Blogs are a boon for search engine optimisation. They provide a great source of continuous fresh content, they open up avenues for user interaction, and they can even bring in inbound links. Blogs are great for their site’s SEO. The thing most SEO professionals rarely discuss is the fact that blogs are not great for every site.

It’s true that a blog can increase your site’s search engine friendliness. Blogs have worked wonders for the rankings of many sites. The mistake a lot of businesses and SEO companies alike have made is in thinking that it’s the very existence of a blog that increases the PageRank. This is an easy assumption to slip into, mostly due to wishful thinking. The hidden part of the blog = increased ranking equation is quality content. This takes time, hard work, and valuable resources.

Do you have room for a blog?

The first question you should really ask yourself is whether you have room on your site for a blog. Blog entries add valuable pages to your site, but a small site can easily get swamped by all of the extra material. You need to plan for where the blog will be in the future and adjust your site’s structure accordingly. Structure should be one of the considerations of your SEO plan and you can talk to us at SEO Consult about adapting your site’s structure for SEO.

Does a blog fit in?

The second important question is whether a blog would really suit your site. While it’s true that communicating with users in this way is suitable for most businesses, blogs don’t suit everyone’s style. If your business is uncomfortable with engaging users on a personal level, a blog may not be for you.

Are you posting quality content?

Not every business can afford to source high quality content for their blog, and this is where a lot of businesses make big mistakes. Quality content is essential for a blog, and it requires resources. These may be intellectual resources, budgetary resources or time resources. Posting content is a waste of time when you have nothing to say.

Does your blog have SEO content?

This is a vital consideration. Quality content is one thing, but if your blog posts haven’t been optimised then you’re missing half the benefits. SEO techniques are just as important in this content as for the rest of your site.

Can you afford time for a blog?

Even when you source content from a professional, maintaining a blog takes time. Posts have to be scheduled, comments sections monitored, and the system overseen to make sure everything’s working. Blog posts must be frequent in order for you to reap the SEO and user benefits of this source of fresh content. A blog needs to fit into your schedule in order for it and your business to prosper.

If you find that a blog doesn’t suit your site, don’t despair. There are many options for providing fresh content, including articles and forums. Check with your consultant for ideas.

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