4 Reasons to Blog Even if No One Reads Your Blog

Today’s blog post is about blogging, but before I begin I’d like to acknowledge that yesterday was a monumental day for internet users. The stop SOPA and PIPA campaigns were even more prominent than ever with sites such as Wikipedia, Reddit and Cragislist all blacking for 24 hours to make a statement on what the internet may look like if certain laws are passed. As someone who’s an Entrepreneur and Marketer in the digital space, the internet is essential for my business to thrive. I use the internet to connect with people, share information and  provide resources. Today’s post on “4 Reasons to Blog Even if No One Reads Your Blog” might not even be possible if SOPA or PIPA pass. So even if you did want to read my blog (which of course you all do anyway) you may not be able to! Oh and I’m pretty sure my video Shit Social Media Experts Say would definitely not fly under these new laws.

Although blogging is a great marketing tool, it’s not the reason I blog, it just happens to be an amazing benefit. I’ve been blogging for almost 10 years yet I don’t ever think of myself as a blogger. Blogging is really just me writing and since I now do it online, instead of saying “I write”, I say, “I blog”. In college I used to blog daily on Xanga.com. I wrote about my adventures, school, work and things I did and experienced day to day. Before blogging I used to journal. My parents had me journal as a kid to practice writing. I remember keeping a notebook and journaling as far back as kindergarten maybe even pre-school! (Even then I was an early adopter )

Now I write to educate other, share my adventures and inspire both myself and my readers. I started my current website and blog, Marketing Melodie in March of 2008 (I can’t believe it’s been almost 4 years). When I started it, I was working for a large media company doing sales and marketing. I created the site to be a resource for clients and to educate myself. It’s since evolved into the marketing company I run today specializing in digital technology and social media.

Whether it’s for your business (especially if it’s for your business) or personal I highly recommend everyone have a blog. I hear the excuse from so many people “But no one is going to read my blog”. So what if no one reads what you write? Write for YOU, write like no one is reading and don’t be afraid to put your thoughts down in a tangible place. By doing this you’ll receive so many benefits. So I present you with 4 Reasons to Blog Even if No One Reads Your Blog. 

1. SEO- The first reason is just practical so let’s start with that. Even if a single soul doesn’t read your blog, updating your site with fresh, new content (this is especially important if it’s a business blog on your website) will significantly improve your SEO. Search engines pick up on fresh, new content and place a higher value on sites that have been recently updated versus stagnant sites that have been sitting around for months or years. Within each blog post you can create links with keywords directing readers to other areas of your site. I won’t get too technical here, but just know that blogging will improve your SEO.
2. Blogging teaches you- I learn something new every day and much of it is attributed to writing. I find that writing stuff down often teaches me how to be more clear and concise with the thoughts I have racing through my mind. Because I’m able to clarify my thoughts, Ican see things in a different perspective which in turn teaches me more about the very topic I’m blogging about.
3. Blogging is cathartic- Sometimes you just need to get things off your chest. During these times, it can also difficult to say these things out loud. Well blogging is a great way to release any emotions you have stored up.  Not all blogs need to be public. If you write something but don’t yet feel ready to share it, there’s no shame in that. But at least you put it out into the world so it’s no longer just stored inside you. Putting things out there is also a great step in being able to let things go.
4. Reflection- I just read a bunch of blog posts I wrote back in 2008. Wow it’s really amazing to be able to read the YOU from 4 years ago. Reading old posts really allows me to reflect on things I’ve done in the past but also appreciate the present moment. It brings into perspective even more of how everything that’s happened so far has led me to where I am today. I do find it amusing though because reading back on some of the stuff I wrote the thought “Are you kidding me? I actually said that?!” does tend to pop up a lot. Live and learn. Live and learn.

As you can see, writing, blogging, whatever you want to call it has helped me in so many ways. Please feel free to share with me other reason you blog. I leave you with a quote from a famous writer that really inspired me:

 “And by the way, everything in life is writable about if you have the outgoing guts to do it, and the imagination to improvise.  The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt”.  ~Sylvia Plath

16 Things to Write About in Your Business Blog

My inspiration for this post is two-fold. First, I couldn’t think of a topic to blog about today so I wanted a resource for getting rid of bloggers block. My entrepreneurial spirit kicked in as I thought, why don’t I just create the resource myself? My 2nd inspiration is the recent blog launch for my client SafeList. We just launched, SafeBlog and during the process of creating a blog strategy we brainstormed on a variety of blog topics their team can write about. Some of the topics are industry specific and others are general that can apply to your own business too.

So whether you just launched a business blog, are thinking of starting one or just need a little inspiration on what to write for your existing blog here are a list of topics to choose from:

1. Feature Business Partners- Are there other companies you work with who add value to your service? Tell us about them!
2. Your Event- What cool event are you hosting? Why should people attend? Here are some sample event posts: Yoga for the Busy Body with Marketing Melodie , Tweet for After-School All-Stars at Twestival San Diego and Digital Media Dinners- Social Media Branding Panelists .
3. An Event You Attended- Recap a conference or event your company participated in. Did you learn anything new? You can also highlight community members you met at the event. @HeyStephanie did a great job summarizing my one of my events she attended: Digital Media Dinner- Social Media Branding Recap
4. Tour of Your Office- Videos or photos of your office humanize your brand, especially if you’re a larger corporation.
5. Community Service Projects- Does your company participate in charity drives? Beach cleanups? Other projects that give back? Cause campaigns are great stories for a blog post!
6. News- Is there breaking news about your industry? Although major blogs and news sites may have already written about it, do a quick recap adding your own insight or possible solutions.
7. Your Customers- Feature customers, tell us about who buys your product or uses your service. This is a way to give back to your customers while also humanizing the customer experience.
8. How did your company get started?- The “History” may be somewhere on your website, but you can personalize your story on the blog.
9. Going Green- What is your company is doing to create a more sustainable environment? Are you recycling in the office? Are you eliminating paper documents and making them electronic? Are you encouraging employees to bring reusable mugs to work
10. Holidays- Are there any holidays coming up? How is your company celebrating? Are you offering any deals for customers? Are you hosting an awesome party? Holiday related posts are always festive! During the Christmas season I wrote a post related to Marketing: Tis the Season for Marketing Yourself to Advance Your Career.
11. Job Openings- Is your company hiring for a new position or intern? Create a blog post so others can easy repost and share your opportunities.
12. Your Social Networks- Most companies have profiles on Facebook and Twitter. Write a blog post telling your customers why they should Like and Follow you on these sites. Are you offering something exclusive to followers they can’t receive unless they’re a part of your community? Will you be providing useful tips to people in your networks?
13. New Hires- Tell us who the new guy is that just joined your team!
14. Overcoming Objections- Are there common objections you receive from potential customers who are hesitant to use your product or service? List these objections and give explanations that overcome any misconceptions.
15. New Products or Services- Has your company recently launched something new? Tell us about it! Why will your new product or service benefit your customers? What are some reasons to try it?
16. Media Appearances- Was your business recently featured on the news, in an article, the radio or even another blog? Share a clip of your feature while telling us about it! Check out my tips on How To Optimize Your Public Relations Effort for Social Media when you get featured in the media.

What are some other topics you’d like to see a business write about in their blog? Please share your ideas. I’ll be compiling a follow up list in the future and may use your tip!

Blogging Tips from One Blogger to Another

I started my marketing blog a year ago to document and share things things I’ve learned, talk about my own insights and experiences. I knew blogging would give me freedom to write on any topic, blog on my own time and use my own writing style. I’m honored that each blog I post receives more page views than the previous which means I’m educating and reaching out to more people. I truly hope everyone learns at least 1 piece of useful information each time they visit my website. Since blogging is such a hot topic, I’m dedicating this entire blog to blogging. Read more