Why Blog for Business? 10 Reasons to Start Blogging Today

So this morning I was on a company’s website and I noticed that they don’t have a blog.

Although it’s quite common, I was surprised at the feeling I got. I got the same impression I used to get a decade ago about a company that didn’t have a website. I was slightly discomfortable about approaching them for business. I don’t fully trust them.

While I believe that having a modern web and social media strategy has nothing to do with how a company conducts business (I’m sure there a lot of awesome companies that don’t have a blog), I couldn’t help but find myself biased for their competitor who has a blog and good social media presence.

As an internet and social media enthusiast, I found myself leaning towards companies that I can approach on Twitter or Facebook – companies that are like me! This got me thinking that with the huge numbers of social media users like myself, this must be something that many people feel as well. And thus it must be that those companies aren’t only missing out on attracting new clients but also losing past and current clients to companies that are easier to approach on different social media platforms.

Many business people are not sold on the idea yet

A lot of people are not yet sold on the importance of having a blog on their websites. It seems that blogs are going through the same phase that websites went through in the 90s. Remember when all marketing gurus were trying to sell business owners on the idea of having a website for their business and why is it important? If you cringe at the thought of your business not having a website today, just know that you’ll cringe tomorrow if you don’t start a blog today.

Here are 10 reasons why you should start blogging for your business:

1- Blogs are crucial for SEO (Search Engine Optimization)

Google, Bing and other search engines love 2 things: Fresh content and authority (social media shares and external links).

A blog gives you the opportunity to achieve both. You get to create new content regularly and it also gives social media users and other bloggers interesting information to share with their friends and followers.

2- Be there when you’re prospect is trying to solve a problem that your product or service can solve

What’s the first thing you’d do if you want whiter teeth? You’d probably head to Google and type “How to get whiter teeth?”.

Now imagine that you’re a dentist and you have an article on your blog that provides tips for getting whiter teeth. Your prospect will read your article (on your website) and might use your services to help them get whiter teeth.

3- Set yourself up as an expert and trust agent

When people keep seeing and reading the awesome information you share with them about your field, you’re setting yourself up as an expert in your field.

It could also help you build trust with your prospects who will appreciate your advice and eventually buy your product or service when they need it.

4- Create a database of answers to FAQ

Leveraging blog comments and social media can not only bust myth and misconceptions about your product or industry, but also gives you a chance to handle their objections even you talk to them.

Remember! Your clients are not immersed in the industry like you are. They see your product or service through a different lens. They will google their questions and if you’re there with the answer before your competitor, you have a better shot at their business.

5- Create a platform to let you hear from your clients and prospects

The biggest part of success in business is figuring out what your target market wants and catering to those needs in the form of products and services.

Your blog comments could be your platform to hear from your clients and prospects and learn more about what they think about different industry issues.

6- Leverage links and shares

As a business person, I’m sure you know that word-of-mouth is the most valuable source of business for most companies.

Today word-of-mouth is even more important. Numbers suggest that more and more people are making buying decisions based on their social networks.

Creating awesome content (blog posts) will give social media users material to share with their friends and followers. It will help your ideas and company voice spread.

7- Spread your message without hard selling

We all hate pushy salesmen.

Hard selling repels people and makes them less likely to buy.

A blog will be your chance to produce educational material that will show your target market how your product or service can help them without sounding annoying.

8- Blogging inspires you

Every time I put my thoughts in a blog post, I find myself coming up with great ideas that could make a difference in my life and business, or at the very least be ideas for future marketing content.

There’s tremendous power to writing things down. It opens your mind to new angles and ways to approach your business.

9- Blogging forces you and your company to stay up-to-date with your industry trends

You already know that staying on top of your industry trends could be crucial for your business.

Having to produce fresh content for your blog regularly will get you into the habit of following your industry news and being up-to-date.

10- Humanizes your brand

Humans like to buy from humans like them. We are in an era where brands are showing us their human side. Those are the brands we relate to. We feel like we know them. Your blog is your way to show who you are as a human to your clients and prospect. This human connection is what could give you a huge advantage over your competitors and win you business.

I’d love to hear your thoughts. If you blog for your business, how did it affect your business so far? And if you don’t blog, why not?

*Photo courtesy: naan (Creative Commons)