Five to ten years ago most of my clients either blogged regularly or strived to do so. Now, I get a very mixed reaction when I ask before we design a website, “Do you plan to blog?”.
Less and less clients tell me that they have blogged weekly, or even monthly, consistently and plan to keep doing so. Many express no interest in blogging. Others say that they do now and then. Usually they add that it takes too much time, or they don’t know what to say.
I believe in being realistic and not over extending yourself, so if blogging is off the table right now due to time constraints, I get it. However, I highly encourage you to consider it in the future, even if it’s something you hiring a virtual assistant to help with.
5 benefits to blogging regularly
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1. Recent blog posts show that your website is current and tended to
Having recently published blog posts on your website shows your business is active and that you are taking the time to update your website. This tells clients that you are currently working, and that they can trust the information on the site to be up to date. It also shows a level of care.
2. Blog posts give you an easy way to share new information with your clients
You can show recent projects or sessions you’ve done. You can also share promotions, or new products you are offering, something personal you care about, or behind the scenes. Yes you can do this on social media as well (and I highly recommend being active on at least 1 social media channel too) but this is on your website where potential clients are less likely to get distracted.
3. You control the content
Social media platforms change. It wasn’t that long ago that Instagram practically decided to ignore photos, the media type it was built on. Thankfully they’ve balanced the formula a bit more now between video and photos again. Accounts get blocked, and platforms go down too. Popularity also changes. It wasn’t that long ago we were all talking about marketing on Facebook as our primary social channel. If the content you create is on your website, you control it.
4. SEO
Google (and other search engines) like content. They like good quality new or revitalized content that is related to your main keywords. That sounds a bit jargon filled. Your keywords are just what you want people to find you for. I want to be found when people put in “websites for photographers” or “web designer for creatives”. If you are a photographer, and your blog post is related to photography, a product you sell (wedding albums) or the area you serve, then search engines will consider it a relevant topic. Google has gotten much smarter in being able to associate terms and judge content in a more human way, so we don’t have to keyword stuff when we write like we did 10 years ago!
5. A chance to get an email address
Inviting someone to your blog, brings them one step closer to you. It let’s you have calls to action to get in touch, or take advantage of a freebie in exchange for signing up for your email address. Once you have an email address, it’s so much easier to convert a reader to a client.
DM me on Instagram @jessiemaryco and let me know your thoughts and practices on blogging.
