If you haven’t started blogging yet, you’re missing out on some major benefits for your business. As an online business owner with so many competing priorities, I know it can be tough to figure out the best place to focus your time and energy. But let me tell you, blogging can be a game-changer for your business.
First off, blogging is a fantastic way to drive organic traffic to your website. By consistently creating valuable content that speaks directly to the needs and pain points of your target audience, you’ll attract visitors who are most likely to be interested in your services or products. Plus, the beauty of content marketing is that it has longevity – your blog posts can continue to drive traffic to your site for years to come!
Not only does it help drive organic traffic to your website, but it also positions you as an expert in your field and builds trust with your audience. And the best part? You can do it all while growing your email list for FREE99 and becoming #SocialMediaOptional
In this guide, we’re going to dive into the benefits of a blog for online business coaches and how to create strategic blog content that speaks directly to your target audience. Let’s dive right in and first talk about whether blogging is the right fit for your business.
So, let’s answer that question with another question:
What do you use tools like Google and YouTube for in your day-to-day life?
If you’re not sure, think about the last time you did a Google search, what were you looking for? Perhaps it was a recipe for dinner, or some concert tickets, or the perfect pair of black ankle boots.
What all of these queries have in common is that the person searching for them already knows what their question or problem is, and they are turning to Google and YouTube for a solution to their problem.
Google and YouTube are designed for ending search queries and passing information to users. You go to Google to get answers, you go to YouTube to find tutorials, explanations, or information on a specific topic.
THIS is where YOU as a business owner WANT to be ranking so you can be found by folks ACTUALLY searching for what you offer.
In contrast, what do you use social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok for?
Personally, I use them when I am procrastinating, waiting in line at the grocery store, or trying to fall asleep at night. You might also use these platforms for entertainment, to take your mind off of something, or to watch inspirational videos.
So, this means that when using social media, usually you are mindlessly scrolling through, not looking for anything in particular.
You are NOT actively going here to find specific information about a specific thing. It’s a platform designed to distract, and the platform creators have invested billions to become the best at what they do.
So the big difference between Social Media Marketing and Blogging is that Social Media is a DISRUPTION marketing strategy whereas Blogging is an INBOUND marketing strategy.
If you are marketing on social media, you must DISRUPT the scroll to get attention, people are not on there looking for something in particular. However with Blogging, Google helps you get found by people who are already looking for the answer to a question or a problem that you can solve.
Both social media and blogging can be very effective at marketing for your business, however many business owners experience burnout with social media marketing because it requires constant, daily upkeep, regular posting, and is dependent upon the ever changing algorithm.
Let’s review some some specific benefits of blogging:
Blogging benefit #1: Drive organic traffic FOR FREE
One of the most significant benefits of a blog is the potential to drive organic (free!) traffic to your website. When you consistently create high-quality, valuable content that resonates with your target audience, search engines like Google will take notice and reward you with higher search engine rankings. This means that your website or blog post will appear higher up on the page of results when someone searches for something related to your website or blog post.
Of course, ranking higher up on that search results page means more traffic for your website!
Blogging benefit #2: Content longevity – Blog posts can bring in customers and leads for years to come
Another significant benefit of blogging is the longevity of your content. Unlike social media posts, which often have a short lifespan, your blog posts can continue to drive traffic to your website for months or even years after you publish them. As long as your content remains relevant and valuable to your target audience, it can continue to attract new visitors and leads to your website long after you hit “publish.”
To show you an example of how powerful blogging can be for your coaching or service-provider business, the blog post that currently brings the most traffic to my website is this one – which I wrote and published more than 3 years ago. For about 6 months after I first published this post, it was bringing in an average of 18 views per month. This is because it can take 3-6 months or more for your content to start ranking on Google.
However, once your content starts ranking, it can be a long-term traffic generating machine. Today, this 3 year old blog post is bringing an average of 802 views per month to my website. That’s 802 people monthly who have an opportunity to join my email list or reach out about my services. Even if just 1% of that traffic converts into Branding and Web design customers, that would be 8 new customers per month for a high-ticket service. Not too shabby!
Blogging benefit #3: Own your content – Build Online Real Estate that you own and control
When you publish content on social media platforms, you are essentially “renting” space on someone else’s platform. This means that you have limited control over your content, and it could potentially be removed or hidden at any time.You are also at the mercy of the ever-changing algorithm.
With a blog, on the other hand, you own the content and have full control over how it is presented and distributed. This means you can tailor your messaging to your audience, showcase your personality and values, and differentiate yourself from your competitors.
Owning and controlling your content ensures that your content remains accessible and visible to your target audience, even as social media algorithms and policies change over time.
Social Media platforms have come and gone, but websites have remained a consistent part of the Internet for over 30 years now.
You can also engage in remarketing activities like running targeted Facebook and Google ads to everyone who has visited your website.
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Blogging benefit #4: Build a solution focused audience who are already looking for what you offer
A blog can help you attract solution-focused visitors who are most likely to buy from you when your content resonates because they are already looking for the solution you have to offer.
When you create blog content that addresses the specific challenges and pain points of your target audience, you can attract visitors who are most likely to be interested in your services or products. These visitors are typically solution-focused and actively seeking answers to their problems, which makes them more likely to convert into leads or customers when your content resonates with them, compared to any random people that follow you on social media and happen to see your post.
To attract solution-focused visitors, make sure to create blog content that addresses your audiences specific needs and challenges. This could include how-to guides, case studies, and tutorials (like this one!) that offer practical solutions to their problems.
One exercise I like to do to come up with blog topics is to read through messages from current clients and/or potential clients and find out exactly what they are struggling with. These things are often great topics to create blog posts around.
Blogging benefit #4: Build Expert & Authority Positioning
By consistently delivering free, long-form value that speaks directly to your audience’s needs, you’ll nurture your relationship with your readers and build a strong foundation for future sales.
Blogging is an excellent way to position yourself as an expert in your field, helping you build authority and trust with your audience. By consistently delivering free, long-form value that speaks directly to your audience’s needs, you’ll nurture your relationship with your readers and build a strong foundation for future sales that will set you apart from your competitors.
To establish your authority through blogging, it’s important to create content that highlights your expertise and insights. This could be thought leadership pieces, case studies, or opinion pieces that provide a unique perspective on industry trends or challenges.
Your content should offer value to your audience and showcase your knowledge and expertise. With time, your readers will start to see you as an authority in your field, and your blog will become a go-to source for valuable insights and information.
When people see you as an expert, it becomes a no-brainer for them to hire you to deliver the service that they need.
Blogging benefit #5: Grow your email list!
Last but not least, blogging is a fantastic way to grow your email list – and best of all, it’s free! When you offer lead magnets and other free resources on your blog, you’re creating an incentive for visitors to subscribe to your email list. These resources could include PDF guides, checklists, mini-courses or other valuable content that your audience would find helpful.
Your email list is a powerful tool for marketing your coaching business. As your email list grows, you’ll have an opportunity to build a relationship with your subscribers and establish trust and credibility with them. By consistently providing value through your blog and email communications, you’ll increase the chances of your subscribers becoming paying customers in the future because you can show up directly in their inbox.
You can also use it to promote your blog posts, advertise your services, and keep your subscribers informed about upcoming events or product launches.
The best approach here is to include a call to action to join your email list in the middle of your blog post content, like in the example you see below.
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Answers to common questions about Blogging as a Beginner
- Should I blog even if I don’t have a business yet?
You can write valuable posts about a topic you are knowledgeable and passionate about even while your business is still forming and being developed - How much value is “too much” to give away for free?
Giving away all that value for free makes people even more interested in working with you “If this is what she gives away for free, imagine what her paid offers deliver”
- How often should I upload blog posts?
The GOAL is once per week, but to start out it is more important to be consistent. In the beginning, once per month is a good goal. Then increase to twice per month and then eventually once per week. Consistency is key – it tells google that your website is regularly updated with new content AND it helps build trust with your audience who can look forward to your posts every week. - How long should my blog post content be?
2000 – 2500 words MINIMUM and if it’s a super valuable post you can easily write 5,000 words or more - What about SEO? Click here to jump to SEO & Keyword definitions
There tons to learn about SEO and you will acquire more knowledge over time, for now here are the two most important aspects of SEO to pay attention to as a beginner:- Conduct Keyword Research using free tools in order to determine which topics to cover in your blog posts
- Connect your website to Google Analytics so that you can track your website traffic and other statistics to understand how your blog posts are performing
- Read the full post with my top 5 tips for SEO
- How can I get good blog post ideas?
- Write what you know and/or are passionate about
- Pay attention to emails from businesses that you actually open and note the topics that interest you
- Review your Google search history for ideas on what types of blog posts showed up in search results that you clicked on
- Here are some format ideas for blog posts: Step by step guides, how-to’s, tutorials, why you need, why you shouldn’t, tips and reviews are great places to start
- How should I promote my blog posts?
It’s a great idea to email the link to each new blog post to your email marketing list. These people have already expressed interest in you and your business so it makes sense for them to be the first to know about new, valuable content you are sharing. You can also share your blog posts on social media. One great way to do this is to share relevant quotes or tips that you break down in the post. Lastly, you can amplify your blog traffic by creating pins for your blog post on Pinterest. - What’s the next step after I master consistent blog posts?
Record Podcast episodes that you turn into blog posts and/or Record YouTube videos that you turn into blog posts.
Blog post examples:
Quick Guide to Blogging Terms
What is SEO?
SEO = Search Engine Optimization
An SEO strategy means your content is shown as a result to people searching for a solution to their problem or answer to their question on Search Engines like Google.
Search engines determine which content provides the best information based on Keywords. Keywords are words that are used to categorize and rank your content in search engines that correlate with what people are searching for.
Read the full post with my top 5 tips for SEO
What are Keywords?
Keywords (also known as “SEO keywords,” “keyphrases,” or “search queries”) are words and phrases that users type into search engines to find information on a particular topic.
In the world of search engine optimization (SEO), keywords are used in web page content as a way of ranking at the top of Google’s results for that same keyword.
Important note: any term used in a search engine, whether a single word or a long phrase, is considered a keyword.
Do I need a website in order to have a blog?
If you’re an online business owner without a website, you might be wondering how to get started with blogging.
While there are platforms out there where you could become a blogger without your own website, as an online business owner you will see the most success blogging on your own website.
If you don’t currently have a website, the good news is you don’t need a fancy, professional site with lots of pages to get started blogging. All you need is a basic 1 page website where your blog can live, and then you can expand upon your website as your business grows.
If you’re ready to invest in your own website, there are a few popular website building platforms you might consider using. These platforms are easy to use, offer a range of customizable templates, and tools to help you optimize your site for search engines. Here are a few options to consider for getting started with your Blog:
Squarespace: This platform is known for its sleek, modern designs and drag-and-drop website builder. Squarespace also offers built-in SEO tools and analytics to help you track your site’s performance.
Showit: Showit is a drag-and-drop website builder that allows you to easily create and customize your website without needing coding skills, and it can help with blogging by providing seamless integration with WordPress for easy management of your blog content.
WordPress: WordPress is a powerful content management system that offers a wide range of customization options. While it can be a bit more complex than other platforms, it’s also highly flexible and scalable.
Wix: Wix is a popular website builder that offers a range of templates and designs to choose from. It also offers a drag-and-drop editor and built-in SEO tools.
My personal choice between all of these options is WordPress because it gives you the most flexibility and room to grow. It also has the most robust suite of tools available to increase your SEO and grow the impact and reach of your blog. This is our platform of choice for all of our agency brand and web design clients.
Pro Tip: By working with a branding and web design business or using a website template shop, you can create a professional, polished online presence that showcases your unique brand and voice.
If you’re a Coach or service-based business looking to elevate your online presence with a stunning website that reflects your unique brand and vision, Mel Judson Creative has got you covered! As a Luxury Branding & Website Design agency, we specialize in creating high-converting and unique WordPress websites, as well as DIY website templates & brand identity kits that will help you attract your ideal clients and take your business to the next level.
Our website templates are designed to be user-friendly and customizable, even if you have no prior website design experience. And with our branding kits, you can easily create a professional and cohesive look for your website and social media channels without spending a fortune.
Our goal is to help you showcase your blog and brand with a polished website that sets you apart from the competition. We can’t wait to help you create an online presence that’s as unique and dynamic as you are!
Interested in working together to add a blog to your existing website or create a new brand? Click here to get in touch!
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