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How to run a successful business blog

successful business blog

To run a successful business blog, you must operate on many fronts.

First you need to consider what kind of content you’ll have to publish.

Then you have to determine whether or not you have sufficient staff to operate your blog, or if you need to hire out talented freelancers, coordinators and consultants.

How can you leverage your content to bring in meaningful results for your business?

Why have a business blog?

Most businesses have some sort of internet presence today.

It might be, for instance, a webpage, an e-commerce site, a social media page or a video channel.

These digital assets are created to tell prospects how you can help them solve a problem.

If you’re a roofer, for example, your webpage may outline your experience, some speciality expertise you have or even your pricing structure.

Even if you’re a professional, perhaps a dentist, you’ll want to let people know more about you and why they should consult with you.

Any web page can help you do that.

But having a business blog takes your company or practice to a whole new level.

It doesn’t just tell people who you are and how to contact you.

But even more, it shows them how you can help them, how you can improve their lives and why it’s to their benefit to contact you.

Write compelling content

In order to show people how you can help them, it’s really important for any successful business blog to develop compelling content that demonstrates that.

Show people you can help them solve their problems and reach their goals.

Notice, I said show people, not tell people.

That’s the power of having a blog for your business.

Let’s say you have a roofing business.

You could put an ad on Facebook that says “we have the best prices” on roofing.

That’s fine, but doesn’t everyone say that?

You’re just telling people your prices are the best.

But what if you decide to create a successful business blog.

Now you can write a blog post titled something like 

  • “don’t overpay for your next roofing job,” or 
  • “6 ways to keep the cost down on your next roof,” or 
  • “a great roof doesn’t have to kill your budget”

These kinds blog posts are more likely to get the attention of your target prospects.

Then you can show them how to keep roofing costs low without compromising quality (hint: by hiring your company to do the job).

Content marketing

Compelling articles, or posts can really help your business blog grow when you market them wisely.

Content is great, but it doesn’t help much if people don’t read it.

So after writing your blog post, give it exposure.

Promote your business blog

Post a link to it on your Facebook page.

Or you can create images that intrigue people about your article.

Put them on your Instagram or Pinterest account.

Go on Twitter and link to them.

These are just a few examples of how you can market your blog posts after you publish them.

Marketing your content is really the key way that your business blog can become successful, and help you reach your target prospects.

Create a blogging schedule

No single blog post is going to push all your business goals over the finish line.

You need to produce content regularly and frequently.

This will help your business blog become successful in attracting visitors and even regular readers.

In order to make sure you’re consistently getting your blog posts in front of people, you need to create a blogging schedule.

First, decide how often you will publish an article.

Maybe it’s once a week, or once a month or whatever works for your business.

Posting frequency business blog

Next, you’ll want to decide who will write the blog posts.

A successful business blog often relies on existing staff to do the writing.

Are there people in your business who could pitch in with this?

Or, if you’re a very small business, maybe you’ll do it yourself.

You could even hire an agency or a freelancer to do the writing for you.

Just assign each blog post to specific authors.

Then make sure they will be able to write your articles according to your blogging schedule.

Assign your articles to a writer as early in the process as you can, and then give them firm deadlines for publication.

This will keep your business blog robust, and greatly enhance it’s ability to become successful..

Brainstorm blog post ideas

We’ve talked about how often you want to publish articles on your business blog.

But what are you going to write?

Well, you need to come up with blog post ideas.

What topics will help your business blog be successful and highly relevant to readers?

The best way to develop your blog post ideas is to get key people in your business involved in a brainstorming project.

Get ideas from as many people as you can in order to build a list a blog post titles that will really serve your audience.

How To Write Blog Posts Like Crazy

In order to do this effectively, you’ll first want to break your business blog into categories.

For instance, using the roofing blog as an example…

  • Our Services
  • Shingles
  • Metal Roofs
  • Testimonials
  • Pricing
  • FAQ

After you’ve decided on categories of articles, then you’re ready to brainstorm actual titles for your blog posts.

Remember, you’ll want the structure of your articles to be built around your prospects’ problems and goals.

That’s how to effectively brainstorm a list a blog post titles that will really serve your audience.

For a roofing business blog, maybe titles like these would work…

  • How do I know what shingles are best for my roof?
  • What is something goes wrong with my roofing job?
  • How do I know if I need a new roof?
  • Can I just repair a leaking roof?
  • What’s the best way to choose a reputable roofer?
  • How much should a new roof cost?

The important thing is to know what your prospective customers’ problems are.

Maybe they want to know how to pick a roofer who is reputable.

They’ll probably worry about what a new roof will cost them.

You see, those topics are listed above, along with similar ones, as possible ideas for blog posts to help your business blog be relevant to prospects. 

Use SEO on your business blog

Sometimes business bloggers discount the value of SEO, or Search Engine Optimization.

But you shouldn’t make this mistake.

Maybe you think it’s too complicated, or too much work.

Perhaps you’ve priced it out to hire someone to do it for you, but found it was too expensive for your budget.

But SEO is a critical piece of blogging.

The most important aspect of it is keyword research.

If you do SEO at all for your business blog, make sure to do some very basic keyword research at least.

That’s because it will keep you constructing content for the right people… your prospects.

You see, when you search for good keywords, you are simply looking for words and phrases that your prospects use when trying to find businesses like yours in search engines like Google and Bing.

By using those keywords in your blog post title and content, you will be writing things that people are actually looking for.

You’ll also be helping the search engines find your blog posts and give them search ranking for your keywords.

Because this helps your articles rank well in the search engines, it is one of the best ways to get traffic to your business blog.

So, if it fits the budget you’ve set for your business blog, get a good paid keyword search tool like SEMRUSH.

If you just want to go the free route, though, nothing compares with the always free (not just a trial term) Google Keyword Planner.

Give people the blog posts they want most

Keyword research is the very least you should be doing to optimize your blog posts for your prospects.

Optimizing your blog posts simply means using SEO practices like keyword placement to give your articles the best chance of attracting your target prospects.

But even more, it gives your readers exactly the content they’re looking for.

When you structure your blog posts around specific keywords, you will be making sure you’re delivering the content your readers want.

For example, if your business blog is designed to get more customers for your roofing business, you can develop keywords like these:

  • roofing materials
  • roofing company
  • roofing construction
  • roofing sheets
  • roofing types

Good keyword research will tell you that these are terms your prospects are actually searching for on Google and other search engines.

You’re not just guessing.

If you actually do your keyword research as I suggested above, you’d uncover a list the one I gave you above.

Then, you simply write articles using those exact keywords.

Construct them to give people the information they’re looking for.

Take the keyword phrase “roofing materials,” for instance.

To develop content around that keyword, you’d want to tell people what kinds of roofing materials are best for specific situations, and for a variety of different building types.

Then, when somebody types that search term into a Google search, or Bing search, for instance… your article could be found in the search results.

Give that that reader good information and they just may become your next customer.

How to run a successful business blog

A successful business blog can help you build your bottom line in so many ways.

But it won’t just happen by starting a blog and posting to it every now and then.

You have to build a strategy for making your blog an asset to your business.

It’s critical to write compelling content and then market it everywhere your prospects are.

Create and implement a serious blog schedule, and then stick to it.

Publish blog posts that will help your readers.

Now, I’d like you to let me know what your blogging plans are.

Leave me a comment below.

What kind of blogging plans you are considering?

And tell me what you see as your biggest challenge to running a successful business blog.

-Donna

PS: Please share this article on your favorite social sites!

Donna Merrill
Donna is a well known blogger and creator of "Blogging Magic" - an intensive guide to blogging. "Blogging Magic" is for beginners who are trying to figure out how to bring their blogs to life with tons of visits, comments and social media interaction. It's even for advanced bloggers looking to reach new levels of authority and engagement with their audience.

10 Responses to How to run a successful business blog

  1. Robert Evanz April 16, 2024 at 3:32 am #

    Thanx Donna
    You have really awaken something that I need to fight. Irregularity in posting. There is this immoral ghost that gets me and I step away for weeks. And by the time you are back you have lost traffic and have to start allover again. Thank you for speaking to me dirrectly! Cheers

  2. Amelia Warner September 28, 2023 at 1:24 am #

    Absolutely loved this article on how to run a successful business blog! 🌟

    In today’s digital age, having a business blog is not just an option; it’s a necessity. And this post provides a treasure trove of valuable insights to make sure your business blog thrives.

  3. Lem Enrile
    Twitter:
    April 12, 2023 at 12:54 am #

    Excellent article, Donna! I’ve seen so many company websites with a blog. But most are dead. There are no new posts. So I think one of the greatest challenges in running a successful business blog is how to create consistent content. Honestly, when I see a company website with an inactive business blog, I can’t help but wonder if they’re still in business or if they’ve closed down.

  4. Praveen Rajarao
    Twitter:
    March 5, 2023 at 9:26 pm #

    Definitely a Yes, a business needs a blog, and a well oiled one for sure. One thing is taken care of – niche. Business blog is focused on what business we run, and it makes it that much easier to select topics and build content.

    • Donna Merrill March 6, 2023 at 10:37 pm #

      Hi Praveen

      It is nice that a business blog doesn’t have to guess at what niche to choose. The very nature of your business defines your niche for you.

      So it’s really a matter of defining the topics you need to address, and then develop that compelling content for them.

      That’s where the real work comes in.

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..How bloggers overcome obstaclesMy Profile

      • Wasif Soomro
        Twitter:
        July 6, 2023 at 8:08 am #

        wow! I didn’t expect that I get all the information related with blogging in one article, your way of explaining is incredible. As you say that make a attractive title for your blog post further I add this use target keyword in your title as well as use in your article minimum 5 times.

        Further I tell you keyword research is the key of success in blogging. Best keyword research tool is semrush as you above mentioned.

  5. Ryan Biddulph
    Twitter:
    March 1, 2023 at 2:44 am #

    Showing versus telling gives readers the opportunity to see what you know about your business niche. Compelling content builds trust via this showing process. From there, readers gradually trust your products and services which leads to increased business. Patience is key because time and practice goes into this process, mainly because as you noted, it takes action on many fronts to build a successful business blog.

    • Philip Verghese Ariel
      Twitter:
      March 1, 2023 at 6:11 am #

      Hi Donna,
      What a joy to be here again after a while.
      Good to read yet another informative piece on blogging. Yes business blogs needs those ingredients you mentioned here.
      Of course, the first. priority is to have few compelling content about your particular business, that really helps the audience to engage further with your business, if one can present the whole details in it your first Target is met.
      Thanks Donna for sharing this content with your readers.
      Keep informed.
      with all good wishes from
      Phil.

      • Donna Merrill March 6, 2023 at 10:04 pm #

        HI Philip

        Compelling content is always the most important part of business blogging. As you say, it gets your audience engaged. And,also,it builds a robust social media buzz when people start sharing it.

        But that doesn’t happen if your content isn’t truly compelling to begin with.

        Thanks for your input, Philip.

        -Donna
        Donna Merrill recently posted..How to promote your business blogMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill March 6, 2023 at 10:10 pm #

      HI Ryan

      You’re so right about the many parts required to bring your business blog into motion.

      That’s why you really need to map out your blogging strategy in advance, and then carry it out meticulously and step by step.

      In time, you can build that trust that you’re talking about, and make your business blog successful.

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..Perfect posting frequency for your business blogMy Profile

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