Why you need to build a website before focusing on content creation

Before working with a content creation company, you need to have a website. Having a website will make it easier for the content creation company you hire to understand your brand and create content that aligns with your goals. It will also allow you to see first-hand how crucial strong web copy is to the overall success of your site. Finally, your website will provide the framework for getting your content seen by Google—and by the customers.

Plan before you build

First, you need to make a plan. What kind of website do you need, and what features should it have? Your website can be as simple or as complicated as you want, but at the very least, you should have a clear idea of its purpose before you start building it.

The most basic websites usually have a Homepage, a Services page, an About Us page, and a Contact page. Additional pages—store, blog, case studies, etc.—will depend on your business needs.

Now that we’ve established why you need a website and you know how to plan for it, let’s talk about how to build one. 

While there are  different ways to build a website, we recommend using WordPress. WordPress is a content management system (CMS) that makes it easy to create and manage your website. Plus, it’s been around for a good while, so there are tons of resources available to help you get started.

Select a domain and hosting provider

Once you’ve chosen a CMS, it’s time to select a domain name (a.k.a domain) and hosting provider. Your domain name is the address people will use to find your website, so it’s important to choose something that’s easy to remember and relevant to your business.

For example, if you’re a coffee shop, you might want to choose something like “coffeeshopname.com.” 

As for hosting, this is where your website “lives” on the internet. There are many different providers out there, but we recommend using Bluehost. Bluehost is one of the largest and most popular hosting providers, and they offer a free domain name when you sign up for their services. And you know what they say about free stuff—it’s always a good thing (at least when we’re talking websites).

Get WordPress up and running (if you’re using WordPress)

Now that you have a domain name and hosting, it’s time to install WordPress. This can seem like a daunting task, but don’t worry—we’ve got you covered. Just follow the steps below on how to install WordPress, and you’ll be up and running in no time.

How to Install WordPress

Installing WordPress is a very simple process. In fact, it’s probably the simplest CMS installation out there.  Here’s how to install WordPress in just a few minutes:

1. Download the WordPress files from WordPress.org. Once you have the ZIP file, unzip it and upload the contents of the directory to your web server.
2. Create a database for WordPress on your web server. You can do this using phpMyAdmin or a similar tool. Once the database is created, note down the name, username, and password.
3. Open your web browser and go to http://yourdomain.com/wp-admin/install.php. This will take you to the WordPress installation screen.
4. Enter your database name, username, and password. Once you’ve done that, click on the “Submit” button.
5. You’ll be asked to create a username and password for your WordPress administrator account. Once you’ve done that, click on the “Install WordPress” button.

That’s it! You have now successfully installed WordPress on your web server.

Get creative

Now that you’ve installed WordPress, you need to set up your website. So it’s time to think about the design. This includes the aesthetics of your website (i.e. colors, fonts, and overall look) and the layout (i.e. where different pieces of content will go). 

To start off, you need to choose a theme—the “look” of your website. There’s no need to worry about being unsure or not finding the look you want because there are thousands of themes to choose from.

Once you’ve selected a theme, it’s time to install some plugins. Plugins are like little apps for your website that add extra features and functionality. For example, some plugins can help you backup your website, create contact forms, or add social media buttons.If design isn’t your forte, now is the time to start looking for a web designer or marketing agency that can help bring your vision to life.

However, if you went the WordPress route, things should be easier (that’s why we recommend it to everyone).

Something else we highly recommend is Google Analytics. It’s a free tool that allows you to track the traffic to your website. 

There are many reasons why Google Analytics is essential. Perhaps the most important is that it allows you to track your website’s traffic and performance. This information is critical in understanding how well your website is doing and how to improve it.

Another key reason ‌Google Analytics is so important is that it can help you segment your audience. This means that you can target specific groups of people with targeted content or campaigns, which can cause a significant boost in conversion rates and overall success.

Finally, Google Analytics also provides valuable insights into the behavior of your website visitors. This information can help you understand what people are looking for on your site and how they interact with your content. Armed with this knowledge, you can improve the overall user experience on your website and make sure that people can find what they need.

Bring us in

With all of that done, it’s finally time to fill your website with content. This is where Verblio comes in! 

We’re here to help you create high-quality blog posts, About Me pages, product descriptions, and more. But before you come to us for content, don’t forget to check that your website is ready to go. 

We can help you if:

• You have a sitemap
• You have a brand guide
• You have existing designs
• You’re an SEO agency
• You’re a web dev agency
• You have local landing pages
• You have service landing pages

But we’re not a good fit if…

• You don’t have a designer
• You need messaging help
• Our web content writer needs to talk to your designer
• You need less than five pages of site content
• You need copy editing
• You want Hemingway
• You don’t know what you want

It isn’t as hard as it seems

Building a website doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming. Follow these simple steps, and in no time, you’ll  have a beautiful website that’s ready to start attracting visitors. And once you have your website set up, we at Verblio will be more than happy to step in to do what we know how to do best. 

Let us help you take your online presence to the next level with our high-quality content. Get in touch today! 

The post A no-muss, no-fuss beginner’s guide to building a website appeared first on Verblio.

What is SaaS, anyway? 

SaaS stands for Software as a Service and is an umbrella term for tools you use online every day. Looking for good examples? Think of top-tier software solutions like: 

• ClickUp
• 6sense
• Slack
• Hubspot 

… and thousands more common tools that your business uses regularly.

How to speak the language 

It’s time to churn down for what and learn how to speak like a pro… in under three minutes. 

1. Churn 

When you hear “churn” in the tech world, you can assume that it isn’t about butter or ice cream. Churn can happen across any industry, and is used to describe the number of subscriber cancelations a business has in any given time period. 

You can’t just look at churn rate as a surface metric, though. There are a variety of factors that can cause the current rate of churn, so it’s important to use proper customer study techniques to understand why people are unsubscribing. That way, you can strategize, adapt, and overcome. 

2. MRR 

MRR is one of the most important elements of measurement in your SaaS business. This acronym stands for Monthly Recurring Revenue and is critical to your success. You’ll use MRR as a measurement to base future projections on and also as a signal of business viability to your stakeholders and investors. (This is also known as your business’s chances of survival, which is very important when it comes to purchasing decisions.) 

3. LTV 

LTV stands for Lifetime (Customer) Value and is a rough calculation of the average customer’s contribution to your bottom line over time. You can use this along with the churn calculation to determine how well your business is actually doing—both elements  can contribute to your MRR calculation, now and in the future. 

4. ARPU 

ARPU is a measurement that’s related to LTV. The acronym stands for Average Revenue Per User and is determined over a set timeframe. For many businesses, this can look like measurements taken at semi-regular intervals, including: 

• Monthly 
• Bi-Monthly 
• Quarterly 
• Bi-Annually 
• Annually 

You can also set customized review parameters to get the most accurate measurements possible for your business. 

5. CAC 

CAC is a marketing term and is known as Customer Acquisition Cost. This answers your questions about how much it costs to turn a prospect into a full-paying customer. The costs can vary depending on how many paid initiatives you currently have  (across all channels), as well as how optimized and tailored your campaigns  are for your target audience. Depending on the cost of your product, your CAC value can skew higher or lower. 

6. MAU 

MAU stands for Monthly Active User. This measurement determines how many users have interacted with your app meaningfully (i.e., actually using it for its purpose and value, not accidentally clicking on it). MAU is often determined periodically for reporting purposes and can be used across marketing reports to determine if your product or service  engages the customer and aligns with your expectations. 

After you determine your MAU, you can act accordingly. If it’s higher, you can determine how to refine and optimize your marketing stuff even more to win lifetime users and continue profiting from your current base. If you’re skewing lower, you can determine where your marketing campaigns are going wrong, and try new tests and versions to get users actively engaging with the content. 

7. MVP 

In this case, MVP does not stand for Most Valuable Player (although if we had to pick, we’d choose you). In SaaS, MVP stands for your Minimum Viable Product, a.k.a. the smallest or most basic offering you need to put out  to deliver value or significantly profit. You can have a variety of  MVPs if you have different types of SaaS products, but most businesses start with just a single one. 

This tells you the core offerings that you must keep to meet the needs of your user base. Sure, the extra features are nice, but they’re like bread and butter to an already-hearty steak dinner. 

8. TAM 

Finally, we close off our list with TAM— the Total Addressable Market. This tells you how many people you have to potentially reach in a current market sector, and generally skews large as we become more digitally focused as a population. 

Great stuff… but I still need expert help

If this sounds like you, you’re in the right place. Building appropriately SaaSy content gets even more difficult with Google’s ever-changing shifts in preferences. If you’re looking to make your content stand out without keyboard smashing, screaming, or endless hours of staring at a blank page, it’s time to try Verblio. 

You can visit our website to read more about your ultimate solution for SEO writing services, or  connect with an expert today to kick off your SaaS content writing project with a bang. 

Get ready to experience the difference. We’re Verblio. And we’re so glad that you’re here. 

The post SaaS Acronyms Defined and Explained appeared first on Verblio.

Testimonials can help boost sales and conversions when used effectively. However, it’s important to know how to make the most of this type of advertising. 

This blog post will discuss how this kind of advertising works and look at some testimonial advertising examples. We’ll also provide tips for creating an effective testimonial advertising campaign for your own business.

Understanding the Importance of Testimonials in Advertising

A testimonial advertisement is a paid placement that uses a customer quote to establish trust and generate credibility around a product. Think of them as statements that provide first-hand evidence about something’s characteristics, qualities, or value. Advertisers often use testimonials to support their claims about products and services. It’s all about social proof. 

Potential customers are more likely to believe what others have said about a product or service than what the company says about itself. This is especially true if the testimonials come from people the customer trusts, such as friends or family members.

Or as eloquently described by TrustPilot, “Consumers feel empowered as their opinions put bad companies to shame, highlight companies that stand out amongst the crowd, and more broadly contribute to improving businesses everywhere.”

People know that their words have unbiased insight and incredible power. They’re enough to encourage sales, grow business, or dismantle them entirely under the right conditions.

Testimonial Advertising Examples

The following testimonial advertising examples can serve as a starting point for you if you’re looking for some inspiration:

Example #1: Calm

It’s not a revolutionary take, but LinkedIn isn’t the most exciting platform ever. It’s not a sexy platform like Instagram or TikTok where the fun (and comparisons) never stop.

Still, the platform has over 800 million users, many of whom are regular users. So it’s a great platform for reaching a wide audience.

Just take a look at Calm’s testimonial advertisement here. There aren’t many details in the review, and it’s anonymous, which isn’t ideal…

But the specific audience and context make it work. LinkedIn users are immediately given a solution that employers can offer them—because we all know how stressful life can be.

The best part is that it’s an employee, not the person who runs the program, who shares how helpful Calm’s been on their journey.

Example #2: Headspace

Headspace, the meditation app, has a good testimonial advertising example. This one uses some pretty bright colors that catch people’s attention, alongside several font size variations, and an interesting image.

But visuals aside, the quote here is about running. Notice, he’s not recommending that people start running. He’s saying that guided meditation gives him peace of mind when he’s out for a run.

Obviously, runners would get a ton of value from this, but the nice thing is that it appeals to everyone. Immediately when you read it, you think “What else could I do while using Headspace?”

It draws people in, helping them envision the possibilities. It helps them think about the app and consider its real-life use. There’s a lot of value in that.

Example #3: Dove 

Time to look at some video testimonial advertising examples now. They give you a little more time than a regular written ad would, so you can pack in more detail and value.

Dove has a good example here, where they take advantage of that fact by jamming several testimonials into one ad for their deodorant.

Now, these are all staged, which is pretty obvious since they brought these people into one space for the ad, but they’re supposedly not actors, which adds a level of credibility and trustworthiness.

More than that, they all try on the product then and there, while talking about it and discussing their thoughts. That brings some realness to the situation, and further highlights the effectiveness of the product.

Example #4: Grammarly

Now, this is a powerful ad right here. First, sushi is about precision. A lot of practice and skill goes into making a good, delicious sushi roll. It’s a lot like writing, just like Kaz Matsune points out. Writing takes a ton of time to get right, and it’s basically a lifelong pursuit.

By establishing this connection first, the visuals in the video are given context. Anytime he’s perfecting a roll, he’s also perfecting a sentence on the computer. 

All this, before he even explains the best part: English is his second language, and yet he’s able to write regularly, post content, and publish books in English thanks to Grammarly.

Example #5: Salesforce 

You’ve likely heard this before, but storytelling is one of the most powerful tools in your arsenal. It’s also the oldest way humans have connected with each other and shared ideas, concepts, and lessons.

So creating a testimonial ad that tells a story like Salesforce does here is always a good idea—especially if it’s a story that your target audience can really relate to.

In this case, Salesforce focuses on a rags to riches story where someone working on a cotton field became a director at the company. The defining factor? Salesforce is all about helping people succeed and live up to their potential.

That’s a solid feel-good message everyone wants to hear. It makes viewers wonder what Salesforce can do for them.

Some Key Testimonial Advertising Reminders

Using testimonial advertising to promote your products and services, and therefore grow your business is always a good idea. However, there are a few things to keep in mind before you approach customers.

What to Ask

Before you can get to the fun stuff (creating the ad itself), you need to ask the right questions. After all, the questions you ask dictate the answers you’ll get to some degree. 

Here are the 3 most important questions you should ask:

• What was your specific problem, and how did this product or service resolve that issue?
• What other solutions had you tried leading up to this particular product/service? How do those options compare?
• What do you expect your future to be like now that you’ve found this solution?

These questions cover the past, present, and future in detail. They even cover competitive offers. 

However, these questions might yield overly long answers, so you may need to cut down to size (more on this in a bit).

When to Ask

Your product or service dictates when you should ask for testimonials from your clients and customers. 

These 3 instances are the easiest times to ask for testimonials:

• Right after you’ve delivered a service. This is especially powerful if you have a face-to-face interaction with the customer. You can ask for a testimonial right away.
• After completing a project. As in, right when you’re wrapping it up, ask a client for feedback. The value-packed details are fresh on the mind at that point.
• About 15-30 days after someone purchases a product—especially if the product requires some time investment. For example, if you were to buy a calendar/scheduler app, you’d likely want a good 2 weeks to use it before forming an opinion. That’s enough time to discover the drawbacks and perks.

Testimonial Ad Length

Different types of testimonials vary in length. For example, quotes are shorter than video testimonials advertisements. Blog post versions are even longer.

The general consensus is that 50 words is the magic number for most testimonial advertisements—sometimes less.

Some Extra Testimonial Advertising Tips

• Your target audience will appreciate testimonials that resonate with them. Don’t settle for ones that are uninteresting or vague. Select those that offer tons of benefits and proof.
• Highlight your product or service’s unique selling points with testimonials. Be sure everyone is aware of your offer if it is the only one of its kind that does something very specific and beneficial.
• You can use testimonials for a variety of marketing materials, including your website, social media posts, email campaigns, and even print ads. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box. Use eye-catching graphics and video testimonials, for example.

Testimonial Advertising Can Do Wonders For Your Business

Make sure you keep these things in mind when creating your testimonial advertising campaign. And remember to test your ads before you launch them in order to make sure they’re effective.

If you do, you can be sure your business will thank you. Not only will it be much easier to showcase the unique products and services you have to offer, but you’ll also highlight the benefits. And nothing has more selling power than valuable benefits that change people’s lives.

The post <strong>5 Powerful Examples of Testimonial Advertising</strong> appeared first on Verblio.

But it’s one thing to manage projects in-house vs working with a content marketplace to get things done.

Suddenly, your standard project management process just doesn’t cut it anymore. Instead of working with a crew of people who know and understand your systems, you’re working with writers who don’t quite know your brand or way of doing things.

Make no mistake, this isn’t a bad thing—it just means you need to tweak your approach a bit. After all, the ability to be flexible and change on a dime makes leaders efficient.

In this article, we’ll cover the changes you should make when working with a content marketplace and what your expectations should be while working with them. Let’s get started.

Changes you should make when working with a marketplace of writers

Keep a few key things in mind when working with a marketplace of writers. The most important thing to remember when working with multiple writers is quality control. It can be tempting to choose the lowest bidder, but it’s often a recipe for disaster.

Instead, take the time to read through each writer’s portfolio and samples to get a feel for their style and skill level. Once you’ve narrowed down your choices, be sure to give clear instructions for each project. The more specific you can be, the better.

Also, managing your expectations when working with a marketplace of writers is vital. Remember that you’ll likely have different writers for each project, so it’s important to set realistic deadlines and allow for some flexibility in the final product.

Finally, don’t forget to factor in the additional costs associated with working with a marketplace of writers. While the per-project cost may be lower, you’ll need to consider project management and quality control costs.

By following these simple tips, you can ensure that your next project is a success, regardless of whether you’re working with a marketplace of writers or not.

How to partner with the marketplace when building content at scale

When working with a marketplace of writers, it’s important to have a clear project management process in place. This way, you can ensure your projects are completed on time and to your specifications.

Here are a few tips for managing projects within a content marketplace:

1. Make sure you have clear project requirements from the start. The more specific you can be, the better. This will help ensure that the writers you select can meet your needs.

2. Select a project manager with content marketplace experience. Coordinating the project and quality control will be easier with their help.

3. Clearly understand the costs associated with the project. This will help you budget and avoid any surprises down the line.

4. Be realistic about deadlines. When working with multiple writers, it’s necessary to allow for some flexibility in the timeline.

5. Communicate regularly with the marketplace throughout the project. This will help ensure everyone is on the same page and that problems get resolved quickly.

Are there any favorite tools for handling this use case?

Several project management tools can be helpful when working with a marketplace of writers. Here are a few of our favorites:

Asana: This is a great tool for managing projects of all sizes. It’s easy to use and offers a variety of features, including task lists, deadlines, and team communication.

Basecamp: Another popular project management tool, Basecamp offers many of the same features as Asana. But it also includes a client portal, which can be helpful when working with multiple stakeholders.

Trello: This is a versatile project management tool. It’s easy to use and offers a variety of features, including Kanban boards, which can help visualize project progress.

Can you rely on the marketplace for project management?

When working with a marketplace of writers, you can expect the marketplace to provide some level of project management. However, it’s important to be clear about your expectations from the start. Make sure you understand what the marketplace handles and what you’ll need to do yourself.

Content marketplaces generally handle the following:

1. Recruiting and selecting writers for the project (they know who specializes in the content topic you need)

2. Managing deadlines and payments (keeping themselves accountable throughout the project, so they’re not late with delivery)

3. Providing support to writers during the project (they give writers extra resources, guidance, and feedback before submission)

4. Quality control of the final content (checking to see if the content meets your requirements, double-checking grammar and spelling, etc.)

What should you plan to handle yourself?

 Things you’ll need to take care of yourself when working with a marketplace of writers typically include:

1. Defining the project requirements (only you and your team can decide what the content needs to accomplish to be successful)

2. Managing communication with the marketplace and writers (resolving miscommunications and hiccups as quickly as possible)

3. Approving or rejecting content (and being honest with yourself to ensure you’re not just settling for something you’ll need to rewrite or fine-tune later)

4. Providing feedback to writers (be honest and helpful—this will help the writers edit the content efficiently)

5. Publishing the final content (making sure it’s posted on time and that it looks good once it goes live)

What’s the best way to right the ship if something goes wrong in your work with a content marketplace?

If you find yourself in a situation where the content you’re receiving from a marketplace is not up to your standards, you can do a few things to course-correct.

First, assess the situation and determine what went wrong. Was there a misunderstanding about the project requirements? Did the quality of the writers not meet your expectations?

Next, reach out to the marketplace and explain the situation. Be clear about your concerns and what you would like to see happen.

Finally, work with the marketplace to come up with a plan to improve the situation. This may involve changing the writers you’re working with, providing more detailed feedback, or increasing the number of revisions you’re willing to accept.

Good leaders make adjustments

Going back to the beginning, good leaders are flexible. They know when to make changes to keep projects running smoothly.

While they might not immediately know what to do, they figure it out quickly— whether it means spending a few extra hours planning and strategizing or hiring external help.

So if project management has been the only obstacle keeping you from working with a content marketplace, you can change that right now. Simply use this guide to prepare, and then click here to learn more about Verblio and how we can help you grow your business.

The post Project Management Within a Content Marketplace appeared first on Verblio.

You’re the only one in the driver’s seat—and it can be thrilling, exhausting, and utterly terrifying. The good news is that it doesn’t need to be (overly) challenging. 

Let’s delve into how to take your many-hat-wearing game to the next level, including the good, the bad, and everything else about one-person marketing teams.

What’s so difficult about being a one-person marketing team? 

Identifying the problem is the first step in solving and optimizing. A one-person marketing team poses unique challenges and incredible pressure to you as the sole member. 

It can be tough to organize tasks into bite-sized chunks and processes when you face tons of tasks daily. The good news is you can avoid burnout and exhaustion by prioritizing decompression, mental health, and sanity breaks.

Any hacks for one-person marketing teams? 

To streamline your process, you can start trying several  things today. Below are three simple steps to follow. 

1. Get organized 

We mean it. Organization doesn’t look like millions of sticky notes that are easily lost. Instead, finding a project management tool that works for you is essential to navigating the continually changing and fast-paced environment of marketing and execution. 

There are entire libraries of virtual project management tools if you’re looking for options that are easy to integrate, offer you to-the-second updates, and archive tasks steps.

If you want to go more analog or for your personal records, you can always work via Google Docs or Sheets to keep yourself on track. 

Speaking of staying on track… 

2. Use KPIs and other accountability tools 

It is so easy to get lost in the weeds as a one-person team. It’s even easier to get burned out and into a “frozen” state, where overwhelm and stress can abound. 

Finding an accountability teammate from a different department or using KPIs and other goalposts can keep you moving forward, and help keep you motivated and accountable for those key deliverables. Plus, it doesn’t hurt to have an editorial calendar so that you can clearly and effectively communicate your marketing plans with other orgs at your company.

3. Seek ‌feedback 

Feedback is crucial to your growth as a manager and your success as a company. Looking for opportunities for feedback from peers and supervisors can help you ‌reach new levels of success and dial in new ideas and initiatives that can grow your business’ opportunities to earn. 

Everyone brings a unique perspective to the table, which can be especially helpful to break through any barriers or creativity blocks in your way on specific projects. 

Essential project management tools for one-person teams 

If you’re wearing all the hats, you might like a project management tool that moves just as fast as you do. 

The ideal project management tool will allow you to track tasks visibly, either with an archive of previous steps taken or with visual aids. It should also have features to keep you motivated and accountable, such as separate goal trackers or engaging features to encourage and celebrate your wins. 

Ideally, you’ll be able to collaborate with this tool and work with your teammates to accomplish organization-wide goals. 

Sound too good to be true? It isn’t. We’ll save you a few clicks—here are a few top options below. 

• Trello: This tool is great for visually driven people who want to visibly see their progress. 
• Asana: This is best for larger teams and has engaging processes to keep you on track and actively collaborating. 
• Fabulous: This is a great tool to start new habits and build your daily routine/process with. 
• Monday.com: This is the best part of Trello and Asana both, offering a visually engaging, collaborative, and FREE tool for our one-person pros. 

Project management frameworks for one-person teams 

Your project management framework can work seamlessly with your project management tool, saving even more time (and your sanity.)

RACI

RACI is very clear about everyone’s roles, which makes it ideal for startups or teams who experience a lot of overlap. You’ll walk away with a clear hierarchy and understanding of roles and responsibilities.

Agile 

Agile is best for breaking big tasks into smaller ones and encourages flexibility. If your work landscape is continually changing and you’re dealing with shifting goalposts, this is the best strategy for you. 

Turning your general role into a strength in marketing 

Wearing all the hats isn’t all bad for you. In fact, you can turn the experience into a suite of strengths for future use. Here are a few tips: 

• Stay savvy: You’re in a unique position that allows you to stay on top of all the latest marketing trends. You can pivot this role into anything you want later on. Take advantage of it. 
• Niche down (a little): Some specialization isn’t bad. If you have free time, pour it into mastering one skill at a time based on need and interest. 
• Communicate your needs: Practice confidence and communicate your needs to your team. You’re all working toward the same goal in the end, and you’ll perform better when you get the support you need. 

Do you have any tips for collaboration and teamwork? 

Here are some top tips when working with teams in project management tools and frameworks: 

• Get clear: Clarify everything and answer questions as they arise. Communicating effectively and meeting needs this way will help you ‌break down roadblocks later. 
• Stay on top of it: Regularly check in with your team to make sure everything is on the right track. Fifteen minutes is all you need. 
• Be flexible: Life happens and goals can change. Remaining flexible can boost morale and engagement while decreasing stress. 

You can thrive as a one-person marketing team

Despite its difficulties, you can thrive as a one-person marketing team. By getting deliberate about the strategies and frameworks in place to support you and communicating your needs to other members of the organization, you can protect your motivation, sanity, and engagement at work. 

We know that with these tips, you have the information you’ll need to find your next level of success. If you need more help, look no further than Verblio. To learn more about how we can help you grow your business, click here.

The post Project Management Tips for 1-Person Marketing Teams appeared first on Verblio.

Resources abound for comparing project management tools – after all, many of these companies have bottom of funnel content, comparison pages, and pricing guides they’d love for you to read. But those pieces don’t consider the tools specifically through the eye, use case, and job of a content marketer.

This guide walks through each tool and looks at the procs and cons of using them for important content marketing tasks:

• Building a content calendar
• Onboarding freelancers
• Giving other teams visibility into your process
• Customization options

Without further ado, on to the tools!

Asana

Asana is a project management tool that lets content marketers collaborate with teams, create and assign tasks, set deadlines, and track progress. It helps with visualization, which makes organization and management much easier.

Pros

Content Calendar

Can you build a content calendar in Asana? Of course. Asana’s visual interface lets you see incomplete tasks and their deadlines. Its content calendar template also speeds up the planning and tracking of content marketing initiatives.

Freelancer Onboarding

You should have no problem onboarding freelance writers and designers. Asana provides a template that can help speed up the onboarding process and get new team members on the same page.

Visibility

A project manager needs to keep every team member up to speed, but that can be a lot for one person to handle. Asana’s content calendar helps with this by allowing for planning and tracking.

Customization

Asana has many customization options, including reports, fields, and views. You can also integrate Asana with software like Dropbox, Google Docs, and Evernote. If that’s not enough, you can use Asana’s API to build integrations.

Templates and Automation

Asana features templates for automating and streamlining content marketing processes. The editorial calendar template also lets you plan and track these processes. Automation even lets you manage things like tasks and due dates.

Cons

Steep Learning Curve

Onboarding might be simple with Asana, but your results may vary after that process. The learning curve is a downside for many, but more technically proficient teams might appreciate the slew of features that Asana offers.

No Time Tracking

Despite Asana’s ability to track so many things, it doesn’t track time. If this is an issue for your team, your only option is to integrate a third-party time tracking app.

Monday.com

Monday.com offers project and portfolio management tools. It allows project managers to centralize projects and optimize their workflow across jobs. Despite its focus on streamlined collaboration, Monday.com has some other tricks up its sleeve.

Pros

Content Calendar

What would a project management tool be without a content calendar? Monday.com gives you a content calendar template that you can use to track and plan your projects.

Freelancer Onboarding

Monday.com handles this process with no problems, and you can easily add someone to the team and monitor their work. You can also use an onboarding template to get freelancers oriented.

Visibility

With Monday.com, you get a clear overview of what’s going on in your content marketing campaigns. The content calendar works in unison with this interface, allowing team members to add, assign, and complete tasks.

Customization

Monday.com offers custom reports, views, and fields. You can also integrate Google Docs and Evernote. With Monday.com’s API, you can even create custom integrations tailored to your content marketing needs.

Templates and Automation

You can automate your content marketing processes with Monday.com’s templates. The editorial calendar template makes monitoring content marketing initiatives easier.

Cons

Task Dependencies

Monday.com has fewer task dependencies than other project management tools. You’re out of luck if you need more than a date. However, it’s still possible to complete tasks in order.

Limited Features

Despite its many features, Monday.com comes with a catch. Low-tier plans don’t offer many of these features. You may find the platform useful, but you’ll have to pay to use it.

Basecamp

Basecamp is the self-described “all-in-one toolkit for working remotely.” If you have team members in different locations, it’s worth a look. Basecamp lets content marketing teams collaborate, track progress, set deadlines, and more.

Pros

Content Calendar

Without a schedule, you can’t accomplish much. Luckily, Basecamp provides dedicated schedules for every project. Your team can use this feature to see what needs to be done.

Freelancer Onboarding

Using onboarding templates simplifies the process. Add team members, including freelancers, and start working on content marketing immediately.

Visibility

Your content marketing campaigns are easy to track with Basecamp’s visual interface. Also, team members can assign tasks from the content calendar.

Customization

A feature called Doors makes customization simple and expansive. It offers over 70 native integrations, but you don’t have to stop there. For example, with Zapier, you have access to over 4,000 other integrations.

Templates and Automation

You won’t find pre-made templates in Basecamp, but you can make custom ones.

Cons

No Time Tracking

Basecamp says it’s working on the feature, but you might not have the time to wait for that.

No Topic Archiving

Basecamp’s topic list can get cluttered if your team is busy. It wouldn’t be a problem, but you can’t archive old topics in Basecamp. This could cause your entire operation to slow down. 

Notion

Notion is perfect for project management, but it can extend across many facets of content marketing. Notion can connect almost anything and everyone.

Pros

Content Calendar

You can build a content calendar, or you can use a provided template. This tool helps project managers schedule, track, and change content. You can even view the content calendar as a board if you need a different perspective.

Freelancer Onboarding

By creating templates for team members and freelancers, you can ensure they get acclimated as quickly as possible. With one click, you can see their tasks and notes.

Visibility

Notion’s visual interface makes everything visible at a glance. After a content manager creates a content calendar, they can share it with team members. Those team members can add tasks and check them off as needed.

Customization

Not only is there sufficient customization for content marketing, but it’s also pretty easy. The process is as simple as dragging and dropping to create anything from a dashboard to an entire system.

Templates and Automation

Notion provides templates, among other tools, that can help you optimize your workflow. About 100 of these are free, but most aren’t, which isn’t ideal for some teams.

Cons

Limited Functionality

Some teams, especially smaller ones, can benefit from Notion. Larger teams might find Notion more effective as a task manager. This isn’t outright bad, but your team might find more success with another tool in this article.

Airtable

Airtable connects every aspect of your content management operation. This cohesiveness ensures team members move in the same direction and achieve goals in record time.

Pros

Content Calendar

Airtable allows you to build a content calendar, and you can use a provided template. Project managers can assign, schedule, review, and publish work from Airtable.

Freelancer Onboarding

Airtable’s onboarding template gives everyone what they need and keeps everything in order. This can help you stay organized as you welcome more people to your content marketing team.

Visibility

Despite Airtable’s interface, which is similar to a spreadsheet, it’s a capable project management tool. You and your team can track project progress across every department.

Customization

Airtable primarily focuses on custom interfaces and custom code, both of which have the potential to optimize project management.

Templates and Automation

Airtable offers a well-rounded variety of templates. The included templates are sufficient for many teams, but you can also create templates.

Cons

Learning Curve

Even Microsoft Excel experience might not help here, despite Airtable’s spreadsheet-style interface. Users have reported that Airtable’s resources aren’t much help, either.

Communication

You can leave comments on rows in Airtable, but that’s about it. This limited discussion means your team might spend a lot of time finding answers and resources.

Trello

Besides project management, Trello is handy for many other things, too. Project managers can use it to manage both large and small teams. Automation and customization are also possible with the platform.

Pros

Content Calendar

Trello lets you build a content calendar, and you also have the option of syncing with third-party calendars. If your team uses multiple platforms, this feature could centralize your information.

Freelancer Onboarding

Onboarding is a simple process with Trello and its templates. A template for an employee manual is a great way to give freelancers and new team members the essential information.

Visibility

Trello’s boards, lists, and cards add transparency to projects and processes. Both project managers and team members can use these views.

Customization

Trello’s most useful features include custom workflows, fields, and lists. Depending on their needs, project managers can edit or build their own.

Templates and Automation

It’s easy to create a template for future content marketing. However, you can also use an existing template. There is also an automation system in Trello that allows you to input commands and set rules.

Cons

Lack of Features Without Upgrades

The free version of Trello is more of a trial version for some teams. You won’t get access to things like a chart view and Trello-Jira integration without handing over some money. Butler, the automation tool, also lacks features in the free version.

Limited Scalability

Small, limited-work teams seem to benefit most from Trello. As your team and processes grow, it becomes more complicated. Although you can make it work with some effort, other tools make it much simpler.

Plenty of Options, Tons of Opportunities

Are you still unsure of which project management tool to choose? Maybe you just need a few trials first. After all, nothing beats hands-on experience.

While you focus on that, we could lend a hand with your content marketing. Click here to learn how Verblio can help you grow your business.

The post Best Project Management Tools for Content Marketers appeared first on Verblio.

The good news is that you can make it much easier on yourself. You might even find that your team becomes more efficient and effective as you go. So, do you want to find out how you can better manage projects?

Let’s get into it.

What About Being a Large (15+) Marketing Team Makes Project Management Hard?

Some challenges can affect any marketing team, while others are specific to large teams. Let’s cover some of the more specific issues before covering some tips, tricks, and solutions.

Stakeholders

Many large marketing teams work on projects that involve different stakeholders. These stakeholders have specific objectives and goals, which can make it difficult for team members to focus on the same goals.

Workflows

Large teams also incorporate more complex workflows. While this is necessary in most cases, it can also cause more problems. Planning and execution can suffer if every team member isn’t on the same page.

Content and Assets

Besides complex workflows, large marketing teams deal with a lot of content and assets. This puts organization and focus at risk, which can derail progress and set a team back.

Location

These challenges can get even more out of hand when teams comprise members across the world. Communication, timing, and collaboration become more difficult if a team doesn’t account for geographical distance.

How Do You Solve Those Pain Points?

The challenges described above can spell disaster for any team, no matter how capable each member is. Luckily, you can take some steps to avoid and even solve these problems.

Communication and Collaboration

Communication is important in every aspect of life, and project management is no exception. You can use project management tools to ensure consistent communication, but nothing is as effective as diligent interaction among team members.

Templates and Checklists

A goal might as well be a pipe dream without well-laid plans and accountability. Take advantage of templates and checklists to ensure that team members stay on track. This can help everyone complete all necessary steps in the correct order.

Content and Asset Systems

As projects become more complex, marketing teams will deal with more assets and content. Create systems to manage both of these. This will help with organization, which means it’ll be easier to find what you need when you need it.

Essential Project Management Tools for Large Teams

Without the right tools, you put yourself at a serious disadvantage to competitors. There are countless tools out there, but here are a few you should consider for your team.

Communication and Collaboration Tools

Communication and collaboration tools can facilitate or bolster teamwork. There are many options, like Slack, Basecamp, and Google Hangouts.

Project Management Software

From planning to execution, team members might not know where to start or how to proceed. Software like Asana, Trello, and Basecamp can keep everyone on the same page.

Content Management Systems

You don’t have to spend so much time trying to get your assets and content in order. Use a content management system like WordPress, Drupal, or Joomla instead. These systems keep things organized and easy to find.

Project Management Frameworks Especially Beneficial to Large Marketing Teams

You and your team have put in the work to get to this point, so why not take advantage of what you’ve learned? One of the best ways to do so is through project management frameworks.

RACI

If you need to define roles and responsibilities in your team, RACI is a good choice. The acronym stands for:

• Responsible
• Accountable
• Consulted
• Informed

The steps in this framework ensure that each team member knows their tasks and their role in the team.

Kanban

Imagine being able to see what has been done and what needs to be done, so you can measure your progress. Well, that’s what Kanban allows for.

Six Sigma

Six Sigma facilitates improvement by increasing efficiency and quality. As your team grows, this framework can help you continually improve your processes.

How to Make Sure You Aren’t Creating Silos Within Your Marketing Team

Silos are great for food production but not so much for project management. The last thing you want is a team member that doesn’t or can’t integrate with the rest of the operation. So, what can you do to avoid silos?

Open Communication and Collaboration

The project management tools we covered earlier come into play here. Use them to make communication and collaboration among team members easier and more direct. 

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Even though some people come from different disciplines, there’s no reason they can’t collaborate. Encourage your entire team, not just those who share skill sets, to work in unison.

Knowledge Sharing

Encourage team members to keep each other up to speed with team lunches and brown bag sessions. You can even use knowledge-sharing platforms like Yammer to stimulate communication.

Feedback

Try to inform team members of their strengths and weaknesses so they know what to work on. Regular team meetings or tools like Google Forms work well for this purpose.

Tips for Working With Other Teams Outside of Marketing

Managing a marketing team is complex — and that’s before you add other teams to the mix. Still, collaboration is a necessary part of project management. Here are a few ways you can make that process a bit easier.

Define Roles and Responsibilities

The biggest roadblock here is team members being unclear on their roles and responsibilities. Make sure everyone has a clear picture of what they need to do to avoid that.

Set Up Regular Check-Ins

Have team members check in, so everyone knows what they need to do. This can help you avoid oversights and problems that become more severe over time.

Be Open to Feedback

When everyone improves and learns from each other, the results can be exponential. Keep the feedback flowing to maximize this effect.

Tips for Quickly Onboarding New Folks (Freelancers or FTEs) Onto Your Project Management Tools and Processes

Adapting to changes can make or break a project (and even a team). Onboarding new team members (including freelancers) may be the only solution at times, but you have to do so quickly and effectively.

Set Up a Training Session

Team members aren’t very effective without training, so set up a session as soon as possible. You can do this in person or online depending on your time restraints and the new team member’s location.

Create a Training Guide

Even though you’ll be training new hires, you can speed up the process with a comprehensive training guide. Include step-by-step instructions on all your tools and processes for the best results.

Make Yourself Available

Make sure no new team member feels lost. Ensure that you’re available to answer questions and troubleshoot issues. Taking this step will benefit your entire team.

Example Project (Multi-Channel Campaign With Content Creation, Social Distribution, Email Distribution, Tracking, Etc.)

The best way to manage a project is to understand all the moving parts. Below is an example of how you might approach a project with multiple channels and content creation.

1. Define the project scope. What are the goals? What does success look like?
2. Assemble the team. Who will be responsible for each task?
3. Create a project plan. This should include a timeline, budget, and deliverables.
4. Execute the project plan. This is where the rubber meets the road.
5. Track progress and results. Make sure you’re on track to meet your goals.
6. Adjust as necessary. If something isn’t working, don’t be afraid to change course.

By following these steps‌, your project is well-managed and has a higher chance of success.

Get More Done When You Manage Projects

It’s no secret that project management can be complex, and that complexity only increases when your team gets larger. At a certain point, you might feel ‌ you’re in over your head.

With the information in this article, though, you should be prepared for whatever the next project brings. Some methods may not work for your team, while others will give you the edge you need. Click here to learn more about Verblio and how we can help you grow your business.

The post Project Management Best Practices for Large Marketing Teams appeared first on Verblio.

(Really, it’s all the best parts of hiring an outside consultant, but on an as-needed basis—the best way to stay agile and effective at a fraction of the cost.) 

Below, we get into best practices for managing your project with freelancers and contract experts and show you how you can get the most out of every interaction. 

How to manage your project with freelancers 

No matter how large or complex your project is, you can easily manage every part by using specialists and freelancers throughout the delegation process. 

Let’s get into a few ways that you can help your project find success with freelance and virtual teams. 

1. Be clear about your expectations

When you’re working with freelancers, it’s important to remember that they are likely not a part of your internal organization. 

When setting project expectations, try to be as clear as possible to avoid roadblocks down the line. A great way to do this is to establish a clear hierarchy and contact points for the project. Also, encourage communication and collaboration across your project management tools and channels. 

2. Build a relationship with your freelancers

A project isn’t just a project. It’s an opportunity to connect and interface with new people and skill sets. A good working relationship is key to keeping your project in line and on track. 

To ‌build this in your business, focus on getting to know who the freelancers are as people and team members, as well as learning how they best work and thrive. 

A great way to do this is to be proactive, setting several “touchpoints” and opportunities for your team to interface and connect. Do your best to make these casual hangs. A virtual coffee hour or other virtual team-building tools can connect even the most global teams. 

3. Be available and responsive 

Freelancers are masters of their domain, but they still may need your help to clarify a few big-picture questions. Do your best to be as available as possible to your freelancer, and work to anticipate any needs or concerns they may have. 

You can work actively to avoid daily standups and miscommunication by providing clear briefs and guidelines from the start of the relationship. Both you and your team will appreciate it. 

4. Provide feedback as you go 

Providing feedback is especially important, as this will affect how your freelancer takes on successive tasks in the project. It can also help them better understand the “big picture” and stakeholder expectations tied to the project. If you deliver feedback incorrectly, it’s difficult to understand. 

To keep the project on track, you need to provide clear, specific feedback. Pieces of feedback, such as “it isn’t good” or “it needs to be fixed,” don’t help and can provide additional barriers to your progress. 

Also, understanding the motive behind the work or the freelancer’s end goal can help you determine your next steps. For example: 

• If you don’t like how the project’s going, ask yourself two questions: 
  • Is this “dislike” caused by something that is business critical? 
  • What’s the reason the freelancer is moving in this direction? Is it because of a lack of knowledge or clarity? Is it aligned with an industry best practice you aren’t aware of? 
• If you like how the project’s going, that’s great. It means you properly set expectations. 
  • Be sure to take every opportunity to communicate positive feedback. This helps to give your culture a boost and can foster new moments for collaboration and teamwork. 

Managing for freelance specialist types: Tailoring your approach for (seriously) big rewards 

Stepping into the “flow” with your freelancers can help you both to walk away with the best possible experience. Here are a few ways to better partner with specific team members during work hours. 

• Designers appreciate mood boards or inspiration provided by stakeholders or supervisors to give them an idea of the project’s direction. Keep the feedback coming—you’ll be able to work together to bring the vision to life. 
• Videographers enjoy working with pre-set shot lists and storyboards to help bring the story to life on-screen. Give feedback as much as possible to save on revisions or inefficiency. 
• Writers & developers like it when you give them clear expectations or an outline of what the needs are before the project begins. If changes happen, let them know as soon as you can, and offer feedback along the way to keep everything on track. 

You’ll notice two common themes in ‌these suggestions: Communicate, and be extremely clear wherever you can. If you operate with these two goals at the core of what you do, you’ll find success—every time. 

Frequently asked questions (FAQs) about freelancer management 

Looking to dive right in? We got you. Below are just a few of the common questions we get regarding freelancer management. 

When should I start the project management process with freelancers? 

This depends on ‌your project and the size of your team. We recommend communicating details as soon as they are (somewhat) set in stone and continuing to communicate throughout the timeline of the project. 

Other great recommendations include group kickoff calls, regular standup meetings to check on progress, and opening up channels of communication using tools like Slack or Google Meet. 

Are there any “perfect” project management tools out there? 

There is no perfect, one-size-fits-all tool. The good news is that if your tool allows your team to collaborate, strategize, and execute, that’s really all you need. Our favorites include Asana, Trello, and Basecamp. The integration opportunities are endless. 

What if the freelancer isn’t a fit? 

Sometimes, hard conversations need to happen. Execute any sort of decision quickly, clearly, and as positively as possible. Doing this quickly can prevent inefficiency down the line. 

Freelance project management is the future of work for hundreds of businesses like yours 

Looking for outside talent to help you get more work done? Verblio can help with that. 

With our marketing strategies and happy writers, we deliver consistently competitive content that delivers results now and into the future.

Click here to learn more about Verblio and how we can help you grow your business.

The post Project Management Tips to Keep Freelancers on Track appeared first on Verblio.

In this article, we’ll explain everything you need to know about keyword difficulty, including what factors influence it and how you can use it to your advantage.

What Is Keyword Difficulty?

A difficulty score is a metric used in SEO to determine the relative difficulty of ranking for a given keyword in Google’s search results.

If the score is high, it may be worth your while to invest in some professional help, as ranking for that keyword could be a challenge. However, if the score is low, you may be able to rank for the keyword on your own.

How Is Keyword Difficulty Calculated?

In general, difficulty scores range from 0 to 100, with 100 being the most difficult. The score is calculated using several factors, including the number of pages that rank for the keyword, the relevance of those pages, and the authority of the domains that rank for the keyword.

There are many methods for calculating keyword difficulty, but most SEOs use one of two methods: The Moz Difficulty Score and the SEMrush Difficulty Score.

The Moz Difficulty Score uses an algorithmic method to measure the difficulty of ranking for a ‌keyword. In contrast, the SEMrush Difficulty Score is based on the number of backlinks that a ‌page has. 

While both scores can be useful when trying to determine the competitiveness of a keyword, they should not be used interchangeably.

How Does Moz Calculate Keyword Difficulty?

Moz weighs a few different factors to calculate keyword difficulty, including the number of pages that rank for the keyword, the relevance of those pages, and the authority of the domains that rank for the keyword. They also consider things like click-through rate and the relationship between the keyword and other terms that rank for the same query.

The Moz Keyword Difficulty Tool is free to use. Simply enter a keyword into the search bar and hit “search.” The tool will then generate a difficulty score for that keyword, ranging from 1 to 100. A score of 1 indicates that the keyword is very easy to rank for, while 100 shows that the keyword is to rank for.

How Does Keyword Difficulty Affect Content Strategy?

Difficult keywords may take more effort to rank for, but they can be worth the effort. They tend to have high search volume and are often associated with high commercial intent. 

That said, you should never choose a keyword solely based on its difficulty score. Always consider other factors, such as your site’s authority and relevance when choosing keywords to target.

What Is a Good Keyword Difficulty Score?

There is no definitive answer to this question, as the ideal keyword difficulty score will vary depending on your website’s authority and the competitiveness of your industry. 

As a general rule, keywords with a difficulty score of less than 40 are considered relatively easy to rank for, while those with a difficulty score of 60 or higher are considered fairly challenging.

How Do I Find Keywords With a Low Difficulty Score?

There are several tools that you can use to find keywords with a low difficulty score, including the Moz Keyword Explorer and the SEMrush Keyword Difficulty Tool.

Both ‌tools allow you to filter keywords by difficulty, so you can easily find ones that are easy to rank for. However, Moz’s Keyword Explorer has a more comprehensive database of keywords and provides more detailed difficulty scores than SEMrush’s Keyword Difficulty Tool.

Target Long-tail Keywords to Decrease Keyword Difficulty

One tactic you can use to  decrease keyword difficulty is to target long-tail keywords. Long-tail keywords are simply longer and more specific than the average keyword.

For example, rather than targeting the keyword “dog food,” you might target the long-tail keyword “organic dog food for large breeds.”

Long-tail keywords typically have lower search volumes than general keywords, but they are also much easier to rank for. This is because there are far fewer websites that are targeting long-tail keywords, so the competition is much less fierce.

So, if you’re having trouble ranking for a particular keyword, try targeting a long-tail keyword instead. You may be surprised at how much easier it is to rank for.

Try a Lesser-Known Tactic

Something else you can do to decrease keyword difficulty is to target keywords with a high click-through rate.

Click-through rate (CTR) is the percentage of people who click on a result in the search engine results page (SERP) after seeing it.

Generally‌, the higher the CTR, the easier it is to rank for a keyword. This is because CTR is a signal to Google that people are finding your result relevant and useful.

So, if you can find keywords with a high CTR, you’re more likely to rank for them.

How Should You Adjust Your Content to Better Address Keyword Difficulty?

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. The best way to adjust your content to better address keyword difficulty will vary depending on your website’s authority and the competitiveness of your industry. 

However, some general tips that may help include targeting long-tail keywords and increasing the relevance of your website.

Also, if you’re having trouble ranking for a particular keyword, you can try reaching out to webmasters who have already achieved a high ranking for that keyword and asking for tips.

Finally, remember that it’s never a good idea to choose a keyword solely based on its difficulty score. You should always consider other factors, such as your site’s authority and relevance when choosing keywords to target.

More Specific Ways to Rank for Difficult Keywords

Some keywords are harder to rank for than others, but they can be worth the effort. Some examples of how to do this could include:

• Creating content that is highly relevant to the keyword you’re trying to rank for
• Researching and targeting long-tail keywords
• Adjusting your content strategy to better address keyword difficulty

Keep in mind that these are just a few examples, and the best way to adjust your content to better address keyword difficulty will vary depending on many factors, including domain authority and the competitiveness of your industry.

On A Final Note

Keyword difficulty is an important factor to consider when developing your content strategy. Just remember, Moz’s keyword difficulty score is just one factor to consider when choosing keywords. You should always consider other factors, such as your website’s authority and relevance when making your decision.

By following these tips, you can develop a content strategy that increases your chances of ranking high in search engine results.

The post Keyword Difficulty: What It Is and How to Measure It Properly appeared first on Verblio.

The good news is we’re breaking it all down here so you can plan how many pieces you should publish per month, what the word count should be, and how to come up with topics. Let’s dive in.

But first, why is business blogging so important?

Business blogging is important because it helps you to connect with your audience, build relationships, and drive traffic to your website. By providing valuable content that applies to your business, you can attract new readers and followers who may eventually become customers or clients. (This is called inbound marketing, versus the outbound sales strategy of yesteryear.)

By staying active and engaging with your audience, you can create a community of supporters who can help promote your business.

Blogging also provides an excellent way to share your expertise and build trust with potential customers. By demonstrating your knowledge and thought leadership, you can establish yourself as an authority in your industry which can help convert leads into customers.

Finally, business blogging is an effective marketing tool that can help boost your SEO efforts and drive traffic to your website. By creating quality content that is keyword-rich and shareable, you can attract new visitors to your site who may not have found you otherwise.

How often should you be blogging?

As a business, you should begin by blogging 2-3 times a week, or 8-12 times per month.

That said, context is everything. The number of blog posts you publish each month will largely depend on your business size, industry, and goals. 

For example, if you’re a small business in the wedding industry, you may want to publish more content around engagement season and less during the slow summer months. 

If you have more products or services than can be covered in one blog post, you’ll need to publish more frequently to make sure each item gets its turn in the spotlight. 

And if SEO is a primary focus for your business, then publishing quality content regularly is key to moving up in the search engine rankings.

If you’re just starting out or don’t have the bandwidth to commit to a large content strategy, we recommend shooting for 8 blog posts per month. This should be manageable for most business owners and small teams, and it will still give you the chance to publish quality content that resonates with your audience.

The most important part when starting out is to get the ball rolling with a regular cadence. As your business grows, you’ll likely find you have enough topic ideas—whether that’s suggestions from your team, customer pain points you can create education around, or industry trends on which you can be a thought leader—to publish more often.

What word count should you be aiming for?

Each blog post you publish should be a minimum of 600 words.

With regard to length, remember that you’re writing for both humans and search engines. To satisfy both audiences, your blog posts need to be informative and keyword-rich. While 600 words is a feasible starting point for most businesses, you may find that some of your topic ideas require longer—up to 1,000 words or more.

Aim for around 600-1000 words per blog post, but if you have more (or less) to say on a particular topic, go with your gut.

How should you choose business blog topics?

Choosing topics for your business blog can be tough, especially if you don’t consider yourself a natural writer. A great way to come up with ideas is to:

• Look at what’s popular in your industry and put your own spin on it.
• Check out what’s trending on social media and see if there’s anything you can weigh in on.
• Set up Google Alerts for key terms related to your business so you’re always in the know about the latest news and developments.
• Ask your customers and employees what they’d like to see covered on the blog.

Still stumped for ideas? We can help with that.

How about SEO?

Blogging is a great way to improve your website’s SEO. By regularly producing quality content, you can attract more visitors and keep them coming back for more. 

Here are some tips to help you make the most of your business blog:

1. Use keywords wisely

When choosing keywords, be sure to pick ones that apply to your business and audience. Stuffing your blog with too many keywords will not only turn off readers, but also get you penalized by search engines. Use keywords throughout your post, including in the title, in the body, and in the tags and categories.

2. Optimize your titles and descriptions

Write catchy titles and descriptions that include your target keywords. This will help your blog posts show up in search results and entice people to click through to read them.

3. Link internally

When you link to other articles on your blog, it helps both readers and search engines find your content more easily. Just be sure to use relevant keywords in your anchor text so that the links are valuable for SEO.

4. Use images

Adding images to your blog posts can make them more visually appealing, which can keep readers engaged. But did you know ‌images can also help with SEO? Be sure to include keywords in your image file names and alt tags so that search engines can index them properly.

Bonus: Business blogging best practices

There are several best practices to follow when it comes to business blogging. Here are a few of the most important ones:

1. Write interesting and informative content

Your blog should be full of interesting and informative content that will engage your readers. Write posts that apply to your industry and that offer valuable insights.

2. Promote your blog posts

It’s not just about creating great content—you’ve got to make sure people see it. Distributing your blog posts through social media and other channels will help more people see your content and allow you to build an audience.

3. Interact with your readers

Don’t forget to interact with your readers in the comments section of each post. This is a great way to build relationships and connect with your audience.

4. Keep it updated

Keep your blog updated regularly with new posts. This will keep people coming back for more, and it will also help you attract new readers.

It’s time to focus on your blog

Feeling overwhelmed just reading all of this? Remember, Verblio is here to help. Verblio writers create content for small businesses in every industry, and we take care of all the vetting and invoicing so you don’t have to.

With a little effort and planning, you can easily create a content strategy that works for your business. By taking the time to figure out how often to publish, what topics to cover, and what word count to aim for, you’ll set yourself up for success on the Verblio platform. Ready to get started? Login to your account or sign up today.

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