Blogging is everywhere, and for good reason. It’s a powerful tool for businesses of all sizes to share their story, connect with customers, and drive results.
If you want to blog, you need to know about content SEO. SEO is the practice of optimizing your web content to rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs).
You should use keywords throughout your blog post in the title, text, tags, and meta descriptions. You’ll also want to make sure your blog post is well written and free of grammatical and spelling errors.
The reality is that blogging takes time, effort and dedication if you want to see results. It’s not a quick fix or a magic bullet that will instantly improve your business. But if you’re willing to put in the work, blogging can be an extremely effective way to reach your target audience.
But before you dive in, it’s important to understand the expectations vs. reality of blogging, and how to set yourself up for success from the start. We’ll also share seven tips to help beginners on their blogging journey.
Expectations versus reality
Writing a blog post may sound simple, but there’s more to it than meets the eye. Here are blogger expectations vs. reality.
Expectation 1: You will have brilliant ideas for blog posts every day.
Reality. Most bloggers struggle to come up with regular topics. Don’t worry, it’s normal. To overcome creative blocks, try brainstorming with a team member, looking at old client posts, or using a content calendar to plan.
Expectation 2: You will sit down and write a note in one sitting.
Reality. Blog posts often take days (or even weeks) to write. This is because they usually go through several rounds of editing before they are ready for publication. To make the editing process easier, try getting feedback from a colleague or friend before hitting publish.
On average, bloggers can take up to 4 hours to write a post, according to Orbit Media.
Expectation 3: Your blog posts will be perfect.
Reality. No one’s blog posts are perfect, and that’s okay. Don’t strive for perfectionism or you’ll never publish anything. Do your best and know that you can always improve with each new post.
Expectation 4: Everyone will read your blog posts.
Reality. Few people will read your blog posts and that’s okay. What matters is that you share valuable content with those who read it. To increase your blog’s reach, consider promoting your posts on social media or other channels.
Expectation 5: Your blog will become popular very quickly.
Reality. Building a following for your blog takes time and effort. Be patient and consistent with your content and you will eventually see the fruits of your labor.
Blogging for beginners – 7 tips
If you’re new to blogging, here are seven tips to help you on your journey:
1. Plan ahead
Before writing, take some time to brainstorm and plan your content. This will save you a lot of time and frustration later on.
If you want to get people to read your blog posts, you need to make sure they are engaged. Here are some tips.
- Write in a conversational tone
- Use short paragraphs and headings
- Add images, infographics or videos
- Use useful formatting such as bullet points and lists
How to choose the right topic?
The right topic for your blog post depends on your audience and goals. If you are not sure what to write about, try to think about the problems of your target audience. You can also look at old customer posts or surveys for ideas.
You can use tools to help you develop ideas, such as Google Trends and BuzzSumo. These platforms can show you what topics are being discussed online and help you find popular content to share.
Now that you have your theme, you can move on to creating your content. Using content creation tools can be helpful at this stage. When you say content creation, there are tools for writing, visuals, webinars, and podcasts. Some of the tools for them are:
- Grammar – to write
- Canva – for visuals
- Zoom – for webinars and podcasts
2. Be consistent
A blog post is not a one-time event. It’s part of a series you build over time. The key to success is consistency. Your readers will expect new content from you regularly, so it’s important to stick to a schedule.
How Often Should You Blog?
This depends on your goals and the time you are willing to commit. But in general, it’s better to aim for at least 3-4 blog posts per week. If you can’t do that, try starting with one post a week and gradually increase your frequency over time.
According to statistics, blog posts are more successful than other types of articles in terms of traffic. Companies that posted four or more blog posts per week received 3.5 times more traffic than those that posted less.
3. Write for your audience
Your audience should be at the forefront of your mind when you write a blog post. Write with your readers in mind and tailor your content to their needs and interests.
Think about what they want to read and make sure your post delivers on that promise. If you’re not sure who your target audience is, take some time to define it before you start writing.
How to grow your audience?
Increasing the reach of your blog can be difficult, but it’s not impossible. To help you get started, here are five steps you should take to improve your blog’s reach:
1. Publish high-quality content.
2. Share your content on social networks.
3. Connect with other bloggers.
4. Write guest posts for other blogs.
5. Use keyword research tools.
There are a number of tools you can use to help you in your blogging efforts. Here are some of our favorites.
- AHrefs. A keyword research tool that helps you find popular keywords to target in your blog posts.
- Yoast SEO. This plugin helps you optimize your blog posts for Google search results. If you want to learn how to use Yoast SEO, click here.
- WordPress. This tool is a popular content management system. Using WordPress, you can easily create and manage your blog.
4. Connect with other bloggers
Bloggers from all over the world share one big secret. Blogging can be a lonely business. But it shouldn’t be. There’s a whole community of bloggers just waiting to connect with you.
Reach out to other bloggers in your niche and start building relationships. You can do this by commenting on their blog posts, sharing their content on social media, or guest posting on their blog. Not only will this help you grow your audience, but you’ll make some great friends along the way.
A great way to connect with other bloggers is to use social media. Platforms like Twitter and LinkedIn are great places to start. You can also search for specific hashtags or keywords related to your niche.
Another great way to reach out to bloggers is to use tools like Google Alerts or Mention. These tools allow you to track who is talking about a specific topic online and reach out to them directly.
5. Promote your content
Just because you publish a blog post doesn’t mean people will automatically see it. You need to promote your content to get it in front of your target audience.
There are several ways to do this, but some of the most effective include:
Promoting your blog posts can be time-consuming, but it’s worth it if you want to increase your blog’s reach.
6. Don’t compare yourself to others
You won’t get very far in your blogging journey if you constantly compare yourself to other bloggers. This is not only unhealthy but also a huge waste of time.
It’s important to remember that everyone starts somewhere. The most successful bloggers out there didn’t become overnight sensations. They worked hard and persevered through hard times.
So instead of worrying about what everyone else is doing, focus on your blog and make it the best it can be. When you do this, success will eventually follow.
7. Have fun.
Blogging can be a lot of work, but it should also be fun. If it doesn’t, then you’re doing something wrong.
Be sure to enjoy the process and have fun with it. Write about topics you’re passionate about and connect with your readers in a way that comes naturally to you. When you do this, your blog will shine and your audience will notice.
Guest author:: Kevin is the CEO, founder of Aemorph. Experienced entrepreneur and digital marketing expert. Kevin started in digital marketing, specializing in Search Engine Optimization after leaving a career in banking and finance. He now has 12+ years helping businesses in F&B, finance, insurance, e-commerce, medical, b2b and SaaS.
Kevin is also a Certified Adult Educator with a WSQ Advanced Certificate in Learning and Performance (ACLP) awarded by the Singapore Institute of Adult Learning (IAL), delivering high quality, relevant and easy-to-implement training for learners to gain. immediate results and build on their knowledge.
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The Ultimate Guide to Blogging for Small Businesses