What is a blog and how does it work?
Are you looking for powerful blogging tips?
Since you are here, I’m guessing you are.
Today’s guest author, Veronica Baxter, shares 5 effective blogging tips for any niche.
Although her background is in law, her powerful strategies will help bloggers in all niches.
By the time you’re done reading this post, you’ll know the answer to the question, “What is a blog and how does it work?”
Five Essential Tips for Creating a Blog
Veronica Baxter
I am a blogger and legal assistant, and I frequently work for busy Philadelphia life insurance attorney Chad Boonswang, Esq. Over the years I’ve learned a lot about researching ideas and helping to create high-quality posts for Mr. Boonswang’s successful blog.
In this article, I’ll share with you the five essential tips for creating an effective blog that will attract more clients.
What is a Blog and How Does It Work?
Determine Why You are Blogging
The answer to this question will dictate the style and content of your blog posts. Why do you want to blog? Why do you think you should blog? If you’ve decided to blog just because all of your competitors are blogging, that is not enough.
What is a blog and how does it work?
Blogging is the tool that will get you in front of potential clients and persuade them to retain you.
Answer this: Why do you have a website?
Chances are you will answer, “I have a website to attract clients.” That’s the right answer.
There are many advantages to blogging. Attracting new prospects is one of them.
Now, know that a website can be so much more than an online business card in that you can style it and its content to appear on the first page in searches that are relevant to your areas of practice. This is called “ranking.”
Okay, so how do you rank? One way is to blog.
Do you know what bloggers do?
Blogging provides periodic fresh content to your website, which Google AI likes. Blogging also allows you to write on topics of interest to potential clients to attract them to you and persuade them to click on your site, contact you, and retain your services.
How do you use your blog to rank, get searchers to click on you in the search results, and persuade them to contact you and retain you? Read on.
Provide Value to Your Readers
Your blog posts must focus on topics that are relevant to people who are looking for the types of services you provide. For example, as of this writing, we are several weeks into a worldwide pandemic.
Mr. Boonswang just posted to his blog an article titled Can a Life Insurance Claim Be Denied Due to Coronavirus because this is a concern of life insurance beneficiaries whose loved one died due to Coronavirus and their claim is delayed or has been denied. People with this problem are looking for the services of a life insurance beneficiary lawyer such as Mr. Boonswang.
Think about what potential clients may be searching for if they have questions related to the types of law you practice.
For example, a bankruptcy attorney may post an article to his blog about discharging medical debt from the Coronavirus in bankruptcy.
A workers’ comp attorney might blog about how to get workers’ comp for having been exposed to the Coronavirus in the workplace and having contracted COVID-19.
Well-written and comprehensive posts will be perceived by Google AI as valuable, and this will help you rank and get you in front of more potential clients.
Implement SEO
“Search Engine Optimization” (SEO) is a technique that will help you rank better. The Google AI knows what viewers are looking for depending upon the search terms they use. You want to include in your post the search terms and long-tail keywords that people who need your services use in their search.
How do you find out what those potential clients are searching for? There are online tools one can purchase to help with that, including one by AHREFS. However, simply using the Google search function can give you a lot of SEO information.
Host blogger’s comments: Ahrefs is considered pricey, and Ubersuggest just started charging. However, there are many SEO tools like Ubersuggest and Ahrefs that are free.
Using “People Also Ask” in Google Search Results for SEO
If you type “life insurance claim denied” into Google search, in the results you will see a box titled “People also ask.” These questions may be long-tail keywords you want to include in your blog post so that the Google AI directs searchers to your site.
Using Auto Suggest to Generate Relevant Keywords for SEO
Often when you start typing into the search field, Google will auto-fill with words or phrases that people commonly type in next. Are any of those auto-completed suggestions relevant to your topic and your area of practice? Include them in your post.
Exploring auto-suggest will also provide you with other relevant topics that people needing your services are searching for. And, it’s free.
Post to Your Blog Regularly
In general, stale websites do not rank well in Google search. Adding fresh content regularly keeps your blog, and therefore your website, in front of the Google AI. This helps with ranking.
How often should you post to your blog? Perhaps once or twice a week, no more. Dumping a bunch of fresh content on your site is a bad idea because that too has a negative effect on your ranking. Aim to post to your blog once a week, every week.
Write on Current Topics
Just as Google AI likes to see fresh content, it likes to see content about current events. So does a whole new category of potential clients.
By providing comprehensive coverage on current events as they relate to your areas of practice, you are signaling to the Google AI and to the viewer that you are keeping up-to-date on the latest developments in your field. This helps you rank.
You are also positioning yourself to capture that new segment of the market that has arisen due to current events, just as Mr. Boonswang did with his Coronavirus post.
Wrapping Up: What is a Blog and How Does It Work?
In conclusion, now you know the answer to the question, “What is a blog and how does it work?
A blog is the most useful tool you have to get yourself in front of the searchers who might retain you. Use it with this in mind, and you will realize your goal of attracting more clients online.
Readers, please share so other people considering blogging know the answer to the question, “What is a blog and how does it work?
I look forward to your views in the comments section: Are there any additional ways to answer the question, “What is a blog and how does it work?”
About the Author
Veronica Baxter is a blogger and legal assistant living and working in the great city of Philadelphia. She frequently works with Chad Boonswang, Esq., a life insurance lawyer in Philadelphia.
This post was made possible by the support of our readers.
