Step By Step Guide for Using Google Trends with Your Blog

Step By Step Guide for Using Google Trends with Your Blog

There are many wonderful writers who think that they can be successful in the blog writing business. However, it takes more than excellent writing skills in order to start an effective blog. Key to your success is making sure that the blog is actually being read.

Google Trends is a tool that you can use to ensure that you are maximizing viewership on your blog. It has many features that can help in this area. Read on to learn all about how Google Trends can help you manage your blog!

Do I Have to Use Google Trends for My Blog?

Since Google Trends can be a very useful tool in helping your blog succeed, it is a good idea to learn about how to use it in the best way possible.

Google Trends can give you more than the more primitive keyword research tools. It actually gives you context behind the popular search queries that you’re trying to learn about. This can be really useful for a blog owner, as it can give you a lot of insight that helps you write content that is actually going to draw in readers.

This tool can help you figure out not only which queries are the most popular, but why people are searching for this information. This can help you publish content at the times when it is most likely to be read.

You don’t necessarily have to use Google Trends for your blog, but it is certainly a useful tool for anyone who wants to make high ranking content. If a successful, lucrative blog is your goal, you really should consider using Google Trends.

Should I Use Google Trends for Every Article?

Google Trends is one among many tools that can help you make every article as successful as possible. It can tell you which keywords are most likely to be successful at the point in time when you are publishing that article. Different keywords may be trending at this point than at the point when you started the blog.

It’s a good idea to look at Google Trends periodically while creating, maintaining, and adding content to your blog. The following are good times to look at Google Trends:

When to Look at Google Trends When starting a new blog When you notice a decrease in existing traffic When you sit down to create a hitlist If you want to branch into a new niche Once a month just for good measure When you’re updating existing content

Using Google Trends Helps Bloggers Avoid Fad Niches

There are many fad niches that may deceive you into thinking a keyword or topic would be good for your blog. However, if it is truly a fad niche, it will be a waste of your time and energy. The fad will disappear very quickly, and the content will no longer add value to your site.

This can be particularly disappointing if the topic of your entire blog was based on a fad niche.

You can circumvent this problem with Google Trends. What you should do when logging on to the site is set the time range to a minimum of 12 months. In some cases, you might want to set it at an even longer range.

This will minimize the chance that you are investing into a trend that will soon disappear. If the site is set to 12 months, you will be able to see which trends have been growing consistently for at least 12 months.

Of course, you may already know exactly what you want to blog about, regardless of trends. If this is the case, you should not blog about another topic in which you have no interest simply to keep up with the trends.

However, you can use Google Trends here as well. You can use it just to see which keywords have been relevant for some time. You can tailor your content ideas to this and achieve higher viewership this way.

Google Trends Can Help You Find Growing Niches

Google Trends can help you not only avoid fad niches, but also give you a pretty strong prediction as to whether a niche will continue to grow in the future. Of course, there are no guarantees, but it can give you a pretty reliable indicator as to whether your niche of interest is going to continue to grow over the coming months and years.

If you find a niche that Google Trends tells you is likely to grow, that can give you confidence that this may be a good topic on which you can blog.

The “Breakout Ideas” Feature Can Give You Keyword and Topic Ideas

In the “Related Topics” and “Related Queries” sections of Google Trends, there are Breakout topics. These are currently trending topics that could be very profitable for you to write about. They received the breakout label when the topic has gotten a 5000% increase within your specified time period.

There are a few things to know about Breakout topics. They are as follows:

  • There is always a chance that these trends will shift in the other direction fairly soon, but you should look at these topics in order to see the trends over time.
  • Google shows you the percentage of search volume increases for any keyword search.
  • If any search term is growing more than 5,000%, it will simply be marked as “Breakout.”
  • Sometimes, breakout keywords can be helpful in that they are not yet competitive and can give you the chance to establish a foothold before they become competitive.

The trending keywords among Breakout topics can help you figure out how to parcel out your content if you already have the niche for your blog.

You should keep in mind that some of these breakout keywords are actually fads and will probably not be popular anymore after a few months, but they can help you gain viewership for at least some time if you time them correctly.

If you are going to use breakout ideas, make sure to do it quickly. They are popular right now, and you want to capitalize upon this if you can before the trend starts to wane. You should not center your entire blog around a breakout keyword, because it could end up being a fad. 

However, it could be a very good idea to use breakout keywords to time the release of your content appropriately.

Google Trends Can Help Bloggers Best Utilize Seasonal Trends

Google Trends can help you take advantage of seasonal trends. Obviously, there are certain topics that are going to be more utilized at certain times of the year. For example, if you are writing a blog about dogs, you are more likely to achieve higher viewership with an article on Christmas gifts for your dog close to that holiday than you are in the middle of the year.

You can verify these seasonal topics using Google Trends. This site can show you what times of the year this topic is likely to peak, and you can make sure to time your content release just before this peak. You don’t want to publish it in the middle of the peak because you will lose out on the views you would have gotten during the first part of the peak.

You also do not want to publish it after the peak is over because you will have lost out on the benefit the peak could have brought you.

Google Trends Can Introduce You to Profitable Product Categories

In addition to content, many bloggers make money via affiliate and e-commerce marketing. Essentially, you are paid to sell a product. If someone who is reading your blog clicks on one of the products you are advertising and actually purchases it, you will get a small commission as a result.

Whatever you’re chosen niche, you can go to the “Related Topics” and “Related Queries” sections of Google Trends and find product ideas that will make you some money.

Google Trends Assists in Keyword Research

Google Trends is not to be used exclusively for keyword research. There are actually many other tools that are more efficient than Google Trends in this particular area.

However, you should use it to an extent. It can assist you in identifying high demand long tail keywords. It can also give you many related queries when you input a keyword. This allows you to fairly easily increase your base keyword pool.

An even more powerful strategy would be to use Google Trends along with another platform. This way, you can see metrics such as keyword difficulty and traffic.

Google Trends Can Help You Maximize the Views from Your Region

You can actually set Google Trends in order to analyze the data for your country. You can do this right away, selecting your country from the drop down menu in the corner. The region to which you said it can actually have a pretty major effect on the search interest of any given topic. This helps you target a local audience if this is something you would like to do.

There are many uses for the “Interest by subregion” feature on Google Trends. These are as follows:

  • It allows you what keywords are trending and different subregions, as well as cities and states. 
    • Search volume for different keywords can vary quite a bit even between states in the same country.
  • It is a great tool for anyone who is trying to gain local interest for their page.
  • It can help you gain viewership in other parts of the world by altering your keyword in a certain way, while not compromising on your content quality.

Google Trends Can Uncover New Keyword Ideas

Google Trends can also help you find new keywords without having to search for a specific one. Go to the “Trending Searches” feature to see which keywords are currently rising. Specifically, it will show you real-time data for searches that have really gone up in the last 24 hours.

However, you definitely should use your judgment with this feature. Most of the time, these keywords represent very short-term fads. Many of them are not even worth creating one blog post around.

Keep in mind, though, that some of them can have lasting power. If you can find these keywords, you can really drive up viewership on your blog. The keyword is brand new in many cases, so it is a term that you will not usually be able to find using traditional keyword tools. If you are one of the first ones to use it, this can really help your viewership.

The LSI Keywords Feature Can Help You with SEO

If you use the feature on Google Trends that shows you LSI keywords, you can improve your own on-page SEO. If you have already written the post, you can use the “Related Topics” and “Related Queries” sections in order to find terms that are closely tied to the keyword, according to Google.

At this point, you would just need to add these terms into your content where you are able to do so.

Google Trends Can Be Useful for Social Media and Webinars

In some cases, you might have a blog that is connected to a social media account. You can use the above strategies to figure out the best time to create a social media campaign on your topic. If you want to host a webinar, you want to make sure you are reaching the right people at the optimal time. Google Trends can help you with this as well.

Conclusion

As you can see, Google Trends can be very helpful when it comes to picking out a niche for your blog and releasing content at the optimal time. It has various features that can tell you what keywords are trending, in what parts of the world you’re likely to draw the most interest, and how you can improve your on-page SEO.

You may be a fantastic writer, but your blog is unlikely to be successful unless you focus on the marketing side as well. You need to make sure that you are doing everything you can to draw in viewership, so that you are able to monetize your blog. Google Trends can help you do just that.

 

Speed Up How Fast You Write Your Blog Posts With This Guide

Speed Up How Fast You Write Your Blog Posts With This Guide

Blogging typically requires three posts or more per week to keep the target audience engaged and returning to the site. This means your writing needs to be fast. The good news is that you can speed up how fast you write your blog posts.

Being able to write quality articles quickly for your blog is a must to keep your audience engaged with your blog. This guide will help you become a faster writer.

How Can I Speed Up Writing My Blog?

To become faster with writing your blog, you should follow some time-tested skills and practice these skills every day.

  • Schedule blocks of time dedicated to writing
  • Choosing a subject or topiC
  • Creating a map- main topics and subtopics
  • Initial research
  • Creating an outline 
  • Writing the content

Following all of these steps and not cutting corners may seem like it’ll slow you down, but having a thorough idea of where you need to go with every post will eventually work wonders to speed you up.

Create a Schedule to Speed Up Your Blog Writing

Schedules help you prioritize your time. When you need to write blog posts, you should ensure you are blocking out the required time to do so. 

One of the easiest ways to create a schedule is to use a template designed specifically for this, such as this editorial calendar and this hourly schedule planner.

How Do You Use an Editorial Schedule For A Blog?

On the editorial planner, you can plan as much or as little as you’d like. Though it might feel superfluous, it really helps!

What to Put in an Editorial Guide Date Started Due Date Any Included Notes Sources You’ve Found Tone/ Style Notes

Think of an editorial guide as a general template that you can use for every single article you write. It’ll help you figure out how much time you typically devote to your blog and writing, which will help with efficiency. Also, it keeps you organized and gives potential ghostwriters something to follow.

Why Do I Need a Daily Schedule For My Blog?

You should also fill out a daily schedule planner because many other things are going on in our lives aside from writing, and that can feel overwhelming. To find and balance our time and keep our sanity, following a schedule can help.

Here is an example of a daily schedule that includes blocked-out time for your blog writing:

Task Time Description
Wake Up 05:30 Good Morning
Morning Routine 5:35 to 6:30 Breakfast, Shower, Kids, Pets
Take Kids to School 07:00:00 to 7:30 Drive time 15 minutes one way
Blog Writing: Begin Research 08:00 Research for 15 minutes
Outline 08:15 Take 15 Minutes for Outlining
Write 8:30 to 9:00 Write for half an hour
Break Time 09:00 Take a 10-minute Break
Write 9:10 to 9:40 Write for half an hour
Household Chores 10:00 to Noon Clean the House
Lunch Break 12:00 to 12:30 Enjoy
Blog Writing: 12:30 to 1:00 Write for 30 minutes
Break Time 01:00 Relax for 10 minutes
Return to Writing 1:10 to 1:40 Write for 30 minutes
Pick Up Kids 01:45 Schools out at 2, find parking

The daily schedule allows you to visualize your day while blocking in time for mandatory items on the agenda. You can see at a glance what you need to accomplish and when you need it completed.

How Much Time Should I Block In For My Blog Writing?

At a minimum, you should set aside two hours per day dedicated to writing. Even if you do not have assignments, continuously practicing will help you become faster.

How often you write is dependent upon you and what you need to accomplish. If you are writing your blog, you need to realistically decide how much content you can produce. 

How Long Should It Take to Write a Blog Article?

Writing a 1,000-word article can take half an hour to more than three hours. Most writers can write an article this size with minimal research in about two hours. Of course, there are many factors to examine as to how long it should take to write a blog post

Here are a few examples of these factors:

  • Writer Experience: A new writer will take longer to research, organize, and write.
  • Research Methods: It can be easy to research for a long time (Be time conscious)
  • Keyboard Type Speed: Depending on fast or slow writers type can affect speed.

When you do not understand the subject, you are going to spend more time researching it. This can overshadow your writing time frame immensely. 

On the other hand, if you are an expert in the subject it may only take a few minutes to write your post.

Choose Your Blog Topic Efficiently

When writing your blog, choosing a topic can feel daunting. To get some ideas, you can search for a trending topic in your niche. 

An even better suggestion is to take a topic within the content you already have. Doing so will give you an internal link opportunity and allow you to work with previously gained knowledge.

Once you have a topic to write about, it’s time to create a map.

Creating a Map Helps Boost Blog Writing Speed

Having a map/outline is essential. A map will help you develop your thoughts into an outline.

Do you remember using concept maps in school? These handy maps are just as relevant to writing successful blog posts, and creating them can actually be kind of fun! All you need is some paper, pens, and a basic idea of how to do it. 

Creating a map Write out some subheads Write out your keywords Add notes for tone Write the topic or title in the center Note down sources for subtopics Include personal anecdote placement Write down little facts Connect keywords to subtopics

Alternatively, you can create a mind map using a template by Canva (which is exactly what we did for the graphic – it was super easy!) if you are familiar with the format. Using paper might be a little more fun, though, since you’re about to spend hours on a screen actually writing. Grab some fun pens!

How Do I Find My Blog Subtopics?

When brainstorming for your subtopics, keep your target audience in mind. Try to imagine the questions they are asking. What else would you like to know about the subject? 

Once you have some subtopics, type each one into Google’s Search Bar. Google is designed to anticipate what you are going to search, and this is going to help you come up with more subtopics, as well as your research links. 

Here’s how to do it:

  • Type your main topic into Google’s search bar.
  • Pay attention to what Google is suggesting as you type; there may be ideas you had not considered.
  • Scan the first three articles that Google brings up. These are Google’s top choices for relevant information on the topic. You can use these for ideas, but dig deeper when you’re actually researching. 
  • Scroll down the Google search page to “People Also Ask” and study the questions. These questions can often be used as the base of your subtopics.
  • Type your subtopics into new Google search tabs to bring up related articles
  • Write your subtopics down on your concept map.

Once your concept map is created, you can start your outline using your concept map; create your H2s and H3s, then add your content. 

Copywriting Agencies Can Boost Blog Content Production

Hiring a content agency will help boost blog production. A good content agency will help you in every aspect of producing and posting your content.

TextGoods can help you speed up production in no time. We offer:

  • Keyword Research/Hit Lists
  • Professional ghostwriters trained in P24 format
  • Social Media Management
  • Content Repurposing

At TextGoods, you will have an entire team working with you to produce the high-quality content your blog needs. You can sit back and not have to worry about producing the content yourself!

Topical Authority vs Domain Authority: Are They Hand in Hand?

Topical Authority vs Domain Authority: Are They Hand in Hand?

With more than 600 million blogs on the internet and about 7 million blog posts being published each day, getting your blog noticed is becoming more difficult by the minute. Currently, building topical authority and domain authority are two of the most effective SEO strategies for bloggers, but it is often asked: do these go hand in hand?

Topical authority is reached when one establishes oneself as an expert on a specific topic, whereas domain authority is reached when one’s website ranks highly in competitive searches. Topical and domain authority are closely related; however, there are some who deny that domain authority has any influence on website rankings. 

Want to find out how these strategies work together to draw traffic to your website? (And learn even more strategies to get your content noticed!) Keep reading.

The Close Relationship Between Topical and Domain Authority

Search engine optimization (SEO) is an evolving set of guidelines and tools meant to drive more traffic to a website. There have been many “hot” SEO practices over the years (remember keyword stuffing?), but not all of them have stood the test of time. 

Topical vs. Domain Authority Topical Establishes your as an authority based on topical expertise Increase traffic to your website Domain Establishes you as an authority based on the website itself

By definition, topical authority and domain authority seem fundamentally different. However, the moving parts of both authorities work separately and together to bring more traffic to your website.

While building your domain authority, you will also build your topical authority. The same links you are using to ensure that your website ranks higher in searches are also helping to show that you have done the work and the research to be considered an expert in your niche.

Topical Authority Cements You as the Expert

Topical authority is the new – and improved – “keyword stuffing.” It takes the bare-bones strategy of the years-old technique and multiplies it tenfold, using clever techniques to “stuff” a website full of valuable, authoritative information. But how can you establish topical authority?

Establishing Topical Authority

At first glance, it may seem like establishing topical authority is easy, but it can be very hard work. It’s much more than writing a collection of articles on a single topic.

Here are some of the ways that you can secure topical authority:

  1. Be strategic with your content. It’s vital to have a plan for producing content that establishes you as a trustworthy and reliable content creator.
  2. Fully understand user intent. Cater your articles to your readers’ intentions behind their keyword searches.
  3. Create topic clusters. Find a broad topic and focus on creating multiple articles that can link back and forth to one another to ensure your blog covers all the information on that topic.
  4. Be intentional with your links. Ensure that your backlinks, hyperlinks, etc. are from reputable sources so that your domain rating backs up your topical authority.
  5. Create topic clusters. Take a single broad topic and branch out into more focused areas of that topic in smaller articles. These families of articles will provide plenty of internal links for your site. 

As you can see, topical authority is more than just writing multiple articles on one main topic. You can easily use the strategies above to raise your topical authority quickly.

Semantic SEO and How it Helps Topical Authority

You won’t get far when raising your site’s topical authority if you aren’t a bit purposeful with your words. Semantic SEO is a strategy that focuses on using language to its benefit to raise topical authority. But what exactly does this mean?

Typically, when you type one search query, others will follow. Semantic SEO aims to prevent that. This strategy dictates that the content creator aims to answer as many questions about the query as possible to keep the reader on their website for longer. The more answers the user can find on your website, the better.

Here are some ways that you can use Semantic SEO to your advantage:

Semantic SEO Strategy Explanation
Focus on topic depth and content length. Longer content is preferred because it can give more information, and make sure to cover all your content extensively.
Utilize keyword clusters.  Find multiple keywords and phrases semantically related to one another to use in your content.
Check out “People Also Ask” under your Google search. Look through this section of related queries, and use them to figure out what users are really looking for regarding your topic.
Use “cheat codes.” Content optimizer tools can be used to find a variety of semantically related words and phrases for you to use to improve your topical depth.

These are only a few of the many targeted actions you can take to increase the topical authority of your website. 

Domain Authority Ensures a High-Ranking Website

Simply put, domain authority (or domain rating) is a score between 1 and 100 that is issued to a website depending on the strength of that site’s SEO. Determining what a good domain authority is for your niche is a bit more difficult because different niches have different average domain ratings. 

Generally, having a domain authority of 50 is considered “competitive regardless of the niche or industry.” Some niches and industries consistently keep lower domain ratings, but other websites’ keywords are so prevalent that their ratings shoot up incredibly fast!

Establishing Domain Authority

Domain authority may seem a bit trickier to obtain than topical authority, but it’s pretty straightforward because you follow SEO strategies to boost your rankings. 

Instead of focusing on the topic, you steer your focus toward building a surplus of links and sources within your content that show you have done your research and found a wealth of information for your readers. Ensure that they do not need to do another search to find the answers they need.

One thing you must remember is domain authority is finicky. The score you need is determined by your niche, so make sure to only compare your score to other websites within your niche.

Checking Your Domain Rating

Checking the domain authority of your website is easier than ever! There are multiple sites that you can use to find your rating.

Here are a few websites that can help you find your domain authority with short explanations of how they rank your website:

Website Rating Details
MOZ This site gives a “domain authority” or “DA” score. Your site’s total number of links and number of linking root domains are only two of the dozens of factors MOZ uses to find its rating. 
Ahrefs This site gives two ratings. Its “Ahrefs rank” considers both the size and quality of your backlinks. Its “domain rating” ranks a site’s complete backlink profile against other similar sites. 
Majestic This site actually rates topical and domain authority. Its “flow metric scores” consider both the total number of website links and the content quality of the site.
Semrush This site offers an “authority score” that considers an entire domain’s quality and SEO performance. 

The websites above figure your domain rating using several factors, but the number of reputable and authoritative links within your website remains the most important factor when figuring this rating.

Is One Authority More Important than the Other?

It’s already been established that both topical and domain authority work together to boost your website’s traffic, but is one more important than the other? 

The best way to build topical authority is to build domain authority. Because of this, neither is more important than the other; they go hand in hand when bringing readers to your website. The strategies you use to raise domain authority will inevitably boost your topical authority.

Some Say Topical Authority is King

It’s easy to assume that topical authority is the one true authority in SEO because the words in search queries directly lead users to your content. As a result, users stay a while on sites that have thoroughly researched information, bouncing from article to article and answering question after question. 

But you cannot forget that users need to see that your information is factual. They need to see backlinks, root domains, and internal links. They need to see reputable sources and recognizable names in the niche. 

Topical authority may be the end goal, but domain authority is the entire journey.

Some Say Domain Authority Does Not Matter

There are some who believe that domain authority doesn’t really matter. For instance, Moz, the creator of the domain rating, states, “Domain authority is not a Google ranking factor and has no effect on the [search engine results pages].”

Further, John Mueller, a Search Advocate at Google, has confirmed on multiple occasions that Google never considers domain authority when ranking websites. (But you know that Google is not the only search engine.)

Those who feel that domain authority is not a ranking factor believe this because there are multiple websites that figure out domain ratings in different ways. Because there is no uniform set of metrics that all websites use to figure out domain authority, opponents of its ranking effectiveness claim the score cannot be trusted. 

While we have to acknowledge that it may not help you rank in Google searches, domain authority is a valuable and useful metric for any website because it helps the content creator see where they rank with similar websites.

SEO Evolves as Technology Advances

Anyone who has run a website for the past few years can attest to the fact that SEO is ever-evolving as the technology that runs search engines advances. 

For instance, the launch of Google’s Hummingbird update in August 2013 introduced the ability of the search engine to better understand conversational language in searches. Matt Cutts, a former Google Software Engineer, explained that “Hummingbird [was] a rewrite of the core algorithm” that Google used for its searches. 

Next, Google introduced RankBrain to its algorithm in 2015. This was meant to help the algorithm further understand the context and meaning around the search query and not just the words being typed.

Cutts revealed that Google’s search engine algorithm has changed in two major ways:

  1. It can now recognize the important words in a search query.
  2. It doesn’t match singular keywords anymore.

In a nutshell, search engines are becoming smarter and can better decipher what a user’s intent is when entering a search query. This is why SEO is constantly changing; it adapts to the search engines that it optimizes.

How to Increase Domain Authority

Here are five ways to further your website’s authority:

Strategy Explanation
Optimize your site’s URL. Create a URL that is focused, succinct, and features the proper keywords.
Ensure fast page speed. Take measures to keep your web pages loading within three seconds.
Name page titles and descriptions properly. All page titles and descriptions should be named according to user intent and targeted keywords.
Find the perfect keywords.  Keywords should always cater to your niche and your audience.
Optimize your site’s images. Make sure to use high-resolution images and place proper keywords in titles and descriptions.

It’s important to keep yourself updated on SEO trends as they change, so you can stay abreast of the latest strategies to get your website noticed.

Google’s E-A-T and Website Authority

Search Engine Journal predicted in 2021 that, within the next two years, about 25% of SEO ranking factors would be based on “expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness,” or E-A-T, compared to that year’s 9%. This is a significant increase and, these are the three key factors that you are influencing by raising your topical authority and domain authority. 

As if right on cue, the prediction is coming true as topical authority and domain authority shoot to the front of the conversation surrounding SEO and website traffic.

Topical Authority and Domain Authority Work Together

Clearly, topical authority and domain authority work with one another to ensure that your website receives the most traffic and the highest rank possible. There are some who believe that domain authority doesn’t factor into Google’s website ranking, but there is no denying both the correlation and causation between topical and domain authority.

The bottom line is you will automatically raise your domain authority as you work on boosting your topical authority and vice versa.

Ways Blogs Can Help Improve ANY Business

Ways Blogs Can Help Improve ANY Business

Owning a business takes a lot of work, and it takes more to ensure you’re actively growing your company while keeping it afloat. One addition many companies have taken advantage of over the years is a blog. Should you invest in a blog for your business? 

There are several ways a blog will improve any business, including:

  1. Increased traffic
  2. Business exposure
  3. Show and tell for potential customers
  4. Reusable social media content

There are many benefits to pull from blog creation for your endeavors.

If you’re interested in learning more about how blogs can improve your business, you’ve come to the right place. Read on to learn about the benefits of a blog for your company, whether you sell lawnmowers or have an interior design service. 

1. Having a Blog Can Improve Traffic for Your Business

The first clear improvement you will notice with a blog is increased traffic flow to your website. Users will click on blog posts, read them, and navigate to the rest of your site from there. Once they move off the blog section, they may invest in your services for all their professional needs.

A blog will allow you to do the following:

  1. Keep the site updated with new content
  2. Provide helpful advice and solutions for interested parties
  3. Links to social media sites and other connected platforms

There are plenty of ways to market your blog.

The more interested customers are, the more likely they are to click and dive into your site. People search the internet for solutions, and you will provide it to them. Blogs are a foundational piece to tie together products and helpful knowledge from individuals who have been in the industry for a long time.

2. A Blog Will Provide Business Exposure to New Customers

Of course, a blog will provide a slow and steady exposure of your business and offerings to potential new customers. They gain information from your blogs and slowly understand who you are, your personality, and what you offer them if they turn to you for assistance. 

There’s plenty of opportunity available with a blog. It really can help in a variety of ways: 

Best ways to show off your business to customersBuilding a brandA blog can help establish an aestheticShowcasing your expertiseBlog posts feel personal and may be help customers get the right ideaGiving more detailsA blog will give you more of a chance to show and tell your products to potential buyers

Businesses with consistent blogging techniques tend to be the ones that attract the most customers. Whether you own a gardening business or a dental office, people love when companies prove they are consistent. Form engaging, quality content with plenty of research and personal experience to expose your business to new parties.

3. A Blog is A Show and Tell Opportunity for Potential Customers 

Blogging is also another excellent way to create an extensive portfolio of your work thus far. You can show off testimonials from satisfied clients, display work you’re proud of, and prove past successes to brag to new customers and reveal to them what they can expect if they decide to go with your team.

A few examples of show and tell might include many different things. The options are truly limitless!

Graphic with details about Things you could include on your blog for show and tellPhotos of your work or productsCustomer TestimonialsPricingStandout team membersTeasers about upcoming releasesThings you could include on your blog for show and tell

Feel free to show and tell as often as you see fit. You never know when an excellent review or a gorgeous photo might catch the attention of an individual and help them land your business as their next contact. A blog will reveal to a client what they can expect and the overall quality of your work.

4. A Blog Offers Reusable Social Media Content

One of the best parts about investing in a blog is that you can repurpose the content and turn it into postable items for your social media page. You can shorten the works or add links to your specific blog post within the work on your various pages and profiles.

A few common forms of social media used for websites include the following:

  1. Instagram
  2. Twitter
  3. LinkedIn

These are the top performers for professionals.

It’s becoming critical to be active on social media in the professional world today, especially if your target demographic is younger than 40 years old. Blogs are a simple way to remain active daily and kill two birds with one stone, all while expanding your business and helping it to be the best it can be.

5. A Blog Provides Long-Term Benefits for Your Business

The best thing about posting on a blog is that it isn’t just a one-and-done thing. Unlike social media posts, articles will continue to appear at the top of the search engine for as long as they have the best information and top-ranking SEO. You can continue to reap the rewards years after you initially publish the piece.

Long-term durability means:

  1. Customer attraction years after the initial post
  2. Constant proof that you know what you’re talking about
  3. A long history of posts to build credibility

One post can make a world of a difference for years to come.

Of course, the fact that blog posts stick around for a long time makes it critical to double-check all the information before publishing the piece. Ensure you’re done a thorough research and pushed the personality of your brand, along with any showing off you want to do to push potential customers to click further into your website and business offerings.

6. A Blog Offers the Chance for Link Improvement

Blogging also assists with link improvement. Inbound links are some of the most critical factors the Google algorithm uses when determining the sites that rank at the top of the search engine page. It’s also proven to be one of the most vital things to consider when focusing on search engine optimization.

The links you add to your articles should be:

  1. Valuable to your potential audience
  2. Authoritative
  3. Clear and concise

The links should add authority and trust to your page, but they should also assist with search engine optimization. 

It takes work to create excellent backlinks in your pieces. They should be concise and specific, tailored to work well with the work. They will help you build domain authority and prove that you are a reliable and trustworthy source when it comes to the provided information. 

7. A Blog Permits Shared Company News

A blog is also an excellent way to reveal company news, information, and deals. Not everyone will be on your email list, so a blog is a simple way to provide quick knowledge without working hard to get emails from various interested customers.

Items you can share on your blog for your business include the following:

  1. Upcoming discounts and deals
  2. New products and services
  3. Locations changes or new offerings

There are plenty of exciting announcements you can place on your site.

If you display your brand and get your customers excited about announcements, everyone will enjoy your declarations on the blog. Whether you’re small, medium, or large, people will read it. Did you recently hire a new person? Announce it! Do you have a case study that displays further information on customers? Post it! There are endless opportunities.

8. A Blog Allows Trust Building Between You and Clients

Not only do blogs provide valuable content, but they are also an excellent way to build trust with new and old investors alike. You may share your expertise and value while showing what you bring to the industry. The posts will help your team appear professional and prove what you can do.

These strategies will help you further build trust:

  1. Using multiple channels to hit every age category
  2. Personalizing the content to the people reading it
  3. Using market automation tools to make your job easier
  4. Displaying empathy in every post

These will draw your customer in.

The best-performing blogs on the market provide plenty of sources to prove they know what they’re talking about. You might find videos, how-to posts, lists, research links, and more. They answer customer questions and provide information to make a person more knowledgeable. Client education is a fascinating way to draw in new clients.

9. A Blog Permits Expansion of the Company Brand

A blog will also expand your company brand in a new and exciting way. It’s ideal to establish an image for your company for its success in the long term, and growing the brand is one of the best ways to complete this process. You must prove to your clients that you are more than a business – you have empathy, too.

A blog will reveal your humanity to your clients by diving into the day-to-day realities of your business endeavors. Individuals who enjoy reading company businesses love it because they see a new side of a professional company.

10. A Blog Will Provide a Longer Email List

An email list is a classic way to advertise to interested customers, sending them updates about the business and potential offers. The longer your email list, the more potential buyers you have. A blog is an excellent way to add people to your contact list for your company’s email.

It’s tricky to land a personal connection with your clients, but a blog will create a bridge between the business and the customer. If they love the content you post on your site, they are more likely to trust your business and professional site as a whole. Blogs are an excellent way to reach new visitors fast.

11. A Blog Allows Optimal SEO Growth

The final benefit of adding a blog to your business is the potential growth for search engine optimization. This tactic is designed to drive traffic to your website organically with the addition of keywords, links, and optimized titles. With a blog, you can use SEO to appear higher in the search every single time.

Common tools used for SEO growth include the following:

  1. Semrush
  2. Google Search Console
  3. Ahrefs
  4. Answer the Public

These are ideal resources.

The better the search engine optimization on a blog, the more likely your website is to appear to potential customers. The higher you rank on the list of websites that appear, the more likely you are to establish credibility and get more clicks and more potential customers. You are the expert in your niche and SEO will help make that clear.

What Content Should You Produce?

It can be tricky to think about what to post on your blog, especially if it’s your first time creating something for your company. There are several types of content you can produce that will prove beneficial for your company. Pieces about your knowledge, offerings, and professional advice will come in handy.

Your blog posts should:

  1. Cater to your potential audience
  2. Be planned out ahead of time
  3. Hold value for potential customers
  4. Be available frequently
  5. Hold a specific style

These will keep readers interested and excited to click.

Ultimately, it’s up to you to determine what you want to produce for your business. It’s in your grasp, and only you know your brand, voice, and goals. However, your posts should focus on the reader and potential customer, offering valuable information and even helpful links when practical.

What If You Don’t Have Time For Content Creation?

Of course, it’s tricky to post blog content every single day, whether you have a large company or a tiny local business. And it is necessary to be consistent – customers enjoy reliability and constant information. Is there a way to outsource the job to someone else? Of course, there is – and we have the answer for you.

TextGoods has everything you need if you don’t have time to write constant blog posts but want the content for your business. Our professional team of writers provides excellent written articles, keyword research, hit lists, social media management, and content repurposing, all for your professional future.

Is Active Voice Necessary For Writing a Blog?

Is Active Voice Necessary For Writing a Blog?

Active voice is when a subject is directly acting, and passive voice is when the subject has something done to them. The debate on active vs passive voice use is an ever-present issue in writing. Is active voice necessary when writing a blog?

Active voice is not necessary for writing a blog post. However, using active voice provides clarity and makes it easier for people to read. At the very least, your answer snippets should be written in active voice so they’re as direct as possible.

An active and passive voice both have their place in writing. If you want to create genuinely engaging content, the best practice is to use both to create a natural, easy flow. 

Do You Need Active Voice When Writing Blogs?

Active voice is not technically necessary for blog writing. If you wanted to, you could write an entire piece in passive voice.

However, using active voice in your writing has many benefits, including:

  • Making content easier to read and more concise. 
  • Allowing the author to speak directly to their audience.
  • Showing readers that the content creator has authority and confidence. 
  • Giving written work a conversational quality and better flow.
  • Engaging readers so that they feel they are part of the conversation.
  • Decreasing formality in writing encourages more people to read.

These benefits of active voice can improve the SEO performance of blog posts because concise, confident, and engaging writing will make more people want to click on your article. 

Additionally, using active voice in your answer snippets ensures that the reader will get exactly what they’re looking for as quickly as possible. If they feel like you’re being too vague or taking too long to answer their question, they’re going to look elsewhere. 

Many people looking to hire content creators will ask for a thorough understanding of English grammar and punctuation. This includes understanding the difference between active and passive voice and when to use them, but not everyone really has a solid grasp of it, even if English is their native language.

Best Times to Use Active Voice

Active voice is when the subject of a sentence acts directly. It is best used in the following circumstances:

Details about when to use active voice:To clarify the subject of a sentenceWhen making a stern pointTo avoid run-on sentences

There are some instances when using passive voice is the better choice. The best pieces balance both and use them at the right time.

When Should You Use Passive Voice in Blog Writing?

Passive voice is when the subject of a sentence has something done to them, instead of doing the action themselves. Use passive voice in the following instances:

  • When you do not want readers to know the subject of a sentence.
  • When the outcome of an action is more important than knowing who did it.

Knowing when to use both active and passive voice means nothing if you don’t have a clear understanding of what they are though.

The Real Difference Between Active Voice and Passive Voice

Passive voice is indirect and states that the subject is not presently involved in what happened to them. Once you look at them side-by-side, the difference is clear:

Graphic detailing active vs. passive voice: “David brought the horse to the barn.”“The horse was brought to the barn by David.”Which one tells you who brought the horse to the barn in a quicker, more concise way?

With active voice, the reader knows that the subject brought the horse into the barn himself. The tone is confident and assertive. If this were an answer snippet, the second one would immediately tell the reader what they need to know, leaving them feeling satisfied.

Tips for Using Active Voice 

Moving from passive to active voice is easier than it looks, so long as you:

  1. Check that sentences have a clear subject
  2. Remove helping verbs such as were, been, being, have, has, may, or might
  3. Ensure that the subject of the sentence is doing the action (removing the helping verb will help with this)
  4. Read the sentence out loud: if it sounds awkward and unclear, it’s usually because of passive voice.

When considering using active or passive voice, it is important to remember that no writer should be expected to write an entire piece in active voice. Passive voice is needed in some instances, and both styles have different use cases.

If you struggle to decide between using active or passive voice, change any passive voice you see to active voice. If it makes your writing clearer, keep the active voice structure. If not, change it back

If you try rewording a sentence and can’t figure out how to transform the passive voice into active voice, delete the sentence and start from scratch. Odds are, it needs to be rewritten for clarity regardless.

Content Agencies Can Help You Find a Happy Medium

Some content agencies train their writers specifically to use active voice all the time, but that can be a little too much. At Text Goods, our writers are trained to use their best judgment to create a balance between the two.

Text Goods has a team of 100% human writers, so we’re able to create engaging content that sounds appealing to read. If you know you’re looking for mostly active voice, all you have to do is note that with your order and we’ll handle the rest!

Should You Create a Podcast for Your Blog? Here’s How to Know

Podcasts have become immensely popular over the past few years, with about 38% of the world’s population tuning in. Unsurprisingly, many blog owners are tapping into the market, adding podcasts to their pages. Should you add a podcast to your blog, too?

Adding a podcast to your blog is an excellent opportunity to reach younger audiences and multitaskers who might not be able to sit down and read your posts. So long as you can make the commitment and have a good topic, creating a podcast for your blog is worth a try. 

Are you thinking about creating a podcast for your blog? Keep reading to find out whether or not this is a suitable avenue for you to take!

6 Reasons You Should Create a Podcast for Your Blog

For the most part, podcasts are a pretty good idea! Overall, there are benefits to adding a podcast to your blogging routine:

Graphic of Reasons to Start a Podcast: 1. Helps reach a younger audience 2. Helps you reach the people who are always on the go 3. Adds a personal touch 4. Unique takes can increase traffic 5. Adds variety to your blog posts 6. Can be fun for you

1. Starting a Podcast Could Help Reach a Younger Audience

It’s estimated that 47% of podcast listeners are between the ages of 12 and 34. So, if you’re looking to tap into a younger audience, a podcast can be an excellent route to take.

How does this benefit you?

It’s pretty simple: the more listeners you obtain, the more traffic to your website. This can result in additional subscribers, increased profits, etc. Essentially, a podcast can be your gateway to a better return on investment or ROI.

2. Starting a Podcast to Your Blog Makes it Accessible to Busy People

Plenty of people opt for podcasts over blogs because they don’t have to sit there and read them. This is beneficial for two reasons.

For one, it’s hard for people to find time to read blogs in this busy and complicated world. With a podcast, they can pop in their headphones and listen to something interesting – all while they’re working out, doing chores, or performing other essential activities.

Secondly, some people just don’t like reading. They’d much rather have someone read to them. With a podcast, people who don’t enjoy reading don’t have to worry about skimming through texts. Again, they can pop their earbuds, turn their device on high, and listen to interesting content.

Additionally, a podcast is a great way to connect with your differently-abled users. Whether they’re visually impaired or can’t read well, a podcast will make your content accessible to them in a human way. Giving people a break from those robotic screen reader voices can truly make all the difference.

3. Starting a Podcast Will Add a Personal Touch to Your Blog

Although a good writer can add personality to their articles, it’s not always easy for readers to “connect” to the content creator. And believe it or not, connecting with your viewers is absolutely essential for several reasons.

Adding a personal touch – like a podcast – to your blog will form a bond with your viewers. At this point, they’ll be able to know the face – or, at least, the voice – behind the blog, building trust. 

In turn, people will feel more comfortable and excited to visit your blog. Again, this can equate to plenty of ROI on your end – which is likely the goal of creating your blog in the first place.

4. You Have a Unique Idea That Will Increase Traffic

There are over five million podcasts worldwide. Needless to say, that’s a lot of competition.

But if you have a unique idea, you can rest assured that it will increase traffic. 

Some niches you may want to avoid include true crime, book and movie reviews, news (especially celebrity news), advice, and health/fitness. These markets are oversaturated, and you’ll likely find breaking through and gaining traction challenging.

Oh, and here’s a tip: ensure you talk about your blog during your podcast shows. This will encourage listeners to check out your blog, which will also lead to improved traffic.

5. Creating a Podcast For Your Blog Will Add Variety

Blogs are great.

But if you have a wall of articles, it may be less appealing to some viewers. After all, variety is the spice of life – and the last thing you want to do is bore your viewers right off your blog.

The solution?

Add some variety – such as a podcast. You can cover different topics, bonus information on things you’ve written about, and more. You could even do “podcast special” topics that make listeners think they’re getting more – and it opens you up to starting something like a Patreon, where loyal fans can pay for bonus content. 

6. Podcasts are Fun if You Don’t Mind the Commitment

Starting a blog isn’t the easiest or quickest thing in the world. Many steps are involved, from creating a topic and name to creating the website. And that’s not even including writing all the content! 

With a podcast, though, you don’t have to focus on making everything look as polished and proper as you do in a blog post. If you know you can’t write well, you could hire ghostwriters for the blog content and spend your own time on the podcast!

While starting a podcast might be more fun, it may be more challenging. You’ll need equipment like microphones, recording and editing software, and other essential items. While these don’t have to be expensive, you’ll need to shell out some dollars if you want quality.

Aside from the cost of starting a podcast, you must also consider the time commitment. It takes a good chunk of time to put together a top-tier blog, from brainstorming to performing, editing to publishing. If you’re someone who doesn’t like to talk much, a podcast is out of the question.

For some, starting a podcast sounds more like a chore or a burden than something fun and exciting. If it sounds anything other than exhilarating, it’s best to avoid it altogether. 

3 Reasons a Podcast Isn’t the Right Choice for Your Blog

While podcasts are typically a good idea for blogs, they’re not always the right choice. Here are two key reasons why you should pass on podcasts:

Graphic that says: When it May Be a Bad Idea to start a podcast 1. You don’t have the time to post regularly. 2. There are too many podcasts on that topic. 3. The topic isn’t deep enough.

1. Time-Consuming

Although it might seem like you can just “start talking” and make a top-notch podcast, that isn’t the case.

Podcasts require a lot of your time, which can be difficult if you’re already spending a lot of time on your blog.

However, you can remedy this situation by outsourcing some of your blog tasks. For instance, you can reach out to third-party companies – like TextGoods – to handle your article creation so you can focus on the upcoming podcast.

2. Oversaturated Topic

If you’re planning a podcast in an oversaturated market – like movie reviews or fitness – forget about it.

Spending time on a podcast using oversaturated niches won’t do you much good. It’s better to focus on other avenues.

3. The Topic is not Deep Enough

If you’re thinking about starting a podcast, you should make sure you have enough ground to cover. Traditionally, podcasts are 45+ minutes and can stretch into a years-long project depending on your audience. 

Podcasts often don’t survive topic switches. Your listeners know you to be knowledgeable in one niche. They share that interest with you, so making an abrupt switch could lead them to think you don’t care anymore. 

That entails picking something that’s both broad enough to cover for a long period of time, yet unique enough to help you establish a special connection with your listeners.

If you think you’d just like to cover specific parts of some topics just to supplement your blog posts, you’re better off creating a YouTube channel instead.

4. You Are Not Passionate About the Podcast Subject

Creating needs to be fun for you. If you’re not having fun, everyone is going to be able to tell. Think of it like a school presentation: were you ever given a topic you didn’t really care about? 

What happened? Odds are, you trudged through it, the presentation wasn’t engaging, and nobody really listened. 

The same will happen if you’re not passionate about your podcast subject. If you’re just reading off a script and seem like you’re checked out, your audience will get bored and click off. Not only is that bad for business, it’s a waste of your time that you could spend on a project you’d like better. 

Podcasts May Be an Excellent Addition To Your Blog!

Depending on the time you have available for creating a podcast and your chosen topic, a podcast can be an excellent addition to any blog. 

Do you need help creating captivating content for your blog? TextGoods can help! Our experts can write articles, research keywords, and more. Reach out today!