Grow Your Small Business Using Blogs

My name is Raffi Boyadjian. Since the early nineties, I have worked and owned businesses in different industries. I have worked for a software (SAAS) company, a huge telecommunications company, and a furniture retailer. I have also owned retail businesses in the travel and specialty food sectors.

These businesses are all different but share common marketing challenges, the ones that always come up are explaining what your business is about and how to be visible to potential clients.

You are asking what you can do and how to go about it, you created a website, you have a page to showcase your products, and you have also created a (contact us) page with your address and email. For most of us, the reason we do this is because it is expected of us to have an internet presence by having a web page BUT just because you are on the internet does not mean you have a presence.

People need to be able to find your web page when looking for the product and/or service you are selling. I know that SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is complicated and can be expensive for your small business but there is a way to connect with people and improve your SEO simultaneously.

A Blog.

If a business website is like a store, a blog is like the store's newsletter.

Just like you might open a magazine to read the newest article first, blogs typically show the most recent posts at the top. Each post has its page, title, and usually a date showing when it was published.

A Blog is content creation that falls into the Content Marketing category which is a type of pull marketing.

Here are 3 Key Elements of Content Marketing (American Marketing Association)

At its core, content marketing revolves around three main activities:

1. Content creation: This is where you create the collateral that will engage your audience. It could be a blog post, a how-to video, a white paper, or even a series of social media posts. The key is to focus on quality and relevance—your content should solve a problem, answer a question, or provide new insights.

2. Content distribution: Once you create content, you must ensure it reaches your target audience. This is achieved through sharing it on various channels, including websites, email newsletters, social media platforms, and third-party publications.

3. Content engagement: Engagement builds relationships and provides valuable feedback that can guide future content strategies. It’s all about interaction. Whether through comments, shares, likes, or direct responses, your content should encourage your audience to take action.

Content marketing isn’t optional—it’s essential. In early 2024, nearly half of decision-makers globally planned to increase their content marketing budgets, with 86% set to maintain or boost spending. (American Marketing Association / Statista 2024)

Okay, but how often should I write and what about?

One of the best topics in business blogging has got to be (Client questions as blog topics) because we all have experienced questions from long-time customers who don't understand how your business works even after years of buying from you.

This helps you answer the "why" questions directly on your blog.

For small businesses, I recommend starting with 2-4 blog posts per month. Here's why:

1. Resource Management:

- Small businesses typically have limited time and staff

- Each post needs proper research, writing, and editing

- This frequency allows you to maintain quality without overwhelming your team

2. Consistency Benefits:

- Publishing one (1) post every 1-2 weeks is sustainable

- Readers know when to expect new content

- Search engines recognize regular updates

3. Content Development:

- Gives enough time to research topics thoroughly

- Allows for proper editing and fact-checking

- Enables you to incorporate customer feedback

4. Quality Focus: IMPORTANT

- Better to have two (2) excellent posts than eight (8) mediocre ones

- Each post should provide real value to your readers

- Quality content has a longer shelf life

Tips for Success:

- Create a content calendar to plan ahead

- Focus on topics directly relevant to your customers

- Track engagement to optimize your posting schedule

- Increase frequency only when you can maintain quality

If you want to add a Blog to your marketing mix but do not have the time or the resources, contact us for a custom quote at info@mediaraffi.com