In today’s business world, it’s hard to argue against the importance of content marketing, and more specifically, blogging for businesses.
According to the Content Marketing Institute, over 88% of B2B marketers utilize content marketing.
The reason for this is simple; it works. Consumers read blogs and, when they read a business blog that provides useful information, they develop a sense of trust in that business.
But simply having a blog and utilizing content marketing as a strategy isn’t enough to bring in customers.
As has been made clear, a lot of businesses have blogs. But not every business brings in customers through their blog.
To help you with this, here is a look at a few brilliant tips for using your blog to bring in customers.
#1 – Have a clear strategy
One of the biggest mistakes that businesses make when first starting a blog is that they don’t have a clear strategy in place for how they will use their blog to bring in customers.
Creating good content isn’t enough anymore. You need to have a real plan in place and you need to be willing to constantly improve upon that plan.
In the end, you won’t be able to bring in customers through your blog if you aren’t willing to take the time to create a successful blog strategy.
Related: Thinking of Blogging for Business? Here is Your Ultimate Guide to Getting Started
#2 – Use your content to solve problems
When consumers perform a search through Google, it’s often because they have a question that needs answered or because they’re searching for information that will solve a problem.
You can use this to your advantage by injecting problem solving into your content marketing. Find out the problems in your industry and solve them in your posts. Educate your audience on issues that affect them.
The best part about this strategy is that, by solving problems, you significantly raise the likelihood that your content will be shared through social networks.
Readers of your content will likely have others within their network that have similar problems, and will therefore want to help those people by sharing content that solves their problems as well.
And, when you prove that you’re able to solve a consumer’s problems, the likelihood that they trust you enough to purchase from you raises significantly.
#3 – Don’t forget to build an email list
It’s almost silly that this even has to be mentioned anymore.
Email marketing is currently the king of marketing ROI, producing a return on investment that can reach over $35 for every $1 spent.
At the end of the day, if you aren’t using your blog to build an email list, you’re not doing it right.
#4 – Use your blog to build your social network following
The main goal of most businesses is to build a loyal customer base. After all, the value of repeat customers is astronomical.
One of the best known ways to drive this loyalty is by using your blog to build your social network following.
While the process of growing your social network following, email list, and blog visitors will undoubtedly take time, the end results have been proven to be well worth it.