10 Commandments of Successful Blogging for Businesses

10 Commandments Biz Blogging_SalesforceBlogging isn’t easy. In particular, for businesses using blogging as part of a content marketing strategy, it’s critical that blog content is interesting and makes people want to read, and perhaps share, the content. In addition, there are a myriad of variables that must be considered, such as length, relevance, which publishing platform(s) to use, and the best time to post.

But there are some other specific considerations that are essential for a successful business blogging campaign. These include:

  • Telling a story
  • Knowing your purpose
  • Targeting your known audience
  • Providing something of value
  • Tracking metrics to define success
  • Including visuals and images
  • Considering layout readability
  • Adding a Call to Action
  • Focusing on SEO
  • Setting a schedule

Matt Wesson of Salesforce expands upon each of these to provide businesses with useful guidance and some easy-to-apply tips for honing your blogging strategy for greater success. Read more…

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Want to Boost Your #ContentMarketing? Use LinkedIn’s New Publishing Platform

LinkedIn's Publishing Platform

Some of you may have noticed a new paper clip icon in the corner of the box where you type your LinkedIn status post. It’s LinkedIn’s new publishing platform, and it is just the tool you need to strengthen your content marketing. Not only is LinkedIn the premier business social network that offers you the chance for massive exposure (even to niche groups), but publishing on LinkedIn is a smart and easy way to further brand yourself or your company. Writing targeted content can even help job seekers get noticed, and help businesses with SEO. But there are some things that are important to keep in mind if you want to get the best content marketing results from your efforts. Read more…

Why You’re Losing Money by Ignoring Content Marketing

content marketing

The Internet has created new avenues for gaining business exposure and changed customer expectations, and businesses must adjust their approach to advertising in order to be successful today. How, you ask? By embracing content marketing, you can open up countless avenues for increasing your visibility, reputation, and credibility— and, most importantly, your bottom line.

We all know what advertising is, but why is it different from and less effective than “content marketing?”

Traditional advertising is often intrusive in its effort to get your business or product noticed, and that can have a diminishing effect on your returns. Even more, ads are expensive, and they only capture the audience’s attention for a brief period of time, if at all, with a generalized message unlikely to appeal to everyone.

On the other hand, content marketing offers potential customers valuable information that they want in exchange for their attention, drawing them in to give you more exposure at much less cost.

Using content marketing, businesses provide educational and/or entertaining content that is free, engaging, and valuable to customers, such as blog posts, whitepapers, infographics, guides, videos, and more. Not only does content marketing offer value that customers appreciate while subtly promoting your business, product, and brand, but it also serves as a useful PR tool by increasing your reputation as an authority in your field.

Content marketing, in short, gives businesses a way to engage customers who want to hear their message, rather than forcing it on customers through typical, costly advertising. Additionally, content marketing:

  • Provides customers with information or guidance that is valuable to them.
  • Targets different customer sects directly for more effective marketing.
  • Increases website traffic and improves SEO.
  • Educates customers to influence their purchasing decisions.
  • Furthers your company’s perception as an industry authority.
  • Encourages customers to share your information with others, such as through social media.
  • and more!

Click here for an in-depth introduction to content marketing, including examples of businesses using content marketing successfully and some tips for best practices, and contact WordWise Creations when you’re ready to begin developing a content marketing strategy sure to fuel the success of your business!

If You Blog, They Will Come

blogging works

Image credit: BookBoon.com

It’s hard to convince people of the value of blogging and social media. As an experienced writer and content marketer, I have found that too many potential clients claim to not see the benefits or suggest that it doesn’t work, among other erroneous beliefs about content marketing that keep businesses from achieving the most success.

But the proof is in the pudding, they say, and the facts and stats on blogging as a marketing strategy don’t support these claims. For example, HubSpot found that companies who blog have an average of 55% more site visitors, 97% more inbound links, and a whopping 434% more indexed pages. Brands that create just 15 blog posts each month see an average of 1,200 new leads per month, too– wow! But the evidence doesn’t stop there… here’s more stats on the great results seen with content marketing.

Blogging can be an incredibly successful marketing tool, if done consistently over time with effective messaging, tactical links, and other proven inbound marketing strategies. Contact me to discuss ideas for a blogging strategy to boost your business and increase your bottom line!

Have you seen blogging work for you? I’d love to hear how!

So Many Blog Ideas, So Little Time

blog ideas

Image credit: Shutterstock

Maintaining and developing content for a blog can be tough. It’s natural to run out of ideas, and sometimes we all need a little help – writer’s block can be very frustrating! Whether you are running it yourself or you hire an experienced blog writer to manage your blog marketing, developing new and unique topics is challenging. So, here’s some help:

1. When trying to come up with a topic for your next blog post, one strategy is to think about specific areas of your industry that you might discuss, evaluate, or even demonstrate with images or presentations. You might create a poll and blog the results, share and comment on recent news in your industry, or list some industry resources you’ve found valuable.

2. Your business and customers, too, are key– they are who the blog is for, after all– so don’t be afraid to do a little self-promotion in your blogs. Blogging is a marketing tool, right? So, other ideas are to discuss what sets you apart from the rest, answer some FAQs potential clients might have, or provide some customer testimonials to showcase your history of satisfied clients and proven results. Topics like these that exemplify your expertise can be extremely effective.

3. Finally, don’t be afraid to get a little personal in your blog posts. Not only will it add a touch of personality to aid your brand and image, but it’s a great way to share who you are – and people like to buy things from people they know. For example, you could talk about a book you’re reading, some challenges you’ve faced, or what you love about what you do. A content marketer with creative writing skills can help you make these their best.

Effective blogging as a marketing tool results requires consistent effort over time– just a blog here and there won’t work. It’s about quantity as much as quality, so don’t let a little thing like having no ideas stop you from posting today! In a guest blog for the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), small business expert Anita Campbell expands offers some of the examples above  as part of her list of 36 great blog ideas to help you when you’re stumped. Read more…

Do you have any other ideas that you’d like to share? I’d love to hear them! Please comment below.

 

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