In recent years it is becoming increasingly more essential for businesses to have a strong web presence. As part of that web presence, many businesses are turning to blogs with impressive results. So, why is blogging important for business? Hubspot’s 2012 Inbound Marketing Report confirmed the impact of blogging on business. According to the study’s results, 57% of companies with a blog reported gaining a customer from their blog. It also showed that 81% of businesses say that their business blog is useful for their business. Read on to learn about the many benefits of blogging and why every organization should consider it as part of their marketing plan.
Search Engine Optimization
One advantage of blogging for your business is an increase in search engine optimization. Search engines value fresh content and blogging is one of the easiest and least expensive ways to achieve that content. Blogging also gives businesses the opportunity to use relevant keywords that potential customers may be searching for online and increases the likelihood of ranking for those keywords.
Building Brand Authority
No matter the size of your business, blogging allows you to build your brand’s authority and establish your business as an expert. Providing potential customers with valuable information builds trust. Being the “go-to” source of expert information in your niche confirms your authority to potential customers and increases conversion rates.
Engage with Your Audience
Incorporating a blog into your business website gives you the chance to engage with established and potential customers. Not only are you building trust but you are also allowing readers to participate in a conversation with your brand. An active comments section allows your business to directly communicate with customers and potential customers, further creating trust and building a relationship.
Sharing Potential
One of the most overlooked reasons why blogging is important for business is the opportunity for sharing. With the wide variety of sharing platforms in existence, the potential for readers to share your content is invaluable. Sharing allows your readers to market your business for you. Whether they share your blog post on Facebook, tweet it, or email it, it creates free advertising for your business. Sharing could also potentially create viral marketing and rapid growth of brand awareness, something nearly impossible to get from other marketing methods.
Website Traffic
Finally, a blog is an easy way to funnel potential customers to your website. Creating relevant, informative content allows more potential customers to find and explore your website. Linking to landing pages or the main business web page in your blog posts can drive valuable targeted traffic, thereby also increasing potential conversions.
It is easy to see why blogging is important for business in this day and age. From a marketing perspective, blogging is an affordable and also high-impact way to build credibility, increase website traffic, rank for search engines, and engage with current and potential customers. If you are ready to take your business’s online presence to the next level and start a blog, read on to find out How to Choose the Right Blogging Platform.