I am incredibly proud of my company blog and what it has become. But there was a time when I was embarrassed by it.
That's right – I hated my own blog.
It was 2016, and not only was I not posting enough, but the content wasn't providing value. It didn't have the traits of a great company blog, though I justified my crappy version by saying I was too busy making my clients' blogs perform beyond expectations.
"If I do well with my clients' blogs, I don't need to worry about my own," I said to myself.
What a dumb statement.
Luckily, I realized how much of an idiot I was and quickly got to work on changing it.
This post is No. 148 in what has become an example of a great company blog. I post every week and regularly use it as an example when talking to clients about what theirs can look like.
Is my blog perfect? No. But I credit it for helping put Edit This® on the map and building invaluable relationships with my clients and loyal readers. If you're thinking of starting a blog for your small business, or you have one and desperately want to get it up to snuff, below are six traits of a great company blog:
Consistency – The No. 1 trait of a great company blog is consistency. You can't expect to have a voice in the marketplace or create a following if you craft one post and then take two months off. A small business that posts regularly is trusted more than those that don't.
Conversational – Writing a blog post that readers can relate to AND understand is critical. Share your knowledge and sell yourself as an authority, but word things so that you don't lose people two sentences in.
Fun – Be informative and professional, but blogs aren't meant to be driven by stats and charts. Save that talk for the boardroom. It's OK to throw in a few memes, tell a joke, and share a heartwarming tale.
Variety – We don't just talk about writing and editing here. We give advice on how to be a better business owner, family, social media, and so much more. I think it sets us up as a valuable resource in the eyes of our readers.
Sparks engagement – Your blog should spark interaction through social media shares, comments, likes, etc. If you achieve this, you are on the right path.
Focused – I've seen bloggers stuff their posts with too much information for readers to take in. Slow down, focus on one topic, and tackle the rest in additional posts.
Did I leave anything off the list? Let me know!
Call Edit This for all your blogging needs
Give Edit This a call for all your writing and editing needs – and that includes blogs. Many times, business owners understand the importance of consistent and frequent blogging, and maybe they aren't necessarily afraid of running out of great ideas. They just don't have the time to do it.
Let Edit This handle your blogging needs. We create relatable content from scratch or work with you to perfect your writing.
*STEVE GAMEL is the President & Owner of Edit This, a writing and editing services company located in Denton, TX. Steve handles anything involving the written word. Give him a call today to help give your business a clear voice.