Blogging is, and has been for years, one of the best search engine optimization (SEO) strategies around. Research shows that content marketing generates three times as many leads as other, more traditional outbound marketing tactics, but costs 62% less. Marketers who have prioritized blogging are also 13 times more likely to enjoy a positive return on investment. In fact, content marketing is so effective that 82% of marketers who blog daily acquire a customer using their blog, while 57% of marketers who blog monthly acquire a customer through their blog.
That being said, content marketing is changing. The amount of content produced by brands increased by 78% in 2014, but engagement with each piece decreased by 60%. In other words, content marketing strategies need to improve if they’re to keep working.
Here are just a few things you can do to improve your brand’s blog.
Write Longer Content.
How long have your past blogs been? 300 words? 500 words? Most people might think that the shorter the blog, the easier it is to read. The easier it is to read, the more likely it is to be shared. However, a recent study found that if a post is at least 1,500 words, it’ll receive 68.1% more tweets on average and 22.6% more Facebook likes than something shorter.
Use the Hemingway App.
Good news and bad news. The bad news is that the only real way to get better at blogging is to practice. You have to write, write, and keep writing. (You also need to read other blogs, too, but that goes without saying.) The good news is that there’s a website that can review your writing and offer helpful suggestions. The Hemingway App grades your writing on how hard it is. The easier, the better. It’ll also point out your hard-to-read lines, your use of passive voice, and adverbs to help you edit.
Add Infographics.
As interesting, stimulating, and exciting as your writing may be, visuals help. A lot. SEO experts been found that infographics are liked and shared three times more often than other types of SEO content. In fact, users are 30 times more likely to read your infographic than they are to read your text.
Blogging remains one of the best Internet marketing tactics around. Professional website design, PPC, social media presences, and more are all integral, but it’s content marketing that gets shared, introducing new audiences to your brand and generating leads.
If you have any questions, feel free to share in the comments.