We’re going to go back to internet basics in this article. The first blog was launched in 1998 (they were actually called weblogs back in the day). Today, there are millions upon millions of blogs.
Although they have been around for nearly two decades, some people may not be familiar with blogs. Here are answers to some blogging FAQs.
What Exactly Is A Blog?
Essentially, a blog is an "online journal" where personal thoughts are expressed. Since it is personal, it is not done to suit a prescribed style of writing, length or format as is the case with other forms of published writing such as magazine and newspaper articles. There is no stipulation about how often blogs are updated.
However, the more good content you push out, the better the results. People who consistently blog are 13 times more likely to see a healthy ROI, according to HubSpot. B2B marketers who blog get 67% more leads than those who don’t blog.
How Does Blogging Work?
People blog for various reasons. Some do it to communicate and share with others who have similar interests or challenges. For instance, there are blogs that are created as a support group for people with a certain health condition and those around them who are affected by it.
There are also commercial, or business blogs. These are started for the purpose of giving people information on certain products or services for the purpose of selling them. This is done by putting in links to the blogs that readers can click on and go straight to the website where they can make a purchase. Those who do such blogs are known as affiliate marketers and they make money by earning a commission on every purchase that is made through their blog.
There are also those who earn from blogging by doing blogs on behalf of another party. They are hired by companies, charity organizations, or individuals. The bloggers write and publish the blogs as per the wishes of the blog owner.
You can basically blog about anything. Love cats and cupcakes? You can blog about it, and people will probably read it.
How Do You Start Blogging?
To start blogging, it is necessary to have a platform. There are several of them out there. Some can be done at no cost while other platforms attract a fee. For beginners, there are a few platforms that are ideal: Blogger, Weebly, and WordPress.
A domain name is the web address that one types to enter a website. Examples of two popular domain names are Facebook.com and Twitter.com. The host is the company that keeps a website live and accessible every time a browser tries to access it. Domain names and hosting both expire. They need to be renewed at given intervals or a blog goes down and can no longer be accessed.
Is Blogging Really Worth Your Time?
In 2015, blogging was bigger than ever. That’s no surprise since content is still king. According to recent industry research:
- By 2020, customers will maintain 85% of relationships without engaging with a person.
- Companies that blog receive 97% more inbound links than companies that do not blog.
- Blogs rank as the 5th most trusted source for online information.
A number of factors will ensure that you make the most of your blog:
- Content: Content is very important. Those who come across your blog will have done a search through search engines found it via social media or links from other sites, most likely. The search engines have their standards and ways of grading blogs and websites according to the quality of their content. It's therefore important that the content is well written, easy to understand, and accurate. Frequently update your blogs so that content remains relevant. Short on time? Find out how to write a blog in under an hour.
- Visual content: It also helps to add visual stimuli, such as photos and videos. Social shares with photos, infographics, and videos have been proven to get more clicks than those that lack visual content. Don't forget to include links to your own content as well as other reliable, informative sources.
- Sharing and communication: You should also include social share icons and communication links, such as an email address and a section where readers can leave feedback.
Final Words of Advice
- Refrain from keyword stuffing.
- Do not plagiarize.
- Focus on producing quality, original, fresh content that people will want to read.
- Post blogs frequently.
- Don't forget about your business's buyer personas.
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