If you own a business, then you know how hard it can be to expand your reach and attract new customers. Many businesses never figure out how to do this, which may be one of the reasons why 50 percent of all businesses fail within their first five years.
One of the best ways to attract new customers and create an interest in your products or services is by producing online content, specifically blog posts. These help to answer customer questions, while also helping your business stand out as an industry leader.
But how can you use a blog post to your advantage?
Keep reading for a guide that will teach how to write blog posts that generate traffic and attention.
Be Consistent
Content creators know that the best way to increase readers or views is by being consistent. The same holds true when writing blog posts.
When you churn out content on a regular basis, Google gives your website higher priority, as its algorithm values fresh content. This means that when someone searches for something related to your products or services, your website will pop up.
Do your best to upload a blog post at least once or twice a week. Plus, it will also give your customers plenty of helpful and informative post to read!
Make the Content Easy to Read
The average person reading your content isn’t an industry expert. Make a point to not use complicated terms or any type of language that might confuse them.
Every post should also contain a call to action at the end that encourages readers to check out another section of your website or buy your product or service. Language like “check this out” or “look here now” can be very effective.
You can also make it easier for them by using proper formatting. Instead of using long walls of text, try breaking things up with headers. Bulleted lists and numbers are also great ways to relay information in a clear to read way.
Have a Point
Your readers might not be industry experts, but that doesn’t mean that they’re incapable of noticing when something is missing. Many blog posts suffer from a lack of focus. Make sure all of your posts have a clear purpose.
Before you write any blog post, have a goal for how you want it to pan out. Consider what questions you want to help potential customers answer, and above all, how writing that blog post is going to benefit your company.
Add Photos
Nobody wants to look at an unbroken wall of text, no matter how interesting the font is. Studies have shown that readers respond better to articles with pictures, so remember to add them to each of your posts before uploading them.
Unless you’re using your own photos, you’ll also have to take copyright laws into consideration. Using photos without permission can land you in a world of trouble. Try to find sites that provide you with usable, copyright-free images.
Take Advantage of Social Media
If your business doesn’t have a presence on social media, it’s time to remedy that. Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn all offer a number of great features that you can take advantage of. They’re also a great place for you to share your blog posts.
You can also add options at the bottom of your articles for readers to share your blog posts on their own social media accounts. This encourages them to share it if they enjoyed reading it, providing them with an easy way to help attract additional readers.
Understand SEO
SEO, or search engine optimization, is the key to getting your blog posts the attention they deserve. The general idea behind it is that by using the right keywords, you’ll help your blog posts and websites in general rank higher on Google.
Higher rankings mean that more people will stumble across your website when searching the web. This can lead to them investigating other areas of your website, and maybe even signing up for your product or service.
Pick a keyword that you think people are searching, then use that in the header, the title, and at least two other times in the text. Doing this helps Google better understand what your website is about.
Use Links
Another branch of SEO involves using links to your advantage. This is another easy way to help drive traffic to your website.
If you mention other products or companies in your blog posts, make sure to include a link to their website. Aside from helping boost your rankings on Google, the other company might notice as well. Depending on who they are, they might link back to you.
Outside of the SEO benefits, using links also helps you appear more knowledgeable. By linking to quality websites and sources, you’ll help demonstrate to your readers that you know what you’re talking about.
Pay for Promotions
If you think that many of your customers are using a platform like Facebook, it might be worth it to invest a bit of money to advertise your blog posts.
Spending $10 on Facebook provides you with a simple yet effective way to share your content with other, potentially interested people. Spending more can yield even better results.
Write the Ultimate Blog Post and Watch Your Business Grow
Writing a blog post can seem like a chore at times, but remember that it’s for a good cause. By putting content out there for interested people to read, you help attract new customers, while also appearing knowledgable.
Do you now have a better idea of how to write a blog post that will attract readers? Before you get writing, take a moment to check out some of our other posts for more helpful guides and tips.