How A Blog Can Grow Your Local Side Hustle
Even today, blogging is still proving to be one of the best ways to grow your business. And for local businesses, blogging can be a game changer and your number one lead generator. According to Optin Monster, businesses that blog get 97% more traffic to their websites compared to businesses that don’t. And isn’t that goal for us? For someone to land on our site? Let’s dive into how this works for any local product or service-based business. Below are my best blogging tips for local businesses.
Benefits From Blogging
First, I think it’s important to note some general benefits your business can receive from blogging. Blogging should be thought of as free content you’re creating to help solve a paint point for your avatar while also setting your product(s)/service(s) up as the solution if they want to take the next step.
When you blog, you are creating new content on your website as well as new content on the internet. Keywords like “business”, “charcuterie”, and “Columbia, South Carolina” begin to appear in your blog content on your website. Creating a consistent pattern like this tells search engines like Google that you’re an expert in these topics. And when people search for them online, Google knows to start considering your website for search results.
Now for the major benefit. When someone lands on your blog, they are instantly receiving value-added content and/or solutions that they were specifically searching for. From there, you can invite them to be a part of your business by getting on your email list or simply by browsing your website. Your hook, line, and sinker will take it from there. Check out this post where I broke down how to create a sales funnel. Your funnels can start with blog posts as well.
Blogging Tips For Local Businesses and Side Hustles
Blogging is so important for local businesses because you have one major advantage; your location. When you’re a local business, your business is competing with only a limited number or other businesses. Plus your location is often how people search for your product/service on Google.
Because of this, there are so many blogging tips for local businesses. Below are a few that I think every local business should be implementing in their blog in order for driving more traffic and leads.
01. INCLUDE YOUR LOCATION IN THE BLOG POST TITLE
First, be sure to consider including your location in the H1 Title and/or H2 Heading of your blog posts. You may not be able to do this for each post. However, incorporating your location can drastically increase traffic. The reason for this is that you’re instantly narrowing your blog content, making it known to the internet that your content is specifically for your location, not universal.
For example, if you’re a Gourmet Charcuterie Board company in Columbia, South Carolina perhaps a few blog titles for you could be:
- A Breakdown of My Charcuterie Services in Columbia, SC
- Local Farms In Columbia, SC Used For My Charcuterie Services
- Amber Hall South Carolina Wedding With Unique Charcuterie Catering
Titles like these are great for local blogs. They stamp the location while also including the services. Keep in mind your location doesn’t need to be your address. The last example here actually includes a wedding venue that people could be searching for as well.
02. ENRICHING YOUR FIRST PARAGRAPH
Your first paragraph should include detailed content such as keywords, main ideas, and/or any locations. The first paragraph in any blog post typically is the best indicator for search engines like Google to understand what your content is all about. And remember, if Google has a clear understanding, it can move your blog posts to the top of search results.
Be sure to include keywords inside your first paragraph and any locations. Make these inclusions as natural as possible. State the main idea(s) of your content and what readers can expect to take away.
03. STRATEGICALLY LABEL YOUR CATEGORIES
Another blogging tip for local businesses is to strategically name your categories. Your categories are blogging tools that you can use to categorize your posts. Readers can also filter posts using categories to more easily find the material they’re searching for.
By including your location in one of your categories or naming a category after a popular event that you service in your location, I.E. Columbia, SC Weddings, you can build out a trustworthy local blog. Categories like this enhance SEO or search engine optimization, better explaining to Google that you are an expert in your local area.
04. CREATE A PATTERN
For local business blogs, creating a pattern is key to becoming found. When you establish a pattern inside your blog of common themes, locations, solutions, etc; your blog is becoming more credible. It takes search engines like Google longer to establish authority and push websites to the top of search results when their blogs cover ample subjects.
Get clear about the content you can serve inside your blog. My free Blog Post Idea Generator walks you through creating blog content around your avatar’s problems and using your business as a solution. Even if it’s with free blog content.
05. BLOG YOUR BUSINESS’S LOCAL INVOLVEMENT
When thinking about how to use blogging as a way of driving more traffic to your local business, think beyond just your location. Your blogging content should extend past “City, State”. Instead, create blog content around your businesses involvement in your area.
For example, if you’re a wedding vendor, each wedding can be converted into a blog post. Florists, photographers, caterers, coordinators and any other vendor of that wedding can create a blog post highlighting their services in the area. The wedding is a wonderful example of this for readers.
Consider how your local business shows up in your community. How can those events be converted into blog posts? This is also a fantastic way to display your services in various ways and create an event portfolio.
06. USE YOUR BLOG AS A RESOURCE LIBRARY
This tip can be considered for any and all businesses. However, it’s too important not to mention when discussing blogging for local businesses. Your blog should serve as a resource library for your avatar. Think of it as continuous education and solutions tailor-made for your ideal customer or client.
This is important for serval reasons. The first reason is that it establishes you as the subject matter expert. Sometimes it’s not enough simply to own a business and offer products/services. When you can back your business by creating resources around your niche, you’re seen as more of an authority figure. According to this article, blogs have been rated as the 5th most trustworthy source for gathering online information.
Next, blogging can also serve your audience behind the scenes. Receiving a plethora of free information and resourceful content first can be a strong method of turning a reader into a client.
You can also serve existing clients via your blog. For example, let’s say you’re a wedding photographer. Sending helpful links to your blogs such as “How To Prep For Your Engagement Session” or “Everything You Should Have Gathered The Morning Of Your Wedding” can both serve your client and save you administrative time inside your inbox.
07. SHARE WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES
My last blogging tips for local businesses are to share your blog with other local businesses. Especially those who may be featured on your blog. When you create blog content that links to other businesses or local organizations, sharing that media can begin to foster relationships. It can also lead to local businesses sharing about you.
When any business begins to share about your business and link to your website, your online rankings go up drastically. This tells Google that other websites see you as a credible reproduce, not just yourself. Google takes this into account when listing search results.
Sharing your blog content with other local businesses can also serve as a great way to promote your business without selling.
Steps You Can Take Today
If you own a local business, blogging is a fantastic strategy if you aren’t using it already. Whether we realize it or not, blogging has stood the test of time. In fact, over 70% of Fortune 500 companies have active blogs that are published weekly. And for any type of local business, blogging can be a direct way of getting in front of potential clients.
If you’re ready to put these blogging tips for local businesses to work, download my free Blog Post Idea Generator for your business here. This template will guide you through creating blog post ideas that will serve your audience, get found locally, and convert readers. Say goodbye to “not knowing what to blog about” and say hello to creating content that will grow your business.
No one is exempted. I truly believe having a powerful blog can help any business grow. Especially local businesses. Start utilizing your Blog page today, implement these tips, and create scroll-stopping content perfect for your audience.
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