’s not enough to understand what your audience is into. You need to know what language they respond to. What layout works best for them? What sort of ‘voice’ should you adopt?

3. Brand representation. Your blog is a continuation of your brand, and must blend seamlessly with your existing brand image. For example, if you’ve got a funky, urban vibe, the last thing you need is a dry, corporate-sounding blog post! Take some time to establish the natural ‘voice’ of your company, and practice writing if necessary, until you get it right.

4. Identify the right topics. Before making a start, do some research. What are your target audience reading right now? What articles are going viral online? Do your audience like articles that make them laugh? Are they looking for advice relating to your industry? What information can you give them that’s actually genuinely useful? Create a list – this will help you enormously in the future.

5. Plan a marketing strategy. It’s not enough to simply have a blog on your site (though it certainly helps). You also need to market it. Social media helps to promote your post – but only if you’ve developed a following! Email newsletters are effective at announcing a recent blog post – but again, only if you have a good subscriber list. Remember, your blog can also complement other forms of marketing; including print advertising, video marketing and eBooks.

6. Practice writing. If you’re naturally a good writer, you should find blogging relatively easy. However, be warned. Some basic rules apply – and it’s a good idea to respect them. Readers expect to be able to access content easily (this means sub-titles, lists and small paragraphs) and don’t like waffle. You may also want to include a call-to-action at the end. If you’re not feeling confident about it, hire a professional to help you.

Getting Your Website Ready for Blogging

Your blog is an important part of your website – and if you’re not currently using one, you’re missing out. If you’d like to get your blog in shape, and start using it to generate interest in your brand, get in contact with Shark Bait Studios today. We’ll look over your site and offer suggestions as to how you can improve your existing blog, plus we can even help with marketing strategy. To find out more, simply call us on 01748 900321.