Five Reasons Blogs May Be Better for Your Website Than Social Media

I was waiting in line at the post office today, and found myself chatting to the people around me.  And they were happy enough to pass the time through small talk too. It got me thinking about the value of communication… the human capacity and desire to communicate is irrefutable. We seek to make connections with those around us, to find and create rapport.

In business, it can often be challenging to find ways to communicate with our customers – especially for those businesses who do not have a shop front.

Facebook and Twitter are excellent forums for discussion.  You can promote sales, new services and products and ask questions about existing customers’ experiences with your brand.  But how much can you really communicate in 140 characters?  And will a single status update ever really convey your passion for your business?

Perhaps blogging may be a better fit to show the message of your brand.  Here are five reasons to consider whether establishing a blog may be beneficial for you:

Blogs Help Create Better Relationships with Customers

Blogs provide you with the opportunity to communicate with your existing customers in longer posts.  You can fully explain aspects or opportunities associated with your business.  You can have guest posts from customers, employees and specialists.   And unlike Twitter, it’s easy to invite discussion and comment. This kind of transparency as well as the familiarity that extended pieces can create allows for the creation of real relationships with your customers.

Blogs Help You Define and Communicate Your Brand

A blog better creates the ‘feel’ of your brand that a simple social media posting. Are you whimsical?  Serious? Helpful?  An extended piece can help set the tone of your brand and creates greater product recognition and stronger product associations.

The more you talk about your brand, your field of work and your expertise, the more you show you are a leader in your field.

Blogs Make You Easier to Find Online

Blogs also increase your online presence.  Each post is its own webpage with its own unique web address.  This makes your website far more visible to search engines. Therefore, the customers looking for your specifically, or for someone like you, will be drawn more easily to your page.

Good Blogging Can Be an Investment

Investing in a blog is smart – and investing in great blog content is even smarter.  The best business blogs invest time and money in the creation of well-written and timeless content.  A good blog post can be shared again on Facebook and Twitter a year or more after it is written.  

Blogs are ‘Sticky’ and Draw Customers to Other Parts of Your Website

While Facebook users will see posts from your company on their wall as they scroll through the days events, a quick press on the subscribe button on your blog will have an even better effect.  Once a customer gets on to your blog, they are more likely to stay and read the whole post.  This is what the online community calls being ‘sticky’, meaning, content that makes you want to stay on the page for longer (by finishing the post).  

Once readers are on your website, they are more likely to look at your other pages as well, including rates, lists of products and other useful information you may have there.  After all, the website is the hub of your business – not your Facebook page.

This blog was originally posted on www.mypersonalblogger.com.au