So this morning I was carrying out a bit of research and I was amazed at the number of websites within the Lichfield and Staffordshire area that already have websites but don't, necessarily, have a blog or news section on their website.

As leaders in your industry whether it be in the automotive sector, healthcare sector or in the retail sector having an news or blog on your website is one of the easiest ways to generate more organic traffic and traction on your website.

I've been a prolific blogger since a very early age and here at Boost Digital Media writing blog posts and news updates is something we do as part of our wider marketing strategy.

If you think this post doesn't, necessarily apply to you, or you're to busy to blog then this is an article that you really can't pass on.

What is a blog?

A blog, back in the day was seen as a diary, almost journal and in some cases a lot of them have remained as that.

One of the widely used content management systems, WordPress, started out solely as a platform for those who want to blog about their lives. Today this system powers more than 33% of the worlds websites.

As already mentioned I blog regularly, I keep an offline journal and my blog and journal are used as part of my wider strategy to hold myself to account and to keep a record of the journey that life presents us.

In the business world, however, a blog can contribute a lot to your website. Not only can they be used for shouting out about which event you have recently attended, new product launches or even hiring new staff. Your business blog is your opportunity to really communicate the culture and latest developments happening at your business.

There are dozens of blogging ideas available and I would highly recommend you take a look at these if you're struggling for something to blog about.

Why Blog?

You're probably sitting thinking but why do I need to blog? I've got a hundred and one things to do blogging isn't on my list.

Well I am going to say it really is something you need to consider adding to your marketing mix and here's why.

Every time you write a blog post, you're writing fresh content, that content is then picked up by the search engines such as Google, Bing, Yahoo and so on, this article then gets listed accordingly, providing your website with another door for traffic to pass through.

Not only that but it also tells potential customers more about who you are and what you do. More importantly a blog shows that you're still active as business. How many times have you visited a website, checked out their blog, if they have one, and seen it was last updated 5 years ago.

Just to drive the importance of blogging home further, posting on social media is great, however you're essentially adding value to another organisations website. Think of your blog and your website as a whole, as your plot of land, the land that you can build something amazing on.

Finally, your blog is an opportunity for you to deliver value, whether that be giving advice, knowledge, industry experience or perhaps a solution to problems you've solved. I'm not saying this is where you should give away your trade secrets, no that is never smart, I am saying deliver value to your customers so that you begin to build a level of trust.

Blogging is Free to do

Blogging, whilst it may not be time free, it is cost free. An initial outlay to get your blog setup on your own website may cost a small fee, but once you have it online you're free to use it as you see fit.

You can get started with blogging for your business right away. It is something that should be part of your wider internet strategy, something you do on a monthly or quarterly basis.

All you have to do is wire a spot of time into the working week to get those articles written up, published and shared onto social media.

Blogging is not an overnight success

Look I'm going to level with you, blogging alone, will not bring you sales. Take it from a person who tried it for 12 months.

If we picture a funnel, this blog post and other blog posts like it is the top of the funnel, it's the content that everyone can read. For some it will resonate with them encouraging them to take action for others it will have no effect, that's just the way it is.

Writing any post doesn't mean cash in the bank but what it does do is signal to the search engines that your website is active and that you have fresh content to review. It also keeps your own audience up to date with what's happening in your industry.

Did I also mention that you never know who is watching your blog. It could be Joe Blogs round the corner or it could be an influencer with thousands of followers, it could be a news reporter that links to your article providing you with more authority.

Lastly, you find your article has gone viral and now you have a steady stream of enquiries or better still more sales as a result of a blog post that you put out.

Do you get the point? No blogs don't mean sales, at least not straight away, and I'm certainly not saying spend the next 6 months writing blog posts.

What I am saying is, start writing blog posts at least once or twice a month for the next quarter and see what happens you may be surprised.

Are blogs still relevant in 2023?

I was astounded one day when a prospective client came into the studio for their meeting and explained how their website agency had told them that blogging was dead and you'd be better off spending more of your time on social media.

Look, social media is a great tool and it certainly helps bring traffic to your website and online store but it is certainly not the only method to generate leads.

A good blog post on your website about a product, service or issue that you have overcame could help a prospective customer solve a problem and as a result build your authority and trust within the industry.

There is a lot of conflicting information out there on the web, is blogging dead? I'd say not, I'd say blogging is still a vital tool within your digital marketing arsenal and one you should spend time utilising.

Ok you've convinced me, how do I get a blog on my website?

I was astounded when I saw the number of websites in Lichfield without a blog or news section on their website.

Adding either a blog or news section to your website is really easy to do, especially if you're using WordPress, if you're not then its time to ask your website agency to add a blog to your website.