{"id":2543,"date":"2017-08-16T15:23:31","date_gmt":"2017-08-16T19:23:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/solutio-inc.com\/?p=2543"},"modified":"2019-11-12T13:54:47","modified_gmt":"2019-11-12T18:54:47","slug":"5-reasons-small-business-blogging","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/solutio-inc.com\/5-reasons-small-business-blogging\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Reasons Why Your Small Business Should Be Blogging"},"content":{"rendered":"

Every Small Business Should Be Blogging<\/strong><\/h1>\n

Blog, blog, blog! Everywhere you look, everyone seems to be blogging! Does the world need yet one more blog? If your business doesn\u2019t already have a blog, then the answer is yes! Because there are plenty of reasons why your small business should be blogging!<\/p>\n

However, before we get to the reasons, let\u2019s first clear up what blogging is and what it isn\u2019t. The word blog<\/em> is short for web log<\/em>. And yes, personal blogs are often little more than a public online diary, but a business blog is much more than that!<\/p>\n

Blogs are short, informative, timely articles that relate to your business\u2019s products or services. If you write helpful blog entries, your website will be better optimized for search, drawing more visitors, and possibly turn more of those visitors into customers. You really need to be blogging!<\/p>\n

Let us count the \u201cwhys\u201d<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Why do we love blogs? Let\u2019s count the \u201cwhys\u201d by keeping it to the top five reasons why your small business should be blogging. Then you can get back to work. Besides, if we haven\u2019t convinced you with five strong reasons, another dozen won\u2019t matter.<\/p>\n

Reason #1: SEO, SEO, SEO!<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Search Engine Optimization. You understand that search engines rank websites. Those rankings aren\u2019t static! Your beautiful new website can lose ground. Blogging increases your chances of gaining a higher ranking every time you upload a new blog.<\/p>\n

How does that work? Search engines use algorithms based on the keywords or phrases people use to search for information. The more keywords you link to your website, the better your ranking will be. And as we\u2019ve said before, if your ranking doesn\u2019t get you on the first page of results, your chances of being found diminish greatly \u2013 how often do you look past the first page in a search?.<\/p>\n

Of course, it also means you need to pay attention to proper spelling and grammar, because, yes, that\u2019s part of your grade! You didn\u2019t realize until now that that dreaded high school English teacher was doing you a favor when she graded you on both content as well as grammar and mechanics! Here\u2019s your pay-off!<\/p>\n

The upshot? Frequently refreshing your website by blogging is good for your SEO. And what\u2019s good for your SEO is good for your business!<\/p>\n

Reason #2: Increase Traffic<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Okay, in a car, increased traffic can be a pain, but we\u2019ve never heard of a small business owner who didn\u2019t want to increase traffic at their place of business. Foot traffic equals potential customers, and increased internet traffic to your website (your virtual storefront) also equals more potential customers.<\/p>\n

You open the doors of your business, but if you don\u2019t have a marketing plan to get customers\u2019 attention, it\u2019s likely that they aren\u2019t going to just wander through your doors. The beauty of the Internet is that it helps people find what they\u2019re looking for. Sometimes that\u2019s a product. Sometimes that\u2019s a service. And much of the time, it\u2019s simply information.<\/p>\n

Blogs provide the information people are looking for. When they find that information, they also find you! And blogging accomplishes this without annoying advertisements popping up on their screen. That\u2019s another reason they\u2019ll like you: free information!<\/p>\n

Reason #3: Position Your Brand<\/strong><\/h2>\n

What\u2019s your reputation? Do customers appreciate your knowledge about products? Are you the local authority? Is it your customer service that folks rave about? Are you known as a problem-solver? In the old days, businesses relied primarily on word-of-mouth to build a brand. You strive to position your brand as the best.<\/p>\n

Word-of-mouth is still important, but the new form of it takes place on social media. That\u2019s why your business has a Facebook page where your loyal customers are encouraged to like you. That\u2019s why businesses have Twitter accounts. That\u2019s why businesses upload video to YouTube. Blogging also contributes to your brand.<\/p>\n

Reason #4: Long-term Investment<\/strong><\/h2>\n

We\u2019ll admit that you might not get an immediate return on your investment, but blogging offers a sound ROI. Unlike an ad that informs customers about a two-day sale and then is obsolete, blogs provide information that customers need today and other customers will need next week or next month.<\/p>\n

If your most recent blog doesn\u2019t get much traffic today, don\u2019t worry. Day after day, it\u2019s there for customers to find. And they do find blog posts! The hits just keep coming, and eventually that adds up to an impressive amount of traffic.<\/p>\n

Reason #5: Build Relationships with Your Customers<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Customers have questions. You have answers. Answering your potential customers\u2019 questions can convert them into actual customers. Blogging provides you yet another opportunity to engage with potential customers.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s face it. You can have the best products or service, but if customers don\u2019t build a positive relationship with you, they won\u2019t stay a customer. Customers return to you because they like doing business with you. Blogging contributes to your ability to develop a rapport with customers.<\/p>\n

Reasons you don\u2019t blog<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Even business owners who are convinced that blogging is essential don\u2019t always follow through and do it. For every reason there is to blog, there\u2019s a reason business owners don\u2019t:<\/p>\n