One of the most successful methods of brand and content marketing right now is the blog. If you aren’t already blogging regularly about topics relevant to customers, you are losing significant online market share. Blog entries are very easy to optimize for search engine needs and with the right keywords, they can draw a lot of traffic.

To excel as a blogger, you need to have relevant content that captivates and educates your audience so they’ll want to keep coming back for more. Here are some steps to accomplish it all.

• Begin with a topic you are passionate about.
• Know your topic inside and out.
• Speak to your targeted audience.
• Say something interesting and useful — blog content must add value to your readers’ lives.

The more value you provide in your blog posts, the easier it is to get people to click around your site, come back more frequently, and build the kind of trust that leads to a purchase decision.

Blogging benefits for your business:

• Strengthen the image of your brand.
• Blogging sharpens your sword, and it forces you to stay up-to-date on your industry. You become better at explaining and you have an answer for your customer’s questions.
• Become a Respected Authority in the Industry — your customers will trust you as a knowledgeable source.
• Learn about your customers. It’s a teach and listen process that becomes a cycle of ever-flowing content. The comment section of a blog is your great opportunity to build a community of passionate individuals who appreciate your company’s brand and mission.
• Good blog posts are SEO optimized and drive traffic.

Creating a great blog does take time and effort. And the more time you spend on posting and responding to comments, the more benefits your blog will produce.