Remember when blogging was a phenomena? Everyone and their cousin had a blog. Posting existential angst, solving the world’s problems or just detailing everyday life. A business blog is a completely different ballpark, offering relevant content to your company or organization. The point of a blog is to drive traffic to your site, which in turn, promotes your product or service in a more organic and personable way than traditional advertising.

Here are 4 Reasons Your Marketplace Needs a Blog

1. Drive social media traffic to your site

Although a corporation can afford radio and television spots, most small businesses rely on social media and inbound/outbound marketing to gain customers. With that said, I don’t believe that any T.V. or radio ad will deliver the same power as the connection you build with customers via a blog.

Your blog allows you to create relevant content for your current customers, and attract future ones.

Make your blog the foundation for all your social media platforms.

• Include links and images to your blog in emails

• Post blogs to social media sites such as LinkedIn, Twitter, Pinterest, and Facebook

• Post inbound links directly in blog posts to drive traffic to specific landing pages of your website

       2. Increase your SEO/SERP/drive search traffic

Engaging blog posts increase your SEO. Fresh, controversial and relevant content puts you ahead of competitors in the search engine results page.

• Always use keywords in your articles (headline, body copy, image names)

• Tap into current events: curating a significant article portrays you as a thought leader (stay focused on why current events rank high in SERPS).

      3. Set yourself apart as an industry thought leader

Well written articles position your company as a cut above the rest. By posting original or curated articles, which resonate with your industry, you show your knowledge, promote your skills, services, business or community. The more your audience is educated about your marketplace, the more likely they will be to opt in.

• Build trust by showing you are well-versed in your industry

• Educate your audience on issues or technology shaping your marketplace

• Invite industry leaders to discuss their insights via podcasts, webinars, or guest posts

    4. Generate qualified sales leads

Trust doesn’t happen overnight. Once you’ve gained the trust of your followers through consistent quality content via your blog, it becomes much easier to convert them into loyal customers. After you’ve gained their interest, have them sign up for a free report or newsletter, which helps with list building.  

• When writing your blog, always keep your end-customer in mind

• Include helpful resources and educational tools  

• Insert calls to action

It’s no wonder that most businesses nowadays use blogging to engage customers. With relevant topics and well-written content, consumers will gravitate towards you instead of competitors.

Here at Near, we provide a blogging feature as part of our customizable marketplace platform, so our customers can blog to their heart’s content. Successful marketing encompasses various forms that all work together to promote your business. Try blogging. It will drive traffic and create leads for your business. And you might just love it!