Welcome to my first blog post for Blackwood Creative! I’m so excited you’re here. Straight up, I want to talk about blogs. And really, where better to highlight their importance to building your online presence than in my own very first post? Seriously, that’s how important they are.
Well written, relevant, SEO friendly blogs are fantastic. They add fresh searchable content. They’re shareable. Your clients can engage with them across a variety of platforms. What’s not to love?
For some people, the first answer that might pop up is, ‘Well – writing them.’
Ah yes, for some of you, just thinking about writing an article is enough to bring about the old ‘how do I do this, what do I write about, why is this happening to me?’ blog anxiety spiral. That’s ok! I’ve got you. Here are some simple answers to a couple of your most common burning questions about blogging.
What do I write about?
There’s no hard and fast rule regarding what you absolutely have to blog about. A good place to start is usually to ask yourself these questions:
- What do I know a lot about, or do really well?
- Are there some common questions or comments that I get about my business?
- Does my target market really connect with something about my business in particular?
- What are you really passionate about?
The absolute best blogs combine aspects of each of these things. It’s great – you’re speaking as a subject matter expert; on a topic you care about; to people who connect with your product or service offering; about something that they’re interested in. That is like, the perfect storm in blog world. But if you can’t think of a topic that brings it all together – don’t sweat it! That’s what I’m for (see what I did there).
What should I include in my blogs (once I choose a topic)?
There are a couple of things you should think about when you’re writing a blog. Firstly, what’s the reason you’re writing this blog? Here’s a hint: the answer is not ‘because you told me I should’. No, come on you guys! You want to connect with your audience. You have something valuable to offer that they can’t find anywhere else. So the first thing to include in your blog is a genuine sense of interest and enthusiasm in the topic. Repeat after me – I want to write this blog.
Secondly, you need to think about SEO, and that means keywords. Gah! I know, but it’s not as difficult as all that. SEO can seem complex, but honestly if you’re writing about something you care about in a sensible way (and thinking a little bit about which words you use) it almost happens by itself. Make sure to scatter a relevant keyword throughout the content, including some of the headings. Not too much though – imagine Salt Bae, but with keywords. Gently. With the love.
Thirdly (and for today, finally) – please, please include links to your website, other content, and calls to action of some description. Think about what you want to get out of your blogs – is it for readers to contact you? A good way to make that happen is to ask. For example: if you want to know more about the ways that I can help you with blog posts for your business, please fill out my contact form and I’ll be in touch. Want them to purchase the product or service you’re talking about? Link to the page that showcases the topic, and ask readers to click through to find out more.
You see?
How do I know if my blogs are any good?
Great question! There are plenty of factors you can consider in determining whether your blogs are having the desired impact. Some are pretty basic – if you’re sharing them on social media, are people engaging with them (liking, sharing, commenting)? Do you allow comments on your blog posts, and is the direct feedback you’re getting positive? Answer yes to these questions and you’re off to a good start.
There are some more technical things to consider as well. I have my fingers crossed that you have some kind of analytics software active on your website. Keep track of how many views your blogs are getting. Note which topics generate the most traffic. Are there particular keywords that seem to translate to a surge in sales or enquiries? These can all be invaluable snippets of information that not only help to inform what you blog about in future, but also the way customers are finding and interacting with your brand.
That’s all, folks!
I hope you’ve gained something from reading this. Again, these are just a couple of simple tips for writing blogs that are engaging and play to your strengths. There is absolutely a whole lot more that we could discuss on how to fill your pages with optimised, exciting content that will appeal to consumers and search engines alike! If you want to chat, you know what to do – get in touch today!
Signing out for now – oh, and May the Fourth be with you!
#noregrets #jediforlife
