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10 reasons your business blog needs you now - Part II 18 September 2013

In just four days, I’ve had no less three conversations with business-owners who feel like they’re neglecting their blogs …it’s a common theme. Earlier this week, I outlined just 5 out of 10 great reasons it pays to look after your blog as part of your copywriting strategy. Here are the next five:

1. Your social presence

Want to get noticed on social media? Of course you do. After all, it helps to get your business known. Your blog is a vital ingredient in your social media presence. This is because, done right and as part of a clear copywriting strategy, it can become a central resource in your social media content. Through your blog, you can offer content that answers the questions people are asking online – raising your profile as an expert and feeding back into your SEO and your overall copywriting plan.

2. Your marketing asset

It’s a familiar story – as a business-owner it’s hard to find the time for blogging, even when you know it’s great news for your business. Yes, regular blogging is a commitment. But done effectively and as part of a focused copywriting approach, it will build up a body of content to help drive leads to your business. Ways to take on that commitment include asking a copywriter to help you, building your blog into your overall marketing schedule and asking people in your business or professional network to guest blog for you. All of these approaches will enrich your blog in different ways. The essential trick for turning your blog into a powerful marketing asset is to build in a regular, measurable commitment so you can see it going forward long into the future. That’s what a strong copywriting plan is all about.

3. Your competitive edge

Blogging consistently can be a challenge, but it has many rewards. A big one is that an active, regularly updated blog puts you ahead of your competitors. Most people know they need to blog, but they can’t find the time, or they use their blog just to transmit news about their latest project, or they overlook their blog in their copywriting plan…etc etc. If you set out to blog long-term as part of an overall copywriting strategy and do it with your customers in mind, you’re probably putting yourself one step ahead of the majority of your competitors.

4. Your business insight

The experts recommend that for the best results, a business blog should be an integral part of a business website – not just an add-on on another site. Yet, even when this is the case, a great blog is distinct from your core web copy. This is because it can personalise your business at a deeper level than your main web content. Many businesses stick to the news update/new project model in their copywriting plan. But this is missing something. Take the opportunity to personalise your blog posts by giving an expert view on a new development in your industry, commenting on a long -standing issue or answering the burning question of the day. This will give your business a stronger voice and make it memorable. Apparently no less than 60% of consumers feel more positive about a company after reading customised content on its site. There’s no getting away from it. Your blog – updated and in touch with customer interests – is an essential part of your complete copywriting plan.

5. Your idea space

Your business blog is the perfect place to grow your ideas, develop the profile of a new product or simply to express your views. Why overlook it in your copywriting goals? It’s a powerful space to combine your professional expertise with your personal opinions (done carefully and strategically, of course).

Want more?

Is your business blog feeling somewhat overlooked? Let’s talk about ways to change that!