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How to make my blog stand out?

Female photographer sat in front of her laptop holding her camera uploading her new photos to her Go Sitebuilder website

In order to create a successful website you need an effective blog. A blog allows you to communicate with browsers to your website in a more informal way. This keeps them updated on any new developments in your business or personal life (depending on the type of website you have.) If you need more information on blogging, check out our post on What is blogging and how can I start my own blog?

With over 77% of internet users regularly reading blogs, updating yours regularly can help significantly boost the number of visitors to your website. Blogging can also be incredibly useful in increasing Search Engine Optimisation; find out more in our blog on the benefits of creating a blog for SEO purposes. 

To engage the most visitors on your website there are critical success factors to creating a unique, popular blog. Read on to discover how to make your blog stand out from the crowd! 

Professional Web Design

No blog will be successful if the website is poorly designed. Think about key aspects such as layout, colours, fonts and images to create a professional website that reflects your business. 

Ensure that your blog is easy to find on your website, with links to recent blog posts and a clear blog heading in your menu. Adding a search bar is a great way to make it easy for visitors to find blogs that align with their area of interest. 

Effective Titles

For your blog posts to have the most views, effective titles will go a long way. Ensure you keep your titles short and to the point and that they relate to your blog post. 

The content of your blog posts can be as varied as you like. However, if your website focuses on a specific topic or is for a business you should ensure that your blog posts link directly to it. Some examples are: 

Beauty Salon Blog: 

  • “Tips for creating the perfect manicure”
  • “Hairstyle trends you need for 2020”
  • “The skincare trick everyone is raving about”

Lifestyle Blog:

  • “How to interior design like a pro”
  • “My favourite fashion trends this year”
  • “How to organise your busy schedule”

Travel Blog:

  • “Countries to visit this month”
  • “The best ice cream I’ve ever tried: Rome’s food scene”
  • “Top tips for backpacking”

These are only a few titles for different types of blogs, but they all have one thing in common. They directly target an audience and tell you exactly what the blog post is going to be about. Using titles which will directly relate to and impact the reader is sure to gain you more views on your blog. 

Use Different types of Media

By using a variety of media you are more likely to engage a wider range of browsers to your website. Large portions of text can also put visitors off, so adding subtitles or different media like images and infographics can keep visitors on your blog and reduce your bounce rate.  Images are also a way to help engage your visitors with your content by illustrating the ideas and concepts in the blog.

You can include media such as:

  • Photographs 
  • Infographics 
  • Illustrations/paintings 
  • Longer produced videos 
  • Shorter informal videos 

If you need more reasons to include media in your blog posts, check out this blog on 8 data driven reasons why media is important to blogging success.

Create Unique Content

With so many different blog posts online, creating unique relatable content is paramount in making your blog stand out. Do some research on what competitors or similar blogs are posting about and think about how you can improve on this or offer a different perspective. Is there a topic that you are particularly knowledgeable or passionate about? If so focus on that for a number of blog posts to show your understanding of it. 

Another key aspect is to ensure that you are posting regularly to your blog. This is one of the critical success factors of your blog’s popularity. Without a regular schedule you will lose following and regular engagement with your blog by visitors to your website. Each time you post a blog, search engines will re-index your site and hopefully boost your page up the search rankings.

Some people will write a chunk of blogs at once (for example 10 blog posts on the same topic) and then make a schedule for posting them. Whereas, others may post on a schedule and write as they post. Whichever option works best for you, ensure you stick to it to get the best results. 

If you need a great website builder, then look no further than Go Sitebuilder. With a wide range of blog friendly features, our simple website builder design means you can have a professional looking website up and running in minutes. Try our 14-day free trial today!

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Do bloggers earn money?

Young man sitting in cafeteria and using tablet computer to blog about his business on Go SItebuilder

When you think of blogging, thoughts of 16-year olds posting baking recipes or beauty product photos might spring to mind. Whilst you might want to take up blogging as a hobby, you may be surprised to hear that some people have actually made millions off their blogs. Whilst the most successful probably got on the bandwagon early and started up their blogs before 2006, this doesn’t mean you can’t make money from your blogs if you start now.

Finding a website builder with an easy to use blogging platform is key: if you seriously want to make money from blogs then it’s important to be writing multiple blogs a week, which you’ll want to access and be able to edit from any device. As there are so many different ways to make money from writing blogs, it’s hard to predict your average salary: Glassdoor revealed that bloggers can make anything from £8 to over £80 for a fairly short post. 

Don’t let this discourage you – we’ve put together some tips so that you can start making a profit from your blogs!

Write quality content 

Unfortunately, you can’t make money overnight by writing just one blog post. You have to build up a strong following of people who regularly visit your blog. This means writing multiple pieces on topics of interest, and writing them to a high standard. 

Don’t just put pen to paper – or in this case, finger to keyboard – and hope that you’ll come up with magical content that everyone wants to read. If you have specific knowledge of a certain area then writing informative or factual opinion pieces can really engage visitors, encouraging them to return to your site.

Although this might sound counterintuitive, offering quality freebies is also a good way for you to earn from your blogs. For example, if you want people to pay a small fee to access your high-quality content, then let the site user try before they buy. Think of it as giving away tasters for your restaurant: you’re letting customers sample your content, before they consider making a purchase. 

Build up a following 

You want to be able to have a strong, steady list of followers who regularly visit your blog. This is fairly easy to do: find a website builder that lets you link your social media to your blogs. This encourages site visitors to share your content on their own social media, sparking up further interest around your blog and increasing your visibility.

You might also opt to set up an email mailing list: by getting people to sign up, you can alert them to the latest blog posts you’ve written, reminding them to visit your site and hopefully share your content. 

Advertising income 

If you’re wondering what the previous steps have to do with earning money through your blogs then think of all the time spent creating quality content and building a strong following and preparation. Bloggers can earn money through adverts, but the advertiser wants to be reassured that there are enough people visiting your site for it to be worthwhile paying for a space on your blog page.

If the thought of reaching out to an advertising company is a daunting prospect, then there are ad networks such as Google Adsense which acts as a sort of middleman, enabling small publishers to advertise on their blogs. Other ad networks include Infolinks and Media.net.

Affiliate linking 

If you’ve built a website with a blog, and your intent is to simply share your love for a hobby, then affiliate linking can be a great way to earn money through your blogs. For those unsure as to what affiliate linking is, it essentially means that you link a product in your blog that an advertiser has told you they want to sell. Whenever a buyer has used your link to make a purchase, you make a certain amount of revenue. 

If you’re not sure where to start, then ad networks such as Amazon Associates is a great way to start earning money through your blogs. 

Promote your business 

If you’ve built a website with an ecommerce store, then use your blogs to make people want to buy your products or invest in your services. By internally linking the products you sell on your blog, you’re directing visitors to look at what goods you have to offer. This is also great for SEO: Google is more likely to index more of your pages on its search engine results page if you internally link. 

Writing blogs can also help you earn money via your ecommerce site by increasing traffic flow to your site. Blogs that answer commonly searched questions increases traffic to your website, showing Google that your content is of high quality and worth boosting up the search engine rankings.

If you want a website builder that offers a blogging platform which is incredibly easy to use,  Go Sitebuilder offers ready to go site templates that can be uploaded in a few clicks. We include an ecommerce and blog section in our package for no added cost, making us one of the cheapest website builders around. Of course, this doesn’t mean that we compromise on quality – try our 14-day free trial to see for yourself. Start earning money on your blogs today!

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Why Do I Need a Blog For My Business?

Middle aged blogger updating her business blog via her smartphone while working remotely in a cafe.

Although blogging may seem like a hobby only suitable for teens who dream of becoming social media influencers, it is an invaluable tool if you want to expand your business. For those who are unfamiliar with the term, blogging is essentially writing an online journal or informational post which is then uploaded to your site – a bit like an article that you might read in a magazine. 

Although blogging might push you outside of your comfort zone, it’s pretty easy to get the hang of it. Remember, your blogs will be there to boost your online business, so it’s likely you’ll be talking about something that you’re familiar with. A blog also doesn’t need to be pages long: anything between 300-2000 words can be helpful. As long as you post blogs regularly, you’ll soon see the benefits that blogging can bring to your business. 

It improves SEO ranking 

Adopting a search engine optimisation (SEO) strategy is paramount to ensure your online business is visible. Blogging is a great way to improve your visibility: by using keywords in your blogpost which people are searching for, Google is more likely to see that your content is useful, meaning it will rank it higher in search engine results. 
Being on the first page of Google is absolutely vital: considering that 75% of users don’t scroll past the first page of search results, ranking highly ensures that visitors will click on to your blog post for answers. And, once people are on your site, they are more likely to want to explore what you have to offer – Hubspot has revealed that businesses which use blogs as part of their marketing strategy get 67% more leads than those who don’t. By having a high SEO ranking, you can market your services completely free of charge, as blogging means you are more likely to have a large traffic flow through your website. 

It is important to remember to continue blogging: although you might have one blog post which becomes really popular, don’t let the success of your online business rest on this one blog. Every time you write a blog post, Google indexes your page, ensuring that your online business is constantly being shown on Google’s search engine results. 

It builds trust 

There are a lot of dodgy websites out there, meaning that it can be difficult to know what and who to trust. Writing blog posts shows visitors to your site that you really know what you’re talking about. If, for example, you’re a lawyer offering legal advice, then a potential client is going to want to be reassured that you’re well practised in the area. Writing a blog post about your achievements and accomplishments is a great way to advertise yourself to this client. 

You can also opt to write informational blog posts: not only is this good for SEO, but it shows site users that you really want to help them, and that you have the knowledge necessary to do so. Considering that blogs are in the top 5 of most trusted online sources, blogging is a great way to build a relationship between your business and the site user. 

If your business has an ecommerce section, then providing a step-by-step guide on how to use the product that you’re selling is a fantastic way to market your item: people are much more likely to want to buy something if they feel reassured that they won’t be left wondering what to do with it once purchased. 

It provides better exposure 

Social media can be a goldmine when it comes to increasing visibility on the web. By linking social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest etc. to your blog posts, you are giving people the opportunity to share your content, and potentially spark discussion around what you’ve written. The more people who want to join in on the conversation about your content, the better – if people start commenting and tagging their friends into the post, then more people are going to be able to see what services you offer. 

Just as social media can give your blog posts more exposure, blogging can improve the number of people who visit your social media sites. By adding a link to a recent Instagram post to your blog, you are increasing your visibility and encouraging people to engage with you on social media. This is a great way to ensure that people don’t forget about your online business once they’ve clicked off: by encouraging them to follow you on social media, you can keep them updated with the latest information or offers within your online business. 

Building a website 

Of course, you will want to have a sleek, attractive website to publish your blog posts on. Go Sitebuilder is a one of the best site builders in the UK for those who might be a bit daunted by the prospect: their services are incredibly easy to use, and they offer one of the cheapest ecommerce add ons in the UK. Unlike other website builders, they have a free blogging platform within their software, meaning you won’t have to learn how to use a whole new software just to upload a blog. Their 14-day free trial means you can explore all they have to offer completely free of charge, allowing you to build the perfect online business for you. 

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What is blogging and how can I start my own blog?

Female food blogger vlogging her latest recipe

Many successful websites will run a blog alongside their main site to generate more interest and share their ideas. Creating a blog section to your website can be an effective way to gain customers by building up a rapport with visitors on your website. Blogging can also be a good way to communicate news surrounding your business such as awards or new products.   

What is blogging?

Blogging is a regularly updated web page with articles or posts which are written in a more informal and conversational style to conventional websites. Blog posts written are often related to the website or firm, but may not hold key information surrounding the business. Instead, blogs are intended to convey news or advice which may interest the visitor. 

The nature of blogging is to create short posts which will engage the reader straight away. Creating a blog allows you to pitch your services or products in a more informal manner. There is more scope for creative content such as interviews, photographs and videos, allowing you to show your company in a different light to your traditional website. 

How can I start my own blog?

Starting your own blog is simple. All you need to start your own blog is either a website where you add a page for blog posts or you can start a whole new website dedicated to blogging and link to it on your main page. Most websites opt for a page on their established website which is dedicated to blogging, as this allows visitors to easily find your products or services if they find your blog page first. 

There are a few aspects to consider when setting up a new blog:

Who is writing/creating the content?

One key consideration when creating a new blog is who is going to be posting onto the webpage. This could include anything from who uploads and edits the content to the authors themselves. 

If you are a small business the likelihood is that you will be running the website and therefore the blog page. In this situation it can be difficult to post many times a week, therefore, keeping realistic expectations and timetables for postings is important so as not to get overwhelmed. 

However, if you are a larger firm you may be able to employ someone to run your blog full time. This will allow you to put out a large number of posts per week and gain more momentum with your blog. This will increase the number of visitors and hopefully result in new customers. 

What type of content are you going to have?

The type of content you have depends on the timescale you have to create the content and the type of firm you are. If time is not an issue, blog posts that include elements such as videos or infographics can be very effective. However, written blog posts will still be effective in communicating news or information. 

Some different types of content to consider are:

  • Written blog posts 
  • Photo journals 
  • Video content 
  • Interviews – this could be in a video format or a written article 
  • Infographics – these are often used to show statistics or information visually 

How long will your blog posts be?

Again this can be dependent on the type and size of the company you are blogging for, but generally, posts should be relatively short and engaging. If you have time, longer posts are also a good alternative because it allows you to create a more comprehensive article, giving it a competitive edge over other blogs that are covering similar subjects.

How many times a week are you going to post?

An effective blog will be updated regularly, with news and information. Uploading blog posts consistently is important in order to keep your blog relevant. It is better to post once a week every week, than to post four in one week then not post again for six months.  

Where are you going to promote your new blog?

Often the best way to promote blogs is to use social media and your existing website. Posts on platforms such as Instagram and Facebook promoting certain blog posts can be effective in engaging with visitors to these platforms and getting them to visit your website. The promotion can range from including a link in your bio to a photograph post which links them to the blog relating to that photograph. 

Ready to start your blog? If you are looking to build a website or blog for your company, then look no further than Go Sitebuilder! Our simple design means you can have a professional website up and running in minutes, and our blog editor will make starting up your own blog as hassle-free as possible. Try our 14-day free trial today!

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4 fool-proof ways to drive traffic to your new website

Launching a website

There’s nothing quite like launching a fresh, new website – especially as a small or new business. After all, your website is part of your public image and your most important digital marketing asset. But, what happens after you’ve hit the publish button?

Your traffic can, and will, grow organically once your site is online but it’s likely to take a long time for you to see the growth you’re really looking for without boosting it yourself. Thankfully, there’s a wealth of easy-to-follow options for driving traffic to your website. We’ve explored some of these options below:

Option #1: Work on your Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)

Search Engine Optimisation, or SEO, is the heart of any solid digital strategy. Put simply, it’s a staple of on-page and off-page techniques which can help you bring organic (i.e. not paid) traffic to your website. Quality SEO will bring your website higher in the search results when users look for your target keywords, meaning more traffic for you. It sounds scary and complicated but this easy to follow guide will get you started on the basics. Once you understand the basics, keeping your website up to date with fresh content is the best way to play your SEO-game!

Option #2: Create a content strategy

Another great way to keep people coming back to your website is to frequently publish interesting and engaging content. In fact, a solid content strategy is really the backbone of successful digital marketing. The great thing about content production is that it’s low-cost (or free if you’re willing to put pen to paper) and easy to do if you leverage your industry knowledge. Create a plan of the types of content you think your visitors would find interesting or useful and set up a calendar for when you want to post each article or page.

Option #3: Explore the world of guest blogging

Here’s a method of traffic generation which can bring traffic to your site in two different ways. By doing a little outreach and working with related websites, you can arrange guest blog posts whereby you write some content for them, and they allow you to link back to your website. Not only will this bring relevant traffic to your site, but it’ll also generate backlinks which are an essential ingredient to quality SEO.

Option #4: If you’re in a rush, try some paid ads

While the strategies we’ve shared so far are all proven and effective, they can take a little time to reap the traffic rewards. SEO, for example, can take a few weeks or even months to start showing positive results. If you need traffic faster than this, PPC (Pay Per Click) advertising is always an option. With a program like Google Ads or Facebook Ads, you can bid a small amount of money to place your ad higher up in the search results. It can be a great way to give your new business a jumpstart.

If you’re having trouble driving traffic to your website, try out one or more of these ideas and you’ll soon start to see some positive results. And if you’re yet to build the website of your dreams, why not try out Go Sitebuilder today? It’s the easiest way to create a professional website for your business – no technical skills required!