Blogging for Business – Does Size Matter?

Are you blogging for business yet? If you’re not, you should be, because businesses that blog regularly receive 97% more links to their website, than those that don’t! As I network around Chichester and Petworth, I’m spreading the good word on blogging… And one of the questions I’m frequently asked is “How long should a blog be?” So, today I’m writing about whether size really does matter? 😉

The short answer is yes! When you’re blogging for business you should aim for a post that is at least 300 words long, for optimum search engine optimisation; but size isn’t everything! Here are five more things you should consider when crafting your blog posts.

• Headlines matter – Not only should your headline pique the interest of your audience, but you should also think about including keywords that will satisfy the search engines.
• Write for your audience – Sounds obvious? Sadly, many organisations blogging for business are writing for themselves (and giving themselves a virtual pat on the back), rather than for their website visitors… Treating a blog as a soapbox or an advertising channel is never a good strategy. Offer your visitors valuable content that educates, answers their questions and solves their problems, and you can ensure they’ll spread the word about your expertise, so you won’t have to!
• A picture paints a thousand words – Yes, the copy matters when you’re blogging for business, but so too does the image you use. When you share a blog post through your social channels, it is the headline and image that will (or won’t) grab your prospective reader’s attention, so both need to be top notch! Choose an image that fits your article, but also reflects your brand.
  Top Tip: Don’t forget to ensure your images have the correct Alt Tags for increased search engine optimisation. If you’re a local business, don’t forget to include your area, like Chichester, Petworth or West Sussex.
• Write for the web – The way people read online articles is different to the way they read printed articles, and therefore your writing style must reflect this. Keep in mind the readability of your articles, (this is important for search engine optimisation as well as website visitor experience). Use short sentences and chunk or bullet content for easier online scanning.
• Compel your visitors to take the next step – Always include a clear call to action in your blog posts. Remember, you need to lead your prospects gently by the hand to comment, contact you, connect with you, or purchase your product or service.

So there you have it, while size does matter, there are many other aspects to consider when you’re crafting a blog post for your business. If you need more help, please contact me. I’m based in the Chichester and Petworth area but work with clients all over the world.