3 Reasons Blogs Are a Critical Part of Your SEO Strategy
Blogging is the most accessible search engine optimization (SEO) tool out there, period.
Most small businesses have a website, and that website can host a blog. We don’t have to understand “the back end” or install sketchy plug-ins. All we have to do is write the posts!
But so many of us push our blog to the wayside. SEO is a long game, after all, and as small business owners, we’re constantly fighting The Battle of The Urgent.
Sometimes, though, we need to take the time to fight The Battle of The Important, too.
SEO can be hugely important for businesses that don’t have big budgets for Google and social media ads.
Blogging is a critical part of your SEO strategy.
It does so much more than boost you up the Google ladder, too. Each blog is capable of “feeding multiple birds with one scone,” so to speak:
Warming prospects up to your offers even before you launch them
Educating your audience on your values (which is a big deal, especially for Millenial, Gen Z, and even Alphas, who are heading into their teenage years and 4 out of 5 of whom affect family purchases)
Growing your thought leadership and online presence
Maximizing your organic visibility in Google search results
And here’s why.
Reason #1: Google loves fresh content.
Each time you update your website, you increase your chance that Google notices you and comes crawling. (Literally—when Google reads your site to determine how to rank it in search requests, it’s called “crawling” your site.)
Little updates, like changing the text on a button or adding a sentence to your bio won’t do it.
But adding a whole blog post? That might make Google turn its head.
Reason #2: Google wants consistency.
Not only does Google appreciate new stuff, it wants to see that new stuff coming out like clockwork.
Your blog gives you an amazing opportunity to schedule regular updates. Not only will Google know your content is fresh, but it also knows you’re reliable: it can count on you to create new content on a regular basis.
In fact, it’s more important to publish consistently than it is to publish whenever you come up with something new. Prioritize regularity. Start by aiming to publish once a month. Then work your way up to twice a month and eventually every week.
(Although once a week is my gold standard, you can get away with—and benefit from—updating just once a month.)
Reason #3: Google seeks out relevant keywords.
On a traditional website, you might have a handful of pages. Home page, about page, services page, contact page, FAQs . . . and each page should feature at least one specific keyword that makes sense for the audience you’re trying to attract. But without a blog, your use of keywords is limited by the content on each of those core webpages.
Each time you update your blog, though, that’s a new opportunity to show Google what you offer their users. You can do this by targeting a specific keyword that your ideal client might be searching for (maybe it’s one you’ve targeted on other pages, maybe a brand-new one).
Imagine you get to the point where you’re posting every single week. That would mean that every year, you’d give yourself 52 more opportunities for targeted keywords. 52 more reasons for Google to highlight you in their search results.
That’s powerful!
I know it can feel daunting to get started—but posting regularly doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Here are a few simple tips on how to start your no-stress small business blog. (And climb that Google ladder!)
Drawing on her decade+ experience as an actor, director, writer, editor, and educator . . .
Messaging Expert Cathlyn Melvin helps mission-driven personal brands design and deliver their world-changing messages through TEDx coaching and done-for-you copywriting services.
Her insight has been featured via TEDx, Thrive Global, Fempreneur Online, Much More Media, Captivate + Convert, She Built This, and other outlets. Learn more about her copywriting and TEDx coaching services.
No matter your writing skills, no matter your business . . . your blog is incredibly valuable digital real estate.
In this free guide, you’ll discover:
5 rinse-and-repeat blog posts you can use over and over again
Unlimited potential—saving you the energy of content brainstorming
Bite-sized action-steps to get you started today