You’ve just launched your Web site and are hard at work trying to improve its search engine rankings. Then someone asks you “Do you have a blog?”
Just what is a blog, anyway? According to the Web site Wikipedia:
A blog (a blend of the term “Web log”) is a type of Web site or part of a Web site. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video.
As Internet marketers will tell you, more and more of today’s Web sites incorporate blogs. Search engines seek out blogs when indexing Web sites, because blogs generally offer regularly-updated content. Internet users look for them because offer a richer experience than the same-old-same-old advertising copy. And, smart marketers are realizing that blog posts can do double-duty as content they can e-mail out to their database, to keep in touch with past customers.
So, you’re convinced you need to add a blog to your Web site. You’ll find lots of packaged technology that enable you to post and display your blog posts. But so often the hesitation comes down to a simple question: What do I write about?
For home improvement companies, the answer is a lot simpler than it seems. You’ve got dozens of topics swirling all around your business that are worthy of your next blog post. How so? Homeowners who will read your blog are researching your company, and you have their attention. Write about yourself, your business, your products…whatever comes to mind.
Remember, your objective isn’t so much to directly sell (that’s what the rest of your Web site is for!), as it is to give your prospective customers some insight into you, your company and your products.
Here are a dozen topics to start you off:
- Introduce a new product from one of your manufacturers.
- Welcome a new hire to your company, and write about their home improvement experience.
- Do you have a new offer? Write about it.
- Let your visitors know about the next homeshow you’ll be at.
- Talk about home maintenance (especially as the seasons are changing!).
- Explain the current tax credits for homeowners.
- What’s the difference between the two lines of windows your company sells?
- Your new TV commercial will be running on channel XX.
- Talk about your charity or non-profit work.
- Show great photos of a job you recently completed.
- Common problems you see in homes in your area.
- A link to great new post about your company on Yelp or Google reviews.
And that’s barely scratching the surface! Also, because you’re always completing jobs and adding new marketing promotions, don’t hesitate to write about these as well.
So, don’t let your blog suffer because you think you have writer’s block. Take some of the above ideas and get started!
