Blogging and creating content is an essential part of any good
SEO strategy
. Blogging means more pages on your site, more keywords being used, and (if your content is good) more inbound links. It sounds simple when you think about it; all I need to do is write a little each week about a topic I’m already an expert about, and BAM,
watch the leads roll in
.
However, while the benefits of business blogging are real, there are a few hurdles to jump over. What do I write about? Where do I find the time to do it? Who is going to write these posts -- they aren’t going to write themselves! We asked the HubSpot Partners for a few of the tips they tell their clients when it comes to blogging.
Blogging Best Practices
Before even starting to blog, Kuno Creative’s John McTigue feels that one of the most important steps in blogging is to set up goals each month. This way you have a set point to work towards. If not, it’s easy to fall into the trap of not doing anything.
When it comes to brainstorming content, SmartBug Media’s Ryan Malone suggests his clients use Evernote to “snip” articles that are related to their industry as they read them. He also recommends setting up Google alerts for pertinent topics. Then when the time comes for blogging, clients find that they have a whole folder of inspirational ideas.
Ryan goes on to note that you don’t always have to create content from scratch. Taking an article and adding some insights of your own is an acceptable blogging strategy. He says “It also has other side benefits – you become the hub for all the research in your space…and you also get great retweet and share traction.”
Another content trick comes courtesy of Inbound Marketing Experts’ Andy Xhignesse. He suggests first looking at the list of keywords you want to target. Then develop one post around each keyword. Exhausted your list? Andy recommends his clients go back and try to think about and post 10 different articles about the same material. One article might not resonate, but another will.
With these tips, you’ll be churning out blog posts in no time! What other strategies have you found to be successful?
Inbound Marketing Blog Feed
Bronson 11:31 AM on August 27, 2010
Thanks for sharing these tips, I dully agree that not having a content calendar is the quickest route to not blogging at all.
Also, Google alerts and Stumbling things are a good way to keep information flowing so you have a bank of stuff to reference when it comes time to blog and you're stuck for ideas.
Chris Englund 11:35 AM on August 27, 2010
Hi Carol,
I think it touches on the most important stumbling block for non-professional writers: the brainstorming phase.
It's important to give a ton of thought to developing topics. I find the best thing is to read, read, read. Logging on to Google Reader once a day and subscribing to relevant blogs keeps the creative juices flowing and keeps me up to date on what could be interesting to similarly minded peeps.
It's not intimidating to come up with blog topics when you've got 1000 topics swirling around your mind!
David Zielski 12:13 PM on August 27, 2010
There is a program for professional bloggers and companies with several bloggers on hand to coordinate and schedule posts plus grades the content for SEO. This amazing program has this flexible editorial calendar that prevents blogs from going stale (no content) and aids in the prevention of writers block (provides topics that the business would like the bloggers to discuss). The product is called InnoBlogs - http://www.innoblogs.com/
Lauren 1:43 PM on August 27, 2010
These are some great tips. Although setting up monthly goals doesn't work well for me personally, I really like the idea of looking at a list of keywords to target. Getting everyone on board for business blogging is very difficult due to other tasks, but is extremely important. Thanks for the tips!
John McTigue 2:06 PM on August 27, 2010
Thanks for the mention Carol. I would also add that creative ideas usually arrive when you're not trying - like when you're in the shower or asleep. Jot down a few ideas when you're dry and/or awake and keep a "punch list" of blog ideas handy.
Reese Adams 2:09 PM on August 27, 2010
Divide and Content
split up the responsibility, make it something others want to be part of, gather, sort, edit, post
Connor Bringas 7:52 PM on August 27, 2010
This is a great post. It definitely helps people blog better. Personally, All I do is go under blogs on google..and type in the keywords..bam there you go inspiration and ideas. It Helps to understand whats popular. Most blogs all post about the same thing on the same day..because its newsworthy! Anyway great ideas keep it up
John R. Sedivy 8:29 AM on August 28, 2010
I agree that committing to a monthly schedule works well, it definitely keeps me on track. During the past month we added two additional bloggers to our blog, I found this really helped keep things on track - as a group we are able to help get one another unstuck and hold each other accountable to the previously agreed deadlines.
Cherry Rahtu 3:12 PM on August 28, 2010
There are many tools to generate blog ideas, I usually use these 7 effectively tools: linkedin answers,google search,google keyword tool,google reader,social bookmarketing sites,google alerts and daily note. Hope it helps.
fadiah 6:30 AM on August 29, 2010
this blog very interested
fadil 6:33 AM on August 29, 2010
its agreat posting , and thanks for mention
Stan Thow 10:40 AM on August 30, 2010
The info. you give about blogging helps maintain it's quality.
I am learning new things every day. IT is very important to provide useful information.
Dale Bohman 7:53 AM on August 31, 2010
I especially agree with the "re-blogging" idea. I've ran a printing and marketing company for 20+ years and will take a relevent part of an article, reword it from my perspective and add stories or examples from my own experience that illustrate how to do (or NOT to do, lol) the topic.
I also like to jot down blog ideas when I am in a seminar or going through any training.