If You’re Asking Yourself Why Start A Blog? Then You Must Define Your Purpose
So why start a blog? A blog gives you a platform that you control 100% and can attract customers to your business through your message.
Oh my, if I had a pound, dollar or euro for every time someone had asked me why start a blog? I wouldn’t be a millionaire, but I would have a few of them in the bank by now. My answer to that is why not? The blank expressions I receive tells me one thing which is that the person hasn’t got a purpose to start a blog.
Maybe it is because they don’t really understand what a blog is or what it can do for their business. Or maybe they think it is too much time and effort to create content around their business.
When I start to explain the benefits of what a blog or website can have for their business, I can see the penny starting to drop. The expression in their eyes tells me that the cogs are turning, and ideas are starting to flow.
At this point I always then ask them what their purpose for would be for creating an online presence. That then depends on the type of business they have because there are different types of blog websites. Different industries would have a specific look and feel but they all require content to be added.
This then brings up the question of purpose again for content. All content is not equal and has specific reasoning behind it. So, this whole purpose debate applies to two things. The purpose of the blog structure and the purpose of the content. Before I look at different examples, which are my own blog websites, I want to focus on the main purpose of a blog website.
Why Start A Blog? – To Deliver Your Message
As a business owner you must attract people to your business and nurture them into becoming customers. In other words, it is all about relationship building so eventually they know, like and trust you. People buy from people who they trust and who will look after them for a long time.
To build this relationship you must provide value first. One of my mentors summed it up perfectly by saying ”always put purpose and people before profit”. Your blog website is a place where people should feel at home when they visit. Just like you feel in your own home and the people you invite round.
To create that feeling depends heavily on the message that you publish within your content. It should be crafted around your story so that people can relate and connect with you. First impressions last forever and you only get a few seconds to create it. If you don’t make a good first impression, then you will lose that person forever.
That first impression stems from what your blog website looks like but more importantly what is inside. The content is the element that will create an experience for your visitors which then creates lasting memories. One of the experiences you must create is a feeling of safety and security, so they know they are in the right place. You understand them and you are there to help them in any way that you can.
So, I think this is the appropriate time to show you some examples of my own blog websites and the purpose behind them. I have constructed each one and created all the content which is centred around my tone and language. This creates authenticity along with establishing authority in each respective industry I am involved with.
My Authority Blog Website – Pete-Harris.com
This is what’s referred to as an authority blog website because I am an information publisher in the home business niche. The purpose of this blog website is to provide information to people who are looking for work from home ideas.
There are currently around 350 blog posts on this blog website, and they are the core element of this blog. Each one is designed to deliver value first and address problems that people are experiencing. I speak to people visiting this site as though I am speaking to a friend. I like to use conversational tone and view the screen on my laptop as the person who will be reading the post.
On this blog website people can also learn more about me as a person so they can get to know me, like me and trust me. They can then make an informed decision on whether they want to work with me in the future. I do provide home business solutions and another purpose of this blog website is to collect leads.
This is a value driven website first and foremost to help build relationships. When those relationships are formed, I can help them with various products and services for which I do receive compensation. This illustrates the principle of putting purpose and people before profit.
My Cleaning Business Blog Website – PeteHarrisCleaning.com
The purpose for this blog website is to inform people of the cleaning services that I provide within my business. I live in Cyprus and I offer these services to the local community around the Paphos region. Originally, I am from the United Kingdom and I operated my cleaning business there for 25 years.
I have incorporated my story within the “About” section as this establishes my authenticity and authority. This blog website gives information of my experience and what I am specialised in and it gives clear calls to action. My contact details are prominently positioned to give an element of trust and transparency. There are links where people can contact me by email and make an appointment.
I have designed this blog website so that people can find the information they need very easily. There are no grey areas and people can make the decision as to whether they want my services or not. In my opinion this is a personal yet business looking blog website without having a corporate feel about it.
My Ecommerce Blog Website – DarkVelvetCoffee.com
The purpose of this blog website is to provide a platform where people in Cyprus can buy my products online. There are payment processors attached so the transaction can take place but there is much more to this blog website.
The home page contains information about my wife and I. Who we are and what are mission is, and to showcase our products and services. After that people can explore the site and gain information about the products we have.
I do not publish blog posts on this site as I see each product as a micro blog opportunity and provide information on the sale page. Like with all my blog websites I am totally transparent with contact information to establish trust.
My Blogging Authority Website – TheBloggingFactory.com
This is the blog you are currently on and it is another authority blog website that I own. The principle is the same as my other authority blog website Pete-Harris.com because this is designed to provide information. The information I provide here is all around the blogging industry, so it is a very specific niche blog.
My main purpose for this blog website is to provide a central hub for people who want to learn about blogging. This will be a home online for people to enter and get the information they need.
When I started blogging back in 2014, I was like a fish out of water with no clue what to do. At that time, I found it very difficult to find the information I needed. It resulted in going off in many different directions to various resources. The trouble with this is that you get many different perceptions which in many ways contradict each other’s.
So, it is a process to extract what is right from those perceptions and over the years I have pieced things together. As this blog website grows it is my intention and purpose to remove any uncertainty about what to do and when to do it.
TheBloggingFactory.com will grow and evolve over time but the main purpose is to give people the confidence to publish their message.
When people ask me in the future why start a blog, I will direct them to this blog post. The reason is because It identifies the need to have purpose before you start. Without purpose you don’t have a plan. Without planning you don’t purpose!
As always, I wish you every success.
Pete Harris
Professional Blogger & Information Publisher