How to decide if you need a blog
Why should you have a blog on your website? Do you see it as an essential page, with as much weight as your testimonials or galleries? Or is a blog just a cosmetic addition that you need to have because everyone else has one?
It won’t surprise you to know that I think a blog is an essential facet of most websites, and for several good reasons.
• To help sales Let’s put the obvious point right at the top. By telling stories that are related to your product, you will be able to sell more products. Simple maths.
• To tell stories Your profile page can only hold so much information. Using a blog to weave in backstory about yourself and/or your clients can show customers your personal side, and help them get to know you.
• To make announcements You probably send out email or newsletter alerts about upcoming events. Converting those into blog posts that include teasers of what’s to come will help garner interest.
• To talk We all know there’s a place for chatter within business. It’s what we do when we come into the room, break for coffee, etc. If it makes you feel better, then keep the topic relevant. But this is your site, so you can pretty much talk about what you like.
• To categorise Blogs can cover all kinds of topics that are related to your work, acting as another version of a gallery page. Choose a template that displays the posts in groupings if possible.
• To drive SEO Answering Q&As in blog format will help search engines find you. A post with the title ‘How to sand down wooden worktops’ is ideal for someone who is asking exactly that. Now all you have to do is answer the question. Doing this in blog format is a brilliant way of building public trust in your work.
I could go on, but this will do for now. Plenty goes into the planning, writing and posting of a good blog, but once you’ve got the hang of it, stockpiled a few posts and searched for some good library photos, you’re up and running. And who knows, you might even start to enjoy it!
To talk more about blogging, or for help with any other word-related topics, please do get in touch.