Blogs are so popular because they are the optimal choice for your content marketing hub – acting as content chameleons that combine the strength of social media with old-fashioned print-publishing functionality. The reality is that in today’s content-driven world, while you may view yourself as a marketer, you’re really a publisher. You must provide relevant content for your prospects, customers and the public who – according to Ipsos’ research – spend over 10 hours a day consuming media.
To break it all down, here are the top 12 reasons why your company should invest in blogging, or take your current blogging activities to the next level. Oftentimes these reasons are also used as the starting point for convincing your executives to make an investment in blogging:
1. Blogs are an easy-to-use CMS (aka Content
Management System). Blogs require limited training and/or technical skill to
use while providing flexibility to
update or modify content quickly. As an added bonus, blogs are inexpensive.
2. Blogs are part of a company’s owned media.
Blog content is owned by your organization and can be integrated into your
website. Unlike other third-party and
social media outposts, you don’t need to worry about whether they’ll disappear
or go out of business. A blog can serve in lieu
of a website.
Packed
full of of the latest
blogging strategies, tips and
useful insights
into how to
leverage your blog to maximize
your sites earning potential.
You’ll learn why some blogs
succeed while others fail.
3. Blogs provide branded context for your content. As part of your firm’s owned media, blogs offer a branded context for your communications through the use of blog design elements that can be exported with the content. You can extend your brand without paying for third party media.
4. Blogs integrate your brand into your content
marketing. Beyond the blog’s branded context, blogs create a blog personality
with a unique voice. They offer
communications transparency and the opportunity to write in a conversational
tone that makes your brand feel “human”. Just be sure to avoid content that is clearly
self-promotional, and ensure your blog personality is integrated with your
brand personality across other social
media platforms.
5. Blogs enhance search optimization. Through
their keyword-rich content, architecture and cross-linking to other content on
the Web, blogs support search
optimization efforts. (Note: This assumes you’re using your own domain not a
free third party blogging platform.)
6. Blogs are a 24/7 communication platform. With
increased need for real-time communications, blogs are a great place to quickly
publish favorable content about your
brand or respond to evolving issues. Plug-in software can automate your
editorial calendar.
7. Blogs support an array of media formats. For
distributing branded content, blogs simplify the uploading and management of
text, photographs, graphics, videos,
audio, presentations and PDFs. When creating offline content and events,
consider what kind of online content can
go on your blog.
8. Blogs facilitate content distribution through
multiple channels. Blogs can expand your message delivery through email and RSS
feeds at no additional cost. Blog posts
can also be automatically collected into email digests.
9. Blogs supply content for social media
interactions. Blog content is currency for social media engagement on social
sharing sites such as Twitter and
Facebook. Make sure to include icons and tailored calls-to-action. (Remember,
these shares translate to earned media impressions (aka free.)
10. Blogs provide a targeted location to direct
prospects and customers. With a URL or QR code you can direct prospects, customers and the public to your blog from other forms
of content marketing. This gives you a way to connect the various components
across platforms.
11. Blogs are flexible enough to support diverse
initiatives. Blogs can help companies achieve a variety of corporate goals,
such as providing product-related
content, answering customer questions, attracting new prospects and hosting an
executive platform.
The Best Autoblogger Software on the Planet
12. Blogs provide metrics that you can use to
track content marketing to business goals. As with any business strategy, it’s
critical to monitor your progress.
There are a variety of metrics to assess your blog’s effectiveness, which we
will cover in more detail in this guide.
To sum up,
putting a blog at the center of your content marketing strategy is a sound
idea. It provides a branded environment that’s optimal for your content and
aligned with your corporate goals. Even better is the flexibility that blogs
provide and their ability to be integrated into your social media strategy.
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