People once thought of blogging as just another trend for creative individuals to dabble in and to keep up with personal online journals. Let’s fast-forward to the 2010’s. We have seen blogging evolve into something entirely different from its humble beginnings. We also know that blogging has been more than simply another trendy “thing” for quite some time.

In all reality, blogging is serious business these days. Your company’s blog serves as a major marketing tool, but it can also be much more than that; a blog can also educate your readers, provide a platform for you to share your company’s experiences (both good and negative), and more!

Are you thinking about having a blog on your website? Here are four benefits and reasons why companies should establish and maintain a blog.

Why blogging is beneficial to businesses

#1. Blogging as a business is an excellent way to boost your company’s online presence and to help it grow.

Blogging is one of the most effective ways for businesses of all sizes to attract organic internet traffic to their websites. Regularly updated sites with new content receives higher rankings from search engines like Google. So, by consistently publishing content that adds value to your website, you will begin to see a rise in traffic that also includes new prospects and leads. Most importantly, publishing fresh content for your site on a regular basis helps potential customers find you, remember you, and keep you in mind when they are ready to purchase your company’s products or services.

#2. Sharing your area of knowledge through a blog allows you to establish trust with your audience.

Writing useful blog posts for your target audience goes a long way toward helping you establish yourself as an industry expert or thought leader and thereby gaining their trust. Having others see you as a trustworthy and dependable source of information is an important first step toward building your current customers’ loyalty along with attracting new customers.

#3. A blog provides a platform for you to reinforce your company’s brand.

Every business has something that makes them unique, and blogging provides a terrific way to introduce yourself and to showcase your company’s personality. Your blog provides you with a unique opportunity to shine and to set yourself apart from your competition. One goal of blogging is to cultivate a personal relationship with your audience. Once they develop a sense of connection with you, their loyalty will often follow.

#4. Another important benefit of blogging for businesses is the development of new relationships.

Connections are frequently created not just with your consumers, but also with other business owners. Think of your blog as a networking tool, as you are contributing to your industry’s community. As such, participating in your industry’s community will help you build trust with clients AND create key connections for future business prospects.

What platforms are available to help promote my blog?

Now that you have a business blog and you are publishing great content, you are probably wondering how to spread your message far and wide. This is a vital factor to consider, particularly if you wish to realize the benefits outlined above.

You may find it a bit intimidating to learn that each month, users produce about 70 million new blog posts and over 409 million people view more than 20 billion pages worldwide. (Source: https://wordpress.com/activity/)

Housing a blog on your business’s website is the best place to start. However, you should also consider posting your blog content on websites beyond your own if you are to get any genuine traction. For example, sharing your content on industry or niche sites helps amplify your posts, allowing them to reach a wider audience. Interested readers will then find their way back to your own website.

Are you ready to boost your content and increase your website traffic and conversions? This list from Search Engine Journal (https://www.searchenginejournal.com/content-marketing/places-to-share/#close) offers a fantastic variety of free sites to choose from!

  1. Medium
  2. LinkedIn Publishing
  3. E-Newsletters
  4. BizSugar
  5. Twitter (Personal and Business accounts)
  6. Facebook (Personal and Business pages)
  7. Pinterest
  8. Flipboard

Over to you

Business blogs are essential tools for any company wanting to boost its online presence. A blog can boost your SEO, highlight your expertise, enhance your brand identity, cultivate customer relationships, and provide a venue on your website to publish shareable material.

As you can see, there are numerous advantages to business blogging. If you have not already begun blogging, now is a perfect time to do so! We have a dedicated staff of writers and editors at MYOB with many years of expertise producing content for a wide range of industries. Contact us today to learn more.

Written by: Jennifer Hanford, MYOB Blogger