Should I start a blog? If you’ve found yourself Googling that very question, you’re not alone. Loads of small business owners spend time wondering if blogging is really worth the effort.

I have several blogs on the go, but this question still comes up time and time again. So much so, that I had to write about it. Content doesn’t just come in the form of a pleasant sounding homepage spiel, some ‘about me’ blurb, or your sales page.

Blogging regularly is one of the best ways to boost your visibility, build trust, and get your business in front of your ideal audience. So, if you’ve been asking yourself “should I start a blog?” read on as I’ll walk you through the benefits of using a blog as part of your content strategy.

Why A Blog Is More Than Just Words On A Page

Most people think blogging is just about having some kind of written content on your site. A nice thing to have on there because everyone else has it and it looks good. You get to quickly bash out 800 words, add a photo, publish it, then sit back and hope Google does its thing.

But blogging is so much more than that. Every blog post you share is an opportunity to build a connection. A blog lets you:

• Show up consistently – without spending every waking hour on social media.

• Tell your story – the struggles, the wins, the lessons, all the things that make you human.

• Prove you actually know your stuff – because people trust you more when you’re generous with your knowledge.

• Work smarter, not harder – a single blog post can be repurposed into emails, posts, reels, and so much more.

And here’s the major benefit, unlike a social post that disappears off people’s feeds in 24 hours (if you’re lucky!), a blogpost sticks around. It keeps working for you months (even years) after you hit publish.

So, if you’re still asking the question, should I start a blog?, here’s everything you need to know to help you make your mind up.

A Blog Builds Trust 

Blog posts that answer questions, solve a problem, or give genuine value in some way, help build trusted relationships between you and your audience. I know it may seem as though you’re giving information away for free (which in a sense, you are), but this is all about the long game.

If people see that you are willing to share your expertise and knowledge with them, this helps in a variety of different ways. Sharing knowledge with your audience showcases authority in your area of expertise and this helps build the know-like-trust factor.

The know-like-trust factor is an important thing to build, as it is this that makes selling far easier further down the line. Blogging allows people to:

• Know you – They find out who you are, what you know, and how you can help them.
• Like you – Your writing lets people see your personality and your values.
• Trust you – When your audience knows and likes you, they believe you are the right person to help them.

Your Blog Works Harder Than Social Media

Any content you share on social media has a shelf life. Social content is fast and hard. Yes, it may make more of an initial impact and it may gain you some more followers and possibly generate some leads, but social media is a hungry beast that you have to keep constantly feeding. Which is exhausting.

You share something on Facebook, it gets some interaction, then it’s gone. So the next day you’re forced to share something else and the cycle repeats itself. It’s joyless, it’s unsustainable, and it’s not serving you well.

Blog posts on the other hand are working for you all the time. They remain searchable and people can find them long after you first hit that publish button. Which means people can continue to discover you and your business without you having to do any further work.

Here’s why blogs work harder than socials:

• They’re searchable – A well-written blog post shows up on Google long after your Instagram reel has dropped off the radar.

• They’re shareable – Your audience can pass it on, link to it, and spread your reach for you – they do the marketing for you!

• They’re reusable – One solid blog post gives you ready-made content for emails, captions, podcasts and video scripts, to name but a few.

Blogging Makes You More Visible Online

When you structure a blog post in the right way, share useful information, and include keywords that your audience are searching for, blogging has the power to make you more visible online. And that’s great news for your business.

Google loves fresh, useful content. But without blogging, it’s unlikely you’re sharing fresh content on your website. Think about it… how often do you change your home page content, your services page, or any other content on your site? Not very often, right? I mean it would be a bit weird changing your home page content every other week.

So, all that static information kinda just sits there. Sure, if it’s been optimised for SEO it’ll get found, but your site effectively stops sending out ‘find me’ signals to Google when you’re not sharing fresh content.

Blogging lets you:

• Keywords in context – You can naturally weave in the exact phrases your audience is typing into Google.

• More entry points into your business – Every blog post is another way for someone to discover you.

• Consistency pays off – The more you blog, the more you build authority with Google’s and with your audience.

Social media will get you your 5 seconds of fame, but it’s a blog that makes you discoverable – even when you’re not actively promoting yourself. So, instead of relying on fickle, forever changing algorithms, the best thing to help build long-term visibility is to use blogging to attract clients.

You’ll Never Run Out Of Content Again

Repurposing is the secret weapon to a good content marketing strategy. And I’m going to show you how to grow your business with blogging, without making more work for yourself. In fact, I’ll save you both time and effort!

Just one blog post can fuel your entire content strategy for weeks. Seriously, you can take that single blog post and turn it into:

• Email newsletters that land directly in front of your ideal audience.

• Bite-sized social posts and scroll-stopping carousels.

• Talking points for videos, reels, or a podcast episode.

• Graphics, quotes, or infographics for visual wows.

Instead of frantically trying to come up with something to post each day, a blog post gives you a ready-made bank of ideas to dip into. So yes, writing a piece of long form blog content takes effort initially. But that effort pays you back tenfold because your blog sorts out everything else you need.

And best of all it keeps your message consistent across all platforms and reaffirms you as the expert in your niche.

Blogging Lets You Share Your Story

People don’t buy from faceless brands, they buy from people. And your blog is the perfect place to show the person behind the business.

The writing style you use in a blog is totally different to the polished, to-the-point copy on your sales or services pages. Yes, your blog posts should deliver value  e.g. sharing tips, knowledge, and insights, but they should also sound distinctly like you. They should reflect your stories, your voice, your quirks.

Because, blogging lets people in. Through your blog posts they get to see the real, human side of you. Not just the business owner, but the actual person. And that’s what creates connection. It’s what makes you memorable. And it’s often the deciding factor in whether they choose to buy from you or work with you.

Here’s how your blog builds connection:

• Personality – Your unique voice makes your brand stand out.

• Relatability – Stories and experiences show the human behind the business.

• Memorability – People remember you as a person, not just what you sell.

The reality is, you’ve got a whole heap of competition. There’s lots of people out there doing what you do. But there’s only one you. And a blog is your chance to mark you out as different, to stand out, to share your story and make your brand unforgettable.

Should I Start a Blog?

I think by now you know the answer to the question of whether you should start a blog for your business. But in case you’re still undecided, let’s have a quick recap.

Blogging means you:

• Build trust with your audience and potential new clients and customers.
• Form the basis of your entire content strategy.
• Make your business more visible online.
• Have a bottomless pot of content to dip into.
• Can share your brand story with the world.

It’s kind of a no-brainer when you think about it. If you want your business to be found online. If you want to be consistent in your messaging. If you want to position yourself as the go to expert in your niche. And if you want to streamline your content strategy. Blogging is the answer.

So, if you’re serious about showing up, being seen, and building a business that lasts? Stop asking ‘should I start a blog?’ and just start writing one.

Want some help making that happen? Join the waitlist for the OWN IT Membership and start gaining control over your website and your content.

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Author Bio

Bex Stafferton is a blogger who started off writing her blog The Art of Healthy Living as a hobby when she was a stay at home mum and caring for her two young children. She now looks after 4 different blogs and is also one half of the Bex & Ben duo who help small business owners take control of their websites and content with in their OWN IT Membership.

Bex is on a mission to help teach businesses how having a blog on their website is a valuable marketing tool. Helping to build a strong online presence, grow an engaged audience, and increase sales.

When she’s not blogging, Bex spends her time hiking up mountains, trail running, cuddling her two cockapoos, and renovating her house in the woods.