10 Things I Know About Blogging to Boost Your Brand
By Amy Chase owner of Crompton Collective originally written for the the Business Journal.
In 2005 when I first started my fashion blog, blogging for business was not something that was common. Blogging has changed so much over the years, it is really exciting to be able to connect with customers now through our Crompton Collective blog.
Be YOURSELF.
There's a reason that your brand is awesome- so stick to what makes you unique and try not to do what everyone else is doing. When you stay true to your brand, a following will come because they love what YOU do.
Add Value
Share your knowledge, and be the expert. Use your blog to teach people new things. One of the most important things to ask yourself while you're writing a post is, " Will anyone learn from this?" If you're creating content just to continuously have content up, people aren't going to be interested in your blog. Don't add 'fluff', create valuable content.
Be Consistent.
It's easy to post whenever inspiration strikes, but having a set schedule can help you manage your content and your presence. Decide how often you want to post: once a week or once a month. If you can't stick to a specific schedule (Wednesday/Sunday), at least try to space your content out. Try not to post three times in one week and then be radio silent for two months.
Think SEO.
Be selective when choosing your blog title, content, and tags. Pick a title that is descriptive, intriguing, and not too long. Try to think of what people would be searching for that would lead to the content on your page. Make sure that the body of your post matches the title of your blog.
Create shareable content.
It's not always possible to have a professional take your photos, but even if you're just using your phone, there are ways to make your pictures amazing. One app I love is Pixelmator. It has all the features of normal photo editing apps, but it goes beyond the basics and has amazing editing brushes that allow you to edit a specific part of a picture with just your finger. This way you are creating original photos that will encourage sharing.
Be Social.
If people are responding to your content, be sure to respond back as much as you can. As soon as you interact with someone, they'll be more likely to form a connection with you and your brand.
Be Supportive.
It is so important that you're supportive of the people in your industry. Share and promote people who are doing things that you admire. Learn from what they're doing or help them when they need it. When relationships form, collaborations can happen which will support both of your businesses.
Share to your social network
It is likely that the people that follow your social media platforms would be interested in your blog posts. Make sure you share your posts on all your platforms to catch the attention of people that follow your brand.
Collect Emails:
When someone subscribes to your blog or email list, you can guarantee they are looking forward to hearing from you and will be receptive to your message.
Contribute Guest Posts:
Guest blogging is great to gain exposure from similar brands and companies. If done correctly you can increase reach and build your community. Look for brands that have similar products or missions, to make sure your readers will be interested.