Advantages and Disadvantages of Blogging - Does my business need a blog?
Blogs can be really beneficial for your business. They can help you increase website traffic, make more sales, grow your email list, and more. As an SEO blog writer, I’ve seen first hand how blogging can be an incredible marketing tool.
However, starting a blog can be pretty time-consuming. It can also get a little complicated when you throw SEO into the mix.
In this article, I’ll review the advantages and disadvantages of blogging so you can decide if it makes sense for your business.
Advantages of Blogging
It’s so easy, anyone can do it.
If you already have a website for your business, then starting a blog is free and simple. Just add a blog section to your existing website and start writing! Your blog can be anything you want it to be: educational, entertaining, personal, or professional. You can write in your preferred tone and style. And you can write about things you already know or are interested in.
If you enjoy writing, it’ll be that much easier. If you’re already sold on the idea, head to the article, Blog Writing Tips for Businesses, for guidance on how to start blogging today.
Blogs can help increase your website traffic.
Arguably the most significant advantage of blogs - increasing your website traffic. But do people read blogs anymore? The answer is a resounding yes. It’s estimated that 77% of people read blogs. When you Google the answer to a question, you’ll see that some of the top results are blog posts. Think about how many people use Google to get answers.
Given their continued popularity, blogs are a great way to reach a large audience. Create articles on topics your audience is interested in or answer questions they might search for on Google, and you could use your blog to reach the masses. Share to your social media for even greater visibility.
When you publish consistently, you can create an entire community of like minded people who look forward to your content.
It can bring warm leads to your website.
Warm leads are people who visit your website and have some interest in your product or service. To bring in warm leads, your blog content needs to be written with your target audience in mind. Articles should be relevant to your business and valuable to potential customers. Instead of writing what you like to write about, you must pick a blog topic your audience wants to read about. You can learn more about writing for your target audience here.
Writing content for your customers will help your website show up in Google search results, making it easier for them to find you. In fact, companies with blogs bring in an average of 67% more leads per month (DemandMetric). More leads can mean more sales.
It helps build trust with your audience.
Blogs are a great way for you to prove you’re an expert in your industry. Proving you’re an expert builds trust, and people are more likely to buy from a business they trust. Content should be accurate and well-researched with references where applicable. Take your time creating something truly valuable for your audience.
Again, this is something Google’s updates will love. Google is cracking down on spammy, low-quality content. Let this motivate you to craft top-notch articles full of authenticity and relevance. Because if Google likes it, your audience is more likely to find you. And if your audience finds your high-quality articles, they’re more likely to trust and buy from you.
You can start and grow an email list.
Blogs are the perfect place to use opt-in forms. Opt-in forms are email sign-up forms where you can collect a reader’s email address in exchange for free resources or information. You can encourage readers to sign up to learn more or take advantage of a free offer.
Adding subscribers to your email list gives you more warm leads to sell to. By signing up, they’re expressing interest in your business. Use your email list to nurture that interest and eventually sell your products or services.
Disadvantages of Blogging
It can get complicated.
Blogging can get complicated if you plan to use it the right way, to bring in website traffic and warm leads. This is because of SEO, or search engine optimization. If you want to get found on Google, you need to use SEO best practices.
To optimize your blog, you need to:
conduct keyword research
figure out what your target audience is interested in
see what your competitors have already covered and how you can cover it better
publish new content on a regular basis
This ensures you publish articles that your audience can on find Google, with content they’ll actually want to read. Start with this post to learn some of the basics of SEO.
It takes time.
It can take an expert about 1-2 hours to write a blog post. If you’re new to blogging, it will likely take you longer. That doesn’t include content planning and topic, keyword, and competitor research. All that work adds up to a pretty hefty chunk of time. Since consistency is key in successful blogging, you’ll have to invest that time regularly. You’re running a business, so you need to decide if that investment is worth it for you.
If writing isn’t something you enjoy or it doesn’t come naturally, keep in mind that time spent on blogging could weigh even heavier and cause more stress than you’d like. If you decide you want blog articles to boost your business but you don’t want to invest the time, view my services to see how I can help. I specialize in SEO blog articles that your audience and Google will love.
It takes a lot of patience.
Blogging is a long game. If you just started your blog, it can take months before you see any change in website traffic. Google can also take ages to crawl and index your site (review and store new articles so they show up in search results). If you plan to use your blog for more website traffic, you’ll need plenty of patience and perseverance before seeing any ROI.
If you’re the type of person that wants instant results, blogging may not be for you. If you have the patience to build your blog over time, the payoff has incredible potential. Consistency is key. If you have a blog that isn’t getting any traction, don’t give up yet.
Conclusion: Advantages and Disadvantages of Blogging
I’m a big fan of blogs and the potential they have as an effective marketing tool. I would encourage you to start (or build on) your own, but ultimately it’s up to you to decide if it’s the best move. I hope this article helps you weigh the pros and cons of blogging to determine whether it’s right for you and your business. It can boost your website traffic and help you make more money, but only if you’re willing to invest the time and be very patient.
For more blogging tips, check out this article.
Blogging for Business FAQs
Should my business have a blog?
If you ask me, absolutely. Most businesses can benefit greatly from having a blog. It can increase your website traffic and improve your sales, help you build trust with your audience, and position you as an expert in your industry. Blogs can be a lucrative addition to your marketing plan when used appropriately
How can I use a blog for my business?
You can use your blog to review products, educate your audience, talk about your offers, discuss industry trends, and more. How you use it will be based on your business and what your target audience is most interested in.
How can I start blogging?
If you already have a website, simply add a blog section and begin writing posts for your audience. If you don’t have a website yet, I highly recommend creating one. There are a number of different website builders available. I like Squarespace for its simplicity. You don’t need to know how to code or use HTML, you just drag and drop. Once you’ve got your website up and running, feel free to read the article on website basics to optimize your site before adding a blog.
Got more questions?
Hit the comment section below and I’ll be happy to help! Or reach out to me directly for a personalized consultation.
If you enjoyed this post and would like similar content created for your website, contact me here. I offer done-for-you blog articles, analytics, and SEO content strategy to help you grow your digital presence.
