Why Writing Articles Can Help Your Business

There are so many good reasons to communicate with site visitors. Tell them about sales and new products or update them with tips and information.

A blog is simply a collection of articles published on your website. And while the word “blogging” might sound like something only big companies or internet people need to worry about, writing useful articles can actually be a pretty practical tool for a small rural business.

You already answer customer questions all the time. Writing those answers down gives you a place to answer those questions once, so the next potential customer looking for that information can find it too.

Here are a few reasons to make writing articles part of your regular routine.

Give potential customers a reason to trust you

People like to know who they're hiring, especially when they're handing over a big job or a lot of money.

A helpful article lets customers see that you know what you're doing. Explain a common problem. Share a few tips. Tell them what they should look for when hiring someone. Answer a question you get all the time.

You don't have to write a novel. Just share what you already know.

Let people get to know you

Your website shouldn't feel like a brochure that could belong to anybody.

Your experience, your way of doing things and the things you think are important all help people decide whether you're the right business for them.

Writing articles gives you a chance to show some of that personality. You can explain things in your own words, tell a story about a job, or share something you've learned over the years.

People are more comfortable calling a business when they feel like they know who they're dealing with.

Answer the questions customers are already asking

You probably answer the same questions over and over.

• How often should this be serviced?
• What does this warning light mean?
• Do I really need to replace this yet?
• How long does this kind of job usually take?
• What should I do before you arrive?

Those questions make great articles.

Instead of answering the same question for the 47th time, write it down once. Then you can point customers to it, share it on your social media of choice, and give search engines another reason to understand what your business does.

Help people find you online

This is one of the biggest reasons I recommend adding articles to your website.

Every useful article you add gives the internet another page to find and understand. If you're answering questions your customers are actually searching for, those pages can help bring the right people to your website.

And that's the important part: the right people.

You don't need thousands of visitors from all over the country. You need the person in your service area who has a problem you can fix.

Give people a reason to visit your website

Your website shouldn't just be something you build once and forget about.

When you publish something useful, you have something new to share. Put it on your social feed. Send it to a customer who asks that question. Include it in your email newsletter.

Now your website is doing a little more work for you instead of just sitting there looking pretty.

It's inexpensive

You don't need a fancy marketing campaign or a huge budget to get started.

You already have the knowledge. You already have the stories. You already know the questions your customers ask.

The trick is turning some of that knowledge into useful information on your website.

And if writing isn't your thing? That's okay, too. Make a list of questions customers ask and jot down your answers. Someone else can turn those notes into a useful article.

It's another way to make your business memorable

Your logo and your website are only part of how people remember your business.

The things you say and the way you explain things matter, too.

When someone finds your website because you answered a question they had, then sees that you know your stuff, explains things in a way they understand, and sounds like someone they'd be comfortable working with, you've already made a good first impression.

That's what good marketing should do.

You don't have to become a professional writer. You just need to start sharing what you already know.

Those everyday questions, lessons from the job and bits of experience you've picked up over the years? That's useful information to somebody who is trying to decide who to call.