Website or Blogs: which Marketing method is Right for Growing a Business?
Online Presence – Website or Blog? This post will help you decide which is best for your business.
Online Marketing Topics: O/L Presence, Website Benefits, Blog Benefits, Which is better for your Business? Both?
Why you need an Online Presence Online Presence? If you run a business that does not yet have an Online Presence, or are considering starting a new company, chances are that you have some idea of how important it is to be found online. Consumers and businesses increasingly use the Internet to find new products, services, suppliers, customers & workers. So even if your products are only sold offline, it is still crucial to have some kind of Online Presence (destination) Marketing [Web-Site or Blogs] that can provide searchers with the information they need for Growing a Business.
Website or Blog? You may be wondering if a Website or Blog is the best fit for your business. Does your small business really need a dedicated Website? Or would a Blog be better for keeping customers informed, or engaging with new leads online? Keep reading to learn about the pros & cons of Websites & Blogs, and to decide which is right for you.
Benefits of Having a Business Website
Having a Website for your business, even if you don’t do any business online, is a smart move. A company Website will give potential customers somewhere to go if they search for your brand name, rather than just looking at local search results or maps. Even a small Website – with just a few pages – is enough to improve the likelihood of searches choosing you for the products or services they desire. You may think of a site as something very large that requires complex graphic design or extensive copy-writing, but this isn’t always the case. You may only need a Homepage and a few supporting pages (like company history, general & contact info, etc).
More on Benefits. Of course, a business Website can do more than provide existing customers with contact info, or serve people searching for your brand name. A small Content Marketing, Link Building, or local SEO campaign can help ensure that you rank for broad keywords in your area, increase your reputation online, & provide potential leads with valuable content that will help them choose you.
Benefits of Having a Business Blog
If a Website seems like too complicated, you have a limited budget, or you want to communicate with your customers on a more personal level, a Blog might be a better choice for Marketing. Business Blogs can usually be set up for free, or for a very small amount, on platforms like #1 WordPress, #2 Blogger, #3 Tumblr, & several others.
Uses of a Blog. They give your business a way to post updates that current customers will find helpful. For example, if your company maintains a Blog, you might use it to report on new products, or special promotions going on at your store as your Marketing effort. Blogs typically have a more personal tone, and interesting content is more likely to be shared from a Blog.
Ad & Dis-Advantages. A Blog is inexpensive, and can usually be maintained by one or two members of your team. However, the very nature of a Blog requires frequent updates: unlike a Website, Blogs are expected to be refreshed with new content at least once or twice a month – more often preferred – weekly or more frequently. Customers are unlikely to read or trust “outdated” content, so you will need to be very mindful to produce current, relevant information.
Which is Better for your Business?
The Website vs Blog argument doesn’t have a definite answer.
Blog. Some companies find that simply having a Blog is enough to establish their online presence – especially if they need to update info often. On the other hand, other businesses don’t see a need to Blog, and simply create small . . .
Websites that allow them to be more easily found and provide the info that a typical customer would be interested in – which is stable and doesn’t change much over time.
Blogs are more dynamic and give business owners an opportunity communicate, create & easily distribute shareable content, but they do come with the expectation of frequent updates. On the other hand, a company . . .
Website doesn’t need to be updated as frequently, because customers expect them to have static content. But a Website usually requires a larger investment, and some graphic design or copywriting skills.
Strong Online Presence. Both Websites & Blogs can increase your visibility online, and ensure that customers find what they are looking for. Both can help you rank for important keywords. However, do you really need to choose between Blogs & Websites?
Why not have both a Website & a Blog?
Either can dramatically impact your presence online, and increase your reach in a big way. But do you really need to decide between the two? Many companies choose to invest in both a Website and a Blog, and the results can sometimes be dramatic.
Advantages. In conjunction with a company Website, a Blog can be a very powerful tool to increase awareness & build quality links. If you write a great post on something in your industry, and it is frequently shared, you are likely to see customers visit your site on the basis of that post. Also, Blogs can give customers something to read when they come to an otherwise static or sterile Website, and can increase your brand affinity.
Links. Having a company Website linked to your Blog also provides an easier way to find Contact Information, or learn more about what your business has to offer. Also, a Website with “keyword-rich” copy and more powerful links is likely to rank well, and attract attention from potential customers.
A Blog on its own could potentially confuse shoppers or leads who are trying to find information that a simple Blog just doesn’t offer, like operating hours, history, or contact info. On the other hand . . .
A Website on its own may not have enough content to build links or inspire social shares, both of which are very important for making your business more popular on the Internet.
Togetherness. So while both a Blog & Website are powerful tools individually, they are even more powerful when they’re used together – especially when they share the goal of promoting your company online. Even if you don’t sell anything on your Website or Blog, you can still increase the likelihood of offline sales by giving your customers the right kind of content & information at the right time.
Comment on your experience on Websites vs Blogs.
from WebPageFX.com 3/17 enhanced by Peter/CXO Wiz4biz
For more Info, click on Blogs, Growing a Business, Marketing.