Does a Small Business Need a Blog?

Many major or mid-sized businesses have a blog on their website. Some post frequently, while others let theirs grow dusty. If you’re a small business owner, you may wonder if you should hop on the bandwagon and start up a blog yourself.

Does a small business need a blog? If your business is well-established, you could probably go without one. Blogs are a tremendous help for people who need help finding new customers or establishing authority in their niche.

Let’s take a look at when you should or shouldn’t add a blog to your site.

When to Utilize a Blog

Blogs can accomplish a lot for a business, whether it be advertising or making personal connections. You could use a blog if any of the following resonate with you.

You Want a Bigger Email List

Newsletters and promotions are the key to getting more sales and clients, but how do you convince people to sign up?

A blog is the first step. If readers enjoy your blog posts, they probably won’t mind signing up for emails to learn more about your company.

Blog posts will also function as a “test drive” for your newsletter. Many people don’t want to sign up for newsletters unless they know they’ll like them. If you want to create a newsletter for your small business, start with a blog and build up your readership.

You Need to Find More Customers

Is your online-based soap business not earning enough sales? Is your painting service not as busy as you’re hoping it would be? 

Blogging can help you find customers and clients with good SEO (search engine optimization). Regularly posting will help search engines figure out what your website is about. As people search for terms related to your business, your blog posts could be on the first page of results, and you’ll get more views.

The best part about blogging is that you can utilize the space to advertise your business and let people know what you’re all about. You can promote products you want to sell, explain your services, and take the time to convince people why they need you.

You Want to Connect with Your Customers

The internet allows us to work from anywhere, but it takes away the personal connection. Though a blog will help advertise, you can also use it to connect with your customers personally. Share about your process, ideas, or even yourself. 

In a cyberspace dominated by impersonal corporations, reaching out human-to-human is a beautiful way to show that there’s a person behind the screen, even if you don’t write the work yourself. If you hire someone to write for you, you can guide them on adding personal touches that sound like you. Of course, you can always respond to emails and comments yourself.

You Need to Stay Ahead of Competitors

Even if you’re a small business unique to your city, a blog can be a godsend for marketing if you’re in a competitive field. If you and three others offer gutter cleaning services, a blog will help you rank higher on search engines when someone searches for “gutter cleaning near me.”

When Skipping a Blog is Okay

As a copywriter for hire, it wouldn’t be right for me only to tell you why you should have a blog. That’d be a little dishonest of me! There are plenty of reasons why you shouldn’t bother with a blog, so let’s look at those, too.

You Don’t Need a Broad Audience

Blogs help you find customers far and wide across the internet. If you’re a local business that only provides services where you live, you could probably go without a blog and be okay. This also applies to businesses selling locally that don’t ship their goods.

You’re Well-Known in Your Area

Blog posts aren’t only helpful to businesses on a national level; they can help you find local clients and customers, too. If you’re a household name in your city (like Paul’s Plumbing since 1955 or Sharon’s Sauces at the farmer’s market that you absolutely must try), you probably don’t have to worry about blogging, provided that your current clientele and word-of-mouth are enough to keep you stable.

You Have a Better Way of Marketing

There are so many ways to market your business; if you’ve been doing fine with your current methods, don’t fix it if it ain’t broke! Save blogging for when your usual methods fall flat and you need to try something new.

Considering a Blog? KB Freelance Writing Can Help

I can help you craft blog posts that will draw in new audiences and keep your current ones happy. If you think a blog might work well for your business, let’s talk!

Text or call me at (806) 341-9220 or email me at kaleigh@kbfreelancewriting.com. I’m happy to answer all of your questions.