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What the heck is a Blog?

Your digital marketing manager keeps telling you to write blogs. (If they are not you should probably be looking for a new one.) But what constitutes a blog? Understanding what a blog can be is a common roadblock to new blog content creators. So we are going to make it as simple as we can for you..

A blog is two things: Entertaining and/or informative content geared toward your target audience. And a sheet of keywords and data signals for search engines. That's it.

If you can create content that satisfies one of these things, that's great. If you do both, you nailed it. The parameters for the topic, style and composition are broad. There are of course good blog techniques to apply for a primer on that read our post: 10 Tips to Get Your Blog Noticed

Today I just want to really help you understand what a blog is designed to do. The first part is: entertain and inform your audience. This is a broad stroke and you should think of it as such. You can give them great expert advice in your line of business. You can tell them about a social event you or an employee is involved in. A local community you are involved in or supporting. Address current events that perhaps have some bearing on what you do, or in some cases, just something in the news you feel compelled to address. The key is to really understand your audience and to offer them something they will value. If you do that, then you have created a good blog post.

A blog post is not a sales pitch. It is not a place for you to push your products or to bombard your audience with self promotion. This is an offering of information that will have your reader feeling trust, and reassured that you are an authority in your field, and if you are really good, that you "get them."

The second element is producing data in your posts that are keyed toward search engine algorithms. These often change in some technical details, but for the in house content producers the rules stay fairly close. Use words in your posts that you think your average, potential customer, may search for. Try and use different variations and vernacular to cover your bases, and repeat the most common word, when possible. Insert links to other, valuable sources, and links back to your own website. Insert calls to action on every post; your reader needs to be directed where to go next.

If each of your posts addresses these things you will have a successful, organic, marketing stream. There are always possibilities for improvement. There will always be more you can do. But for those of you who are just beginning to be asked to write blogs for the first time, this should help the roadblock question "What is a blog?"

Now go write! This content will have a positive impact on your marketing efforts, and finding your rhythm will come with practice. But procrastinating over topics or doubt is a sure fire way to have a, empty blog and a dated, static, website. You should be working with a marketing team that will guide you further on best practices and on presentation and distribution methods. But nobody will be able to communicate your business knowledge better than you. You are the expert.

If you have any questions about blogging or any other SEO or digital marketing topics, please feel free to contact us anytime: give us a call at,877.397.7605 or Email us for more information.