Starting to write a blog for your business

Sitting down and starting to write a blog for your business can be the hardest part of the entire process. The editing and revision of your work that comes later is a chore, but it is certainly not the most taxing aspect of what needs to be done. Some people have no problem at all with getting their creative juices flowing.

But for those that find it a struggle, there’s a great free programme that helps you by getting you to write 750 words every day. To be honest, this programme is great for clearing your mind as well. It helps you  focus as well as get started!

There’s no pressure – you just sit down and write until you hit 750 words. It takes me around 24 minutes to complete this task every morning before I start working. It’s a great routine to get into and can be helpful for the effectiveness of your writing sessions and to your stress levels. Of course, it will not suit everyone, but if you need to write and find that you can’t get started – give this a go you’ve nothing to lose.

Writing can be daunting for anyone that hasn’t had to do it on a regular basis. It’s a craft that gets easier the more you practice it.

So, what do you need to think about if you are just starting to write or blog for your business but you have no prior experience?

Apart from getting your creative juices going you need to consider a few other things before setting about writing your first piece of copy.

If you’d like to watch Kittie, Robyn and Gem discuss blogging for business, check out the video here:

  

First things first – who are you writing for?

You’ll always be writing for someone, a particular audience, and it’s important you have this in mind as you write every word. Everything you write, whether it’s marketing materials or posts on the company blog must be informative to and provide your audience with valuable and relevant content. To provide this type of content, you must know who you audience is; are you writing for current customers; prospective customers; industry peers; what do they need to know; what are their interests; who are they?

This is not as hard as it might seem. Think about it, do a bit of research and even participate in some customer engagement. This type of activity provides you with insights into your audience and gives you additional ideas for future content.

For a little more guidance on writing for your audience, check out this blog post.

Why on earth do you want to blog?

Silly question? Maybe, but it’s vital to consider your motivation. It takes considerable effort to start a blog and keep it running, if you don’t have the time or the will to keep it up then it can become very stressful and a drain on resources. One more thing vying for your attention!

Make sure that you’re focused on the reasons are behind starting the blog, set yourself goals and make sure that you review them regularly. There are many reasons why you might be starting a blog — raising your businesses profile, increasing sales through revenue or even to improve your search engine optimisation.

Stay clear and focused on what you are trying to achieve and make sure that your content supports these.

How do you make sure your blog appears authentic?

Don’t try to be someone you’re not. Write in your own voice, make sure that your audience gets to know you. Of course, you need to keep it professional, the “you” that they are getting to know is the business person, always keep that in mind. You’re building or enhancing your reputation. Your online image is all that many people will know about your company, so it’s crucial that you maintain a professional presence.

You also need to make sure that you write about what you know about and/or it’s your passion. This will shine through in your writing. It’s often obvious if this isn’t the case. Be prepared to be challenged and questioned by your audience – enter into a debate with them and have genuine two way conversations.

You need to think about all of the above before you consider lifting a pen or attacking the keyboard. You’ll find that by going through the questions every time you write that your content will be much better targeted, better received, and more relevant.

Do you do this and have you found that it helps your process?

Photo by Antenna on Unsplash

More blogging content from Avidmode:

Make The Most Of WordPress Gutenberg For Blogging (May 2020)

Just Writing Blog Posts Isn’t Enough (June 2020)

Common Blogging Struggles (June 2019)

How To Research For Your Blog (Jan 2019)

Building You Editorial Calendar (Nov 2018)