Social media marketing and website optimization are dependent
upon adding content on an ongoing basis. Business blogging is a part of social media marketing where you can add dynamic keyword-rich content to a website. Assuming that the blog is part of the website, the blog can be a forum to express ideas, philosophies and share information.
Understanding the power of a blog includes making the commitment to use the blog in a way that it adds value to the website. Simply having a blog that is dormant does not add interest or value.
Many businesses make the mistake of having a blog, but then underutilize it. Here are three key blogging best practices that can help power your blog and help to optimize it’s value to your Internet marketing program and your website:
1. Blog often.
If you have a blog and you aren’t adding to it, it’s not really a blog. Blogs are meant to be living, breathing and dynamic content for your website. If you haven’t yet made the commitment, you really should blog at least once a week. Obviously if you can blog more, then you have more opportunities to connect with a potential customer.
2. Use keywords.
If you write for your blog without considering keywords in your content, you are missing a huge opportunity. Determing which keywords are effective and then weaving them into your articles can help your blog be discovered in Google searches. Using the Google keyword tool is a free way to evaluate keywords. Another trick is to use Google Analytics to evaluate how people are finding your website in order to focus on those topics.
3. Don’t sell.
Blogs add the most value to the website, when they complement the site, but are not sales oriented. Don’t make the mistake of using your blog just to pitch your products. Share information, thoughts, lists, ideas on topics that could potentially be of interest to your customers. By sharing information, you position yourself as an expert and a go-to source.
If you follow these best practices for blogging, be sure to stick to them. Like starting an exercise program or a diet, it’s only as effective as your commitment.
Jody, enjoyed your post. I’ve seen many are pitching products on their blog and not having much success. Those who’re successful are those provide quality content, sell once they have built up relationship with their audience. Nice share! Just tweeted for you 😉
Educational and helpful content is always the way to go. Readers will find so much more value in a post that helps them with a problem then one that tries to sell them on a product or service.
Super information! This really helps a lot. I wasn’t sure what the purpose of blogging was, and this article really clarifies how it can be a huge part of an online marketing campaign.