{"id":10879,"date":"2016-05-24T10:00:12","date_gmt":"2016-05-24T15:00:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hostgator.com\/blog\/?p=10879"},"modified":"2017-09-11T11:04:26","modified_gmt":"2017-09-11T16:04:26","slug":"5-reasons-start-blogging-today","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hostgator.com\/blog\/5-reasons-start-blogging-today\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Reasons You Should Start Blogging Today"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"5<\/p>\n

Listen up: here\u2019s the deal with blogging. If you have no interest in growing your business, getting new leads, or making more sales, then move along; there\u2019s nothing to see here. <\/span><\/p>\n

If you want all of those things (and who wouldn\u2019t?) you absolutely need to start blogging today. Not only is blogging good for business, but its success rates are entirely measurable, so you can tweak and target accordingly.<\/span><\/p>\n

First, let\u2019s debunk the folklore:<\/span><\/p>\n

#1. You don\u2019t need to be a coffee shop dwelling hipster to write a good blog post.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

[bctt tweet=”Blogging Myth #1: You don\u2019t need to be a coffee shop dwelling hipster to write a good blog post.” username=”hostgator”]<\/p>\n

#2: Not all blog posts need to be about cats.<\/strong><\/p>\n

[bctt tweet=”Blogging Myth #2: Not all blog posts need to be about cats.” username=”hostgator”]<\/p>\n

A common misconception is that blog posts are a qualitative marketing extra written and soon forgotten about. But when done right, they can be a tremendous asset to your business. Seriously, these things drive legit results. Here\u2019s how…<\/span><\/p>\n

Why does blogging matter?<\/span><\/h2>\n

1. Improve SEO<\/span><\/h3>\n

Search engine optimization is essential for your website so that customers can find you and buy your stuff. Google prioritizes sites that are constantly producing new and fresh content, so it\u2019s in your best interest to steadily publish posts that are relevant and useful to your business. You can also load up your blog posts with keywords<\/span> that people are using<\/a> to find your business. <\/span><\/p>\n

2. Build brand loyalty<\/span><\/h3>\n

Blog posts as an opportunity to share your views, ideas, and creative musings on your industry. You can also create FAQs and Q&As. Think of the top questions you\u2019re asked by customers and write up a post on each one. This creates a stickiness that invites viewers to keep coming back. And besides, didn\u2019t you always want to add 'thought-leader'\u009d to your resume?<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

3. Target a relevant audience<\/span><\/h3>\n

Blog posts work great for business owners aiming to reach customers who work in specific industry verticals or who live in certain geographical locations. This is how your customers are searching: 'real estate in Brooklyn New York.'\u009d So, structure your posts around how they\u2019re trying to find you.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Create<\/a><\/p>\n

4. Measure & adjust<\/span><\/h3>\n

With help from Google Analytics<\/a> (it\u2019s free!) you can calculate how many people are reading your posts, where they\u2019re located, what time of day they\u2019re reading, and in what topics they\u2019re most interested. <\/span><\/p>\n

5. Drive traffic & engage!<\/span><\/h3>\n

Use blog comment threads to respond to your readers and find out what they want to learn more about. Founder of inbound marketing powerhouse Moz.com Rand Fishkin says, 'Great bloggers make publishing neither the beginning nor the end of their process. They put it smack dab in the middle.'\u009d Promote your site\u2019s blog posts through your social channels to boost customer engagement and drive more traffic back to your point of sale. <\/span><\/p>\n

What are some tools I can use to get started today?<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

WordPress is the most popular blogging platform out there, well known for its ease of use and reliability. Start your blog with HostGator WordPress Hosting – click here to learn more!<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Here are some more great articles about blogging.<\/p>\n