It's no secret that having a solid blog on your company's website can drastically increase the traffic you get. In fact, businesses that don't incorporate blogs into their online strategies forego a powerful avenue that their audience can use to find them.
But, this isn't to say that any blog post will do. There's a lot more to business blogging than simply throwing a few keywords and links into an article and publishing it on your site. Not sure where to start?
Let's check out five blogging mistakes to avoid when writing for your business.
Having a unique, captivating topic in mind before writing your article is crucial to making sure that your blog posts offer something relevant and informative to your audience.
People will find your site because they're searching keywords that match with the ones you integrate into your written content. However, the content that they read on your website needs to be high-quality in order for your relationship with them to develop. If they don't enjoy what they're reading, they'll have no reason to explore the other areas of your site.
Additionally, low-quality content may even deter your audience from interacting with your brand in the future. First impressions are vital, so you want to ensure that everything you write about is something worth reading.
However, this doesn't mean you should only write when you have inspiration. It's important to blog the appropriate amount in order to get a noteworthy amount of traffic to your site.
As previously mentioned, the content that you create and publish needs to not only foster engagement but also be relevant to your audience. Understanding who you’re targeting is one of the most integral aspects of marketing.
You need to keep as much information in mind about your target demographic when you start writing. For example, knowing that you're targeting women between 30 and 50 isn't enough. You'll need to also understand their hobbies, interests, marital status, and any other specific characteristics that can help you tailor your content toward them.
Poor grammar is a surefire way to ensure that nobody ever makes a second visit to your site on purpose. When you blog, one of your goals is to establish yourself as an authority in your industry that you readers can come to for information.
But, you'll never be seen as a trustworthy source if your writing is rife with misspellings and improper punctuation. Most of us feel mentally drained after writing an article, but taking the extra time to proofread can exponentially increase the amount of engagement you receive.
The headline of your blog post is just as important as the content itself. You could have the most compelling content on the Internet, but it won't mean anything if people who see your headline on search engines feel obligated to click on it.
Luckily, there are steps you can take in order to give your demographic the extra nudge they may need. Using power words in your headlines will make them far more attention-grabbing and help drive traffic to your site. Words like "ultimate," "weird," and "dangerous" are great choices to throw into your headlines to help them pack a better punch.
Looking for a complete list of power words? You can it find it here.
Unless you already have a well-established website that consistently performs well on search engines, it may be difficult for you to draw visitors to your content. Sharing your blog posts across multiple social media platforms is a great way to ensure that your audience knows when you have new content posted on your site.
If you happen to write something that really stands out, your followers may even share your content with others, drastically increasing the amount of exposure you receive.
Blogging is an art, and like any other, it takes constant refinement. However, these five tips will ensure that you have a better shot at standing out from the crowd online.
As long as you take each publication seriously, you'll be on your way to growing your numbers in the coming months.