WEBSITE DESIGN ARTICLES

What's the Big Deal About Blogs?

By Tom Malesic

In a room of 10 web developers and internet marketers, you would probably get 7 different opinions on the use and value of having a blog on your website.

So here's my two cents on how you can benefit and use a blog.

The value of a blog is that it is a really easy way for you to add content to your website.

Which should now make you ask two questions:

1.Why do I want to add content?
2.What on earth would I write about?

It is important to add content to your site for two reasons:

1. Google will like your website better if you create new original content. needs content to read and to learn about your business. The more content you have, the more chances that Google has to like you. Think about it this way. If you have 10 pages in your site, Google has 10 chances to find you. If you have 100 pages in your site, Google has 100 chances to find you. (Does this sound like your college Probability and Statistics class?)

2. Expert Status: If you create lots and lots of valuable content, your web visitors (prospects) will perceive you (your business) as the expert in the industry.

Think about some of your favorite websites. Do they provide great information? Are they constantly adding new content? -- YES!

If you are the creator of the valuable information, your conversations with your educated prospects will change. Instead of your prospect asking you IF you can help them, they will now ask HOW you will help them. As a result, your closing ratio should increase and you will generate more revenue. So, you are now convinced that you should have a blog.

But, what will you write about? How will you create volumes of content and articles? This is easier than you might think. Start by making a list of Frequently Asked Questions that you address during your sales meetings.

Then search your competitors' websites to see what topics they are writing about.

Next, look for industry related books and read the table of contents for ideas.

Finally, ask your clients what was important to them before they bought from you. What problems did you solve? What educational information would they want to know about?

After going through these steps you should now have a list of 40-80 ideas for great articles. Now comes the hard part. You need to force yourself to write the articles.

If this task keeps getting pushed until tomorrow, try writing first thing in the morning (before you check your email, voice mail and have a line of employees at your door). Do this for a week.

If this doesn't work, throw money at it. Hire a writer to do it for you. Don't feel guilty; ghost writers need jobs too.

If you would like to install a blog on your website, give me a call at 717.291.4689. We can talk more about it.

TOM