Should we have a blog on our website?
We have a blog, but we never post on it!
Is it even worth having a blog?
All valid questions.
Let me put this straight out there…
Blogging isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s a powerful marketing tool that can help your business get found and win new business.
A blog can seem like a good idea but why bother? What are the benefits?
They take time, effort and is the ROI really worth it?
Here are 3 key reasons why having a blog is a great idea for your business:
1. They can Boost Your Google Rankings with Fresh, Friendly Content
Google loves websites that regularly publish new, relevant content. Every blog post you write adds another page for Google to index, increasing your chances of showing up in search results. Well-written blogs that cover your industry topics in detail help you rank for the keywords your potential customers are searching for—driving organic (unpaid) traffic to your website.
2. They add Value and Demonstrate Your Expertise
Blog posts are an excellent way to provide value to your audience. By sharing insights, tips, how-to guides, and industry trends, you position yourself as an expert who understands your customers’ needs. This builds trust and encourages readers to turn to you when they’re ready to buy or recommend your services.
3. They Create Content You Can Repurpose Across Platforms
Your blog posts are content goldmines! Once written, you can repurpose your blog content into social media posts, newsletters, videos, podcasts, or downloadable guides. This approach saves you time and keeps your messaging consistent across different marketing channels.
So, hopefully I have convinced you that blogs are a good idea but how do you write effective posts. Nobody wants to invest time into writing posts that no one reads and that get no traction.
Use these tips below and you won’t go far wrong with your posts:
1. Don’t Be Too Brief—Give Google Enough to Work With
Aim for a comprehensive post that covers your topic in enough depth to provide real value. Google tends to favour longer content (usually over 1,000 words) because it offers more useful information. However, don’t add fluff just to hit word counts—focus on quality and relevance.
2. Use Keywords Strategically
Keywords are the words and phrases your target audience types into search engines. Research the best keywords for your niche and naturally include them in your post’s title, headers, and throughout the content. This helps Google understand what your blog is about and match it with relevant searches. (I am going to give you some tips on how to do this towards the bottom of this post so keep reading.)
3. Break Down Your Content to Make It Readable
Long blocks of text can be intimidating online. Break your post into smaller sections with clear subheadings, bullet points, and short paragraphs. This makes it easier for readers to scan the information—keeping them on your page longer and lowering bounce rates.
4. Include a Clear Call-to-Action (CTA) at the End
Every blog post should guide readers toward the next step, whether it’s subscribing to your newsletter, downloading a resource, contacting you for a consultation, or checking out a product. A clear CTA helps convert readers into leads!
In this blog post you will see one on the right and one at the bottom of the page. We want to make it easy for you to respond if you need to.
5. Add Internal and External Links
Link to other relevant pages or blog posts on your website (internal links) to help visitors explore your site further and boost SEO. Also, try to include external links to other websites to back up your points and provide additional value. Both types of links improve your website’s authority and SEO.
6. Optimise Your Post with a Meta Title & Description
Your meta title and meta description are what appear on search engine result pages—they influence whether people click your link. Make sure your meta title is concise and includes your main keyword and write a compelling meta description that summarises the post and entices people to read more.
7. Add Alt Tags to Any Images
Images improve engagement and help break up text, but they also play a role in SEO. Add descriptive alt tags (alternative text) to your images using keywords when appropriate. This helps search engines understand your visuals and improves accessibility for users with disabilities.
8. Aim for Long-Form Content and Include a Table of Contents
Long-form content (1,500+ words) tends to rank higher on Google because it’s more comprehensive. If you can create blog posts of this length, then you are hitting the spot!
When you do this, to improve usability, add a clickable table of contents at the beginning of your post so readers can quickly jump to sections that interest them most. You will see this at the start of this blog post.
If you are struggling to write posts or need a simple template to follow, then I have put one together for you below.
Simply follow these 7 steps and you will have your next blog post.
1. Title:
Make your post title clear and catchy. Include your main keyword so Google and readers instantly know what your post is about.
Example: “5 Things First-Time Homebuyers Should Know”, or “7 Common Tax Mistakes and How to Avoid Them”.
2. Introduction:
Start with a quick introduction explaining why the topic matters and what the reader will learn. Keep it around 100-150 words to grab attention.
3. Table of Contents (Optional):
If your post is long, add a clickable table of contents so readers can easily jump to sections that interest them most.
4. Main Content:
Break your post into sections with clear subheadings. Use bullet points or numbered lists to make it easy to read. Add examples or tips to provide real value. Don’t forget to link to other pages on your website as well as trustworthy external websites.
5. Images and Visuals:
Use relevant images, screenshots, or videos to support your points. Make sure all images have descriptive alt text — this helps with SEO and accessibility.
6. Call to Action (CTA):
End with a clear CTA inviting readers to take the next step — whether it’s subscribing or contacting you.
7. Meta Title & Description:
Ensure you complete the meta title and description for the post. The title needs to be concise and keyword-rich (approximately 60 characters). The meta description should be around 150-160 characters and needs to summarise what your post covers.
Once you have written your post, you then need to ensure that it gets traction and the right eyeballs on it. A blog post with no views is not effective.
This is where keywords come into play. Picking the right keywords helps your blog show up in search results when potential customers look for information you offer.
Here’s a quick guide on choosing the right keywords:
1. Brainstorm:
Think of a few broad topics or phrases your audience might search for.
2. Use free tools:
Try Google Keyword Planner, Ubersuggest, or AnswerThePublic to find related keywords.
3. Check search volume and competition:
Look for keywords that have decent monthly searches but aren’t too competitive — this gives you a better chance to rank.
4. Choose primary and secondary keywords:
Pick one main keyword to focus on and a few related keywords to include naturally throughout your content.
5. Place keywords strategically:
Use your main keyword in the blog title, from the start of the post, in subheadings, and scattered in the body. Use secondary keywords where they fit naturally.
Blogging is one of the most effective ways to attract new visitors to your website and establish trust with your audience. Following this simple approach will help your posts get more readers and better rankings.
Blogging is an investment that builds your online presence and there is no better time to get started than now.
Choose Purple are a website design agency in Worksop covering Worksop, Retford, Doncaster, Mansfield, Chesterfield and surrounding areas. We design award winning websites helping your business to stand out and win more clients.