It's always important to update your business blog, and to make sure that it's looking its best.  No matter how many people see the blog (whether it's one lone stranger, or thousands of customers), it's important that your blog is professional, relevant, and useful.  It also never hurts to make changes to your blog and try to improve the user experience.  

Here are ten tips that you can use to help improve your business blog:

1. Why you write.  Too many businesses focus on inputting keywords and writing for the sole intention to be found.  What needs to be focused on is the person reading the article to begin with.  Coming across an article jam-packed with a certain keyword can be very frustrating for a reader.  Use the same type of language your customers use.  Not only will they be searching for articles with that type of language, they will also gather more knowledge from an article written that way.  Write honestly about your service or product, and don't leave out any information.  Customers get on the internet to find answers to the questions they're asking.  Your article should present the answers, not generate more questions.

2. To sell or not to sell.  While you may want to promote your product or service, a blog is the time for your to humanize your business.  This is where users will go to learn about your products on a human to human level, without having a product pushed at them.  Stick to writing about useful information, things that a customer may not necessarily know. Some of the most popular business blogs don't try to promote their products.  Instead, they try to attract people by sharing useful information and giving out tips to help out users.

3. Social Media.  In this day and age you can't go anywhere without social media hanging around.  And that's exactly how people want it.  When someone goes to your blog and reads an interesting article, they want to share it with their friends.  They want to like it on Facebook and retweet it.  Not only does this enhance the user experience--it also increases the amount of people seeing the articles your blog produces.  Everything on your blog should be share-able in some way.  Social-sharing buttons should be visible by articles, enticing the reader to pass the information along.

4. Pinterest.  Pinterest has really gained steam within the last couple of years. A lot of businesses are now using it to their marketing advantages.  And you should too.  You can create your own pinboard (which can then be included as a widget on your website) where you pin all the information that you produce on your blog.  Not only will this make sharing your content easier, but it also increases the amount of people that will see your business blog.  People don't have to even visit your blog to see your articles--they can do so right on Pinterest.

5. The call-to-action.  We've mentioned earlier that you shouldn't actively promote your products or services and shove it down throats.  Instead, allow the reader to decide for themselves if they'd like to pursue your products.  This is where the call-to-action comes in.  A call-to-action is just a little blurb at the end of the article, inviting readers to interact with your blog.  It can be inviting them to ask questions, to make a comment, or to contact your business.  While it may seem like something little, it can have a big impact.

6. Proofread, proofread, proofread.  This can't be stated enough.  As a professional, you should sound like a professional.  If somebody is reading through your article, they want to feel like you know what you're talking about.  And you won't if you are misspelling words or using incorrect grammar.  It never hurts to read over your post after you've finished writing.  And then read over it again.  If necessary, have a pair of new eyes look over it, just to make sure.  When you write professionally, you sound professional, and your articles will have a greater impact.

7. Be enthusiastic.  Even when writing about boring topics, it helps to rouse some enthusiasm.  When you are enthusiastic, that attitude will show off in your writing.  And it's much easier, and more fun, to read an enthusiastic sounding article.  It makes the reader enthusiastic about what they're reading.  Use world play, make some jokes, have fun!

8. Be consistent.  A great way to build up a name for yourself, create a following, and get recognition, is by following a schedule for when to post articles.  If you only post an article every now and again, your blog is likely to be overlooked.  You should stick to a schedule for writing and posting articles regularly.  If you have a lot to write about, post every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.  If not, post once or twice a week.  The more articles you have published regularly, the more professional and organized your blog will look.

9. Choosing photos.  It can be tough to find the right type of photo for your blog post.  However, photos may be more important than you realize.  Besides the headline, the photo is one of the first things your reader is going to look at.  It may even be what sparks their interest in the first place.  Make sure that the photo you choose is relevant to what you're writing.  Make sure it's interesting, and will garner attention.  And more importantly, make sure it's of good quality.  If the photo is clear, it looks professional.  No one wants to see a grainy, blurry photo that looks like it was taken on a phone from 2001.

10. Extra extra!  Headlines are so important.  As mentioned above, it's one of the first things your readers see, and it's what should grab their attention.  So how do you create a headline that's relevant, yet attention-grabbing?  First, tell your readers what they'll get from reading your article.  Are they going to be richer if they follow your advice?  Are they going to get a book-load of information?  And use power words!  These are words that are emotional and sensory.  They make people feel something.  Some of these words are "beware", "catastrophe", and "Hoax".

If you're interesting in re-vamping your blog, contact a Blue Archer professional.

Michelle Hawley

Digital Content Writer

@BlueArcherPGH