Blogging for Small Businesses: Boosting Visibility with SEO

Blogging for your creative business starts with understanding the content your audience likes. Most of the time, this becomes apparent as you post about your services or products. Certain messages grow legs and become more popular. Then, you can take those and build on them to create inbound website traffic. This list is the list I use to brainstorm with my clients as a web content writer in Virginia.

Blogging for Small Businesses: Boosting Visibility with SEO

Blog Post Ideas for Your Creative Business

I encourage my clients to choose the following formats to brainstorm blog post ideas. Each of these help you format information in a way that encourages reading and sharing.

1. (#) Ways to Do (Something)
2. How to (Do Something) Easily
3. Still doing (Activity)? Do This Instead.
4. (#) Tricks to (Do Something) That Actually Work
5. (#) Ways to Improve (Something)
6. Step By Step Guide to (Something)
7. The Best Ways to (Get Something) for Free
8. (# of Things) Every (Audience) Should Know About

They all signal usefulness for the reader. That creates more clicks and shares. Also, these headlines make an easy launch point to start writing.

(#) Ways to Do (Something)

From an SEO perspective, this title gives you the chance to write an enriching post full of keywords related to your industry. You’ll be able to look at a topic from multiple perspectives as you work through each option.

For example, a hairdresser might write about 11 Ways to Style an Updo for a Wedding. They can include a mix of high and low price options. Or they can break it up by aesthetic, hair texture, or accessories used. Each of these hooks should generate a series of keywords that prospective hair clients could be searching.

How to (Do Something) Easily

Similar to the above title, How To articles let you break up your advice into several sections. At each point, you can describe the best way to do something. This makes it easier to enrich your content with valuable keywords without stuffing. Since How do I… is a common query format, it’s easy to find long-tail keywords related to any topic.

As an example, a photographer could would write a post about How to Coordinate Outfits for Family Photos Easily. The subsections could break up into steps with advice and even images with examples. In the supporting text and subheadings, you can fold in keywords that prospective photography clients would be searching.

Still (Doing an Activity)? Do This Instead.

This format allows the reader to self-identify their pain point. From a search perspective, this means they’re probably already displeased with their current options and looking to make a change.

For example, a freelance graphic designer could write Still Sending Projects to UpWork? Do This Instead. Then, they can structure the article around the current situation/solution dynamic. The first part, current situation, can describe what it’s like to send projects to a talent-finder website. It’s easy to list pros and cons and enrich the text with commonly-searched keywords. T

The second part can focus on the solution of building a relationship with a flexible freelance graphic designer. As your text describes that arrangement, the valuable keywords can be worked into the content. It’s an easy way to work some important phrases into the story while keeping the focus on the prospective client’s needs.

(#) Tricks to (Do Something) That Actually Work

When you write a post about this, the key is to identify keyword strings that customers are often searching. Then, your post can help fulfill that need. It allows you to target an audience with something they really need.

Additionally, this headline format sticks out even if you’re lower down in results. It makes you sound like someone with experience working through an issue.

For example, a local co-working space could create a whole series based around the tools that they have in the building. If your facility has a 3D printer, you could write 5 Ways to 3D Print Projects That Actually Work. Then, you can describe each project with graphics and instructions. If you research the most-searched projects, you’ll find keywords that you can include. The text will led

(#) Ways to Improve (Something)

When you’re brainstorming these options, try doing your own google search. Type in Ways to Improve… then add something related to your business. Pay attention to the autofill options in the search bar and the related queries a the bottom of search results. These are concepts that people are already seeking.

An interior designer could write, 5 Ways to Improve the Flow of Your Living Room, for example. Under each subhead, you can list the problem and a solution. The problems can literally take the form of common key phrases that users are searching. Most of the time, people take to the internet for advice and solutions to common issues.

Step By Step Guide to (Something)

Many business owners possess expert knowledge without realizing the value. This is an opportunity to educate your audience about something specific to your niche. Queries like how to do something in x days or how to do something in x weeks are extremely common. If you make a list of these related to your niche, you can find questions that are going unanswered. Then, write a post about it.

A nail artist, for example, could write A Step By Step Guide to Growing Healthier Nails. Each subpoint can fit into a timeline or order of events. Following this format, you can blend keywords with time associations that people often search.

The Best Ways to (Get Something) for Free (or Cheap)

Customers and clients love insider tips — especially if they save money. Think of this as a good way to create buzz — not necessarily find customers who value your products or services. The resulting information appeals to people who like to share useful information.

For example, a cake decorator could write The Best Ways to Make Frozen-Themed Cupcakes for Cheap. Each idea can revolve around common themes or characters that people love for their baked goods. If it’s a popular enough topic, you won’t have any issues finding variations on the query.

(# of Things) Every (Audience) Should Know About

Similar to the above post type, people love to share helpful information. If you’re an expert in your field, correlate that knowledge with your audience’s needs. The resulting information will benefit both you and the reader.

As an example, a craft store owner could write 5 Sensory Play Activities Every Mom Should Know About. In the materials can link to product pages or even kits on their website with instructions. Each activity has its own change to be broken out into a seperate post on the social media channels as well as a mega post. It’s a great, visual idea to engage your target audience while addressing a pain point.

Our Lynchburg Virginia Marketing Agency

At The Shop Shop, we specialize in retail marketing — offering strategic services and flat-rate packages for shop owners, artists, and makers. We’ll come alongside your team to help you get more out of your website, social media, and email marketing. Everything we do fits seamlessly with your in-store promotions or online drops to create a captivating shopping experience. Partner with our Lynchburg Marketing Agency and let’s redefine the future of retail together.