If you read our recent post, Why Blogging For Business is #1, you surely have your mind set on starting a blog in the near future, if you haven’t done so already. The original and greatest form of content marketing, blogging increases traffic to your website and social media platforms. It helps to establish your company as a brand authority and trusted resource. A blog also offers an opportunity to provide richer, more robust social content that helps to build engagement and a lasting relationship with your target audience. But all this is easier said than done, and there is a lot more that goes into blogging for business than first meets the eye. So you think you can blog? Don’t answer until you discover what elements must come together to make a blog successful.
Relevant Keyword Research
In our opening paragraph, we mentioned that blogging increases traffic to your website and social media platforms. It achieves this by providing value with quality content that gives people a reason to come back each week for more. But how do you get you noticed online to build a following? Three words: Search Engine Optimization (SEO). SEO helps to organically improve your rankings in search results, and keywords are necessary to help people find you! Start by compiling a rough list of blog topics that are relevant to your business, and then do a bit of research to find related terms that fit your content strategy. There are tools available online, such as the Google Ads Keyword Planner, that allow you to search terms and see how they are performing.
The Perfect Title
As recently discussed in our blog, the most important step in crafting an engaging email is coming up with a catchy subject line that grabs the attention of your target audience, and the same holds true when crafting a title for a blog article. Simply put, your title can mean the difference between a blog that is read (and shared) or a blog that is ignored, so you need to make sure that the title you present to the public sparks curiosity and concisely sums up your topic. Ideally, blog titles should be 60 characters, or between eight to twelve words at most, so choose wisely and keep it short when refining your list of blog topics, and don’t forget those keywords!
Quality Content and Word Count
Online readers have short attention spans. Most social media marketing pros will suggest sticking to 1000 words max, but no less than 300 words to get your message across. At Aliya Hammond Consulting, we consider 500 words the sweet spot for a blog article, but regardless of the length, none of it matters if the content isn’t well-written. Skills and talent are necessary in any field, and the fact is, writing does not come naturally to everyone. In addition to a massive amount of creativity and a keen attention to details like grammar, syntax and spelling, blogging for business also requires in-depth knowledge of marking methods and best practices, as well as developing a voice that connects with your target audience.
Hyperlinks
Another aspect of blog writing is research. Including hyperlinks in your blog helps to verify information and to cite credible sources, and it also provides additional information that might be of value to your customers. Hyperlinks can be internal, such as connecting to the events or contact page on your own website, or external, such as linking to statics or study results used within your text. In regards to SEO purposes, hyperlinks can help to establish relationships with other industry leaders and businesses that may reciprocate by linking back to your content and website in turn.
Featured Image
Last but not least, you need to play the part of photo editor by choosing just the right image to feature with your blog. Keep your brand image in mind by ensuring visual elements have a consistent look across the board on your blog page, and make sure featured images are high-quality. Low resolutions, blurry elements, unbalanced compositions, and poor lighting can make your blog seem unappealing and unprofessional. Most importantly, you should never pull an image off an internet search or other unauthorized source! Instead, subscribe to a stock photo site to purchase appropriate, eye-catching, professional images that are licensed for use in blogging and marketing materials.
Now that you know more about the various elements that go into creating a quality blog, what do you think? For help with blogging for business and for all your social media marketing needs, contact the team of experts at Aliya Hammond Consulting today!
You’ve probably realized by now that Social Media is no longer an option. In fact, it is a vital and highly successful tool for building a business. Aliya Hammond Consulting is an online Digital Marketing, Training, and Consulting Company headquartered in the greater Philadelphia area. We specialize in Social Media Management and Marketing, Social Media Training, Blog Writing, and Graphic Design Services for small and large businesses, entrepreneurs, and non-profit organizations. If you are looking to improve or increase your online presence, you can rest assured you are in good hands with us. Contact Aliya Hammond Consulting today to find out how we can help your business grow!
