5 Questions To Ask Yourself Before Creating A Blog

Business blogging is big business. The rise in popularity of social media and web self-publishing platforms like Tumblr and WordPress has seen unprecedented growth in the number of businesses using blogs as a valuable tool in their marketing arsenal.

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According to Wikipedia, in February 2014, there were over 247 million blogs in existence worldwide.

This number will no doubt have increased sharply since these figures were compiled, as businesses see blog writing as an efficient and cost effective way to reach out to customers and prospects whilst also create brand awareness with online discussions, provide new and interesting material on a particular subject, build relationships with the reader and even share online diary of events.

Communication is the key

The list of ways to communicate via blog writing is numerous; vlogs, podcasts, photoblogs and microblogs are alternative mediums that can capture the attention of a wider reaching audience, after all, some people prefer to listen to a podcast or watch a video over reading written copy.

So why has blogging become such a valuable marketing tool? Lets take a look at the benefits a blog can bring to your business:

Increase your website traffic
Help build your own list of contacts via subscription
Portray yourself as an industry expert; generate interest
Set yourself up as a trustworthy source of valuable information
Google loves fresh new content, this will improve search engine rankings
Drive long-term results, by building a relationship with your reader
Whilst these benefits sound like a win-win for any business to start a blog straight away, there are some points to consider before taking the leap.

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Taking on the responsibility of writing a blog requires some serious commitment, dedication and focus to channel your energy into creating meaningful content on a consistent basis.

If you are unsure you have the time and dedication to commit to a blog right now, try asking yourself the following 5 questions first; they may help you decide.

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1) Am I ready for the commitment?
Generating pages of high quality content on a regular basis takes a lot of time and energy; including all the research and promotion of your posts. Being consistent with your posting frequency is one of the key elements to success.

An abandoned blog can do much damage to your business and brand, not to mention speak volumes about a lack of professionalism.

2) Who am I going to address my content to?
By writing for everybody you will attract nobody. The audience you target doesn’t have to be huge; a small selection of existing clients who will find your content valuable is a great start. Think about the way in which you write, the language you use and the unique tone of voice you use to attract the people you want to engage with. In the back of your mind, think about writing for one person, who is your ideal reader?

3) What can I contribute?
An empty, sales driven blog post will bore and most probably annoy your reader. To gain the best rewards over the long term, focus on sharing valuable content on your specific niche, which your reader will find useful, interesting, and earn their trust.

4) Do I want to grow my business?
Yes, this sounds like a bizarre question, but writing has to be something done with purpose because you actively want to improve your business and not just something that needs to be done. If you are happy with your current workload, not ready for the increase in leads a blog may bring, then maybe now is not the right time.

5) What’s your ultimate goal in creating a blog?
One year from now after you start blogging, how will your business be different? Think about where you see your business in the future and how a blog will change the way you shape your business.

If you can answer these questions positively and feel confident in sharing valuable knowledge in your area of expertise, then you’re ready to start a blog!