Why You Need a Blog for Your Website

It’s no surprise that I’m going to argue that you need a blog for your website, seeing as the lion’s share of my business comes from writing blogs on people’s websites. However, that doesn’t mean it isn’t true. I’ve made a video to prove it.

If you’re not fussed about watching me in moving picture form, here’s the same point about why you need a blog on your website, but this time made in written words.

Websites Without Blogs

A website without a blog or news section is like a cherry. There’s not much wrong with cherries; they’re perfectly fine, especially if you happen to have time-travelled back to the 1970s and you need some adornment for your cocktail.

The problem is that cherries represent the basic information that everyone is offering and, if your content is going to entice Google users to choose your site over your rivals’ pages, you need to aim higher.

But how do you pimp your cherry? Well…

Websites With Blogs

Websites that contain a blog are more like Bakewell tarts. Yes, the original cherry is still there, bang at the centre of the action, but there is a lot more for users to get their teeth into. This is what is called ‘added value’ and Google flaming loves it.

Your blog might feature in-depth articles about your own business and products, it could be somewhere that explores the latest developments in your industry, it might be a place where you feature highly searchable pieces about your local area, or it could be a mixture of all of those and more. As long as you can relate it to your commercial offering, the sky is the limit.

Why Search Engines Like Websites With Blogs

The reason that search engines want you to offer more than the standard cherry is because a major factor in how they rank sites is to do with the length of time people spend there and the number of pages they consume.

A decent amount of pageviews-per-person and seconds-per-session show that your content is good quality, well-written and interesting. It provides evidence that you are authoritative and answer people’s questions, and unsurprisingly, Bing, Yahoo and Google want the sites that users like the best to go at the top of the rankings.

If you only offer cherries, even if you manage to snare some sweet search traffic, there’s nothing to keep the user on the site once they’ve found what they came for. If you provide a Bakewell tart, with a decent blog and effective internal links, they will stick around.

Even better, keep that blog updated regularly and you offer a reason for people to keep returning. The more often they are on your site, the more likely they are to spend some cash.

Search Traffic Double Whammy

Your Bakewell tart offers a double whammy when it comes to gaining traffic. If people are searching for cherries (the main thrust of your business), your blog-boosted ranking means they will come to you instead of your rivals for that, and they’ll stay for the exciting shortcrust pastry and fondant icing of your blog, which can then be used to persuade them to buy.

In addition, if they are searching for almond sponge (or information about your local area, for example), they might come to your blog for that, but stay on your site for the cherry. Running a blog can bring in new customers who didn’t even realise they wanted your cherries when they hit ‘Search’.

Other Benefits of a Blog

A Bakewell tart of a site isn’t just great for bringing in search traffic, it can also:

• Help potential customers decide – Consumers tend to read as much as possible about a product or service before they buy.
• Gain social media shares – Let your Facebook fans and Twitter followers spread the word about your Bakewell tart by creating top-notch shareable content.

How to Get a Blog for Your Website

Now you know why you need a blog on your website, to upgrade from a cherry to a Bakewell tart, but what can you do about it? You need something that is updated regularly with well-written, SEO-focused and compelling content. This is where I come in. Take a look at the Content Writing section of the site to find examples of blogs I’ve written for other people.

It costs less than you think to add value to your site and to increase your search potential, so get in contact today and we can discuss your needs. If you’re in the north of England, I can even pop by for a brew. I’ll bring the Bakewell tarts.

#BeaBakewell