Are you thinking about boosting your online presence? As a small business, enlisting the help of experienced small business bloggers can drive you into a whole new world of opportunity.
A blog opens up new avenues to organically rank for the specific keywords your potential customers are searching for. After all, organic results get 73% of the clicks from eager searchers out there.
Unlike costly paid media campaigns that stop yielding results once you stop paying, blogging provides lasting visibility. It’s like the gift that keeps on giving—perfect for complementing (or even replacing) any other marketing tactics you may already use.
So, if you’ve ever wondered what to blog about or if it’s even right for your business, that’s the perfect starting point for a discussion with small business bloggers. We understand the arena and can pinpoint what matters most in your industry.
Are you ready to make your blog into a powerful tool to attract the right audience?
What Is Organic Traffic and Why Does It Matter?
Have you ever wondered how some content just seems to draw you in naturally? That’s organic traffic at work—people find your site through searches because it offers exactly what they want.
Over the years, I’ve navigated the choppy waters of content distribution. While there’s something good to be said about every avenue, I always find my way back to organic traffic via high-quality blog content.
At its core, organic traffic is about authenticity and relevance. It comes to you not because you’ve paid for clicks but because your content genuinely meets the needs and interests of your audience.
This type of traffic is precious because of its users’ high intent and the loyalty it fosters. Folks trust organic results to provide the most useful and reliable information.
My journey in this industry has shown me that while paid traffic can spike numbers, organic traffic is the backbone of sustained growth and community building for small businesses.
It’s more than just visits. Small business bloggers build a trustworthy presence that naturally attracts real potential customers. Cost-effective strategies like organic search optimization are attractive because every marketing dollar counts.
The Benefits of Organic Traffic
Companies with a blog see 57% more visitors, experience 67% more leads, earn 97% more inbound links, and boast 434% more indexed pages than those without one. But if that’s not convincing enough, here are a few other reasons why small business bloggers think focusing on organic traffic is a smart move:
- Build Credibility and Trust: Regular, quality content turns your business into a trusted authority, filling your blog and building your brand.
- Stay in the Game: According to HubSpot, organic search is the top traffic source for all websites. Organic traffic contributes to sustained business growth as it attracts visitors without ongoing effort or expense, unlike paid ads that stop generating traffic once the campaign ends.
- Cost Savings: Organic search and referral traffic are the largest and most effective sources of marketing ROI for brands. Organic traffic reduces reliance on paid advertising, allowing small businesses to allocate their marketing budgets more effectively or invest in other areas of their business.
- Higher Conversion Rates: Nearly 70% of all clicks go to the top three organic search results, and users from organic traffic often have a higher intent to purchase or engage because they have actively searched for specific information or solutions, leading to better conversion rates.
- Reach More Folks in the Neighborhood: Organic search widens your audience beyond paid ads, increasing your visibility and potential customer base.
How We Drive Organic Traffic as Small Business Bloggers
Driving organic traffic doesn’t mean you start publishing content willy-nilly. You need to put stuff out there that aligns with what your audience is searching for and what problem your business solves — whether that’s taking care of their overgrown property or taming their overgrown hair.
As small business bloggers, we use strategic methods to capture the essence of what your readers need and make sure you get that visibility in search results, where it counts the most.
Finding Keywords and Forming Topical Clusters for Your Business Blog
Running directly onto the SEO battlefield with the giants only leads to casualties for small or new businesses. High-value keywords are saturated with competition, making it nearly impossible to rank without established authority.
Instead, focusing on low-competition, long-tail keywords gives you a fighting chance. These keywords are less contested and more specific, which makes it easier to start ranking and gaining organic traction early on.
Google’s Hummingbird update in 2013 changed the way we approach strategy. It shifted the focus from individual keywords to the broader context and connections between topics. The fallout birthed the idea of forming topical clusters.
Organizing content into clusters develops a deeper understanding of related topics. This “hub and spoke” model uses a main pillar page (the hub) to link to and from cluster pages (the spokes), strengthening the site’s structure and helping search engines and users see the breadth and depth of your knowledge.
The evolution of algorithms, including E-A-T and BERT, emphasizes the need for content that demonstrates expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness. Topic clusters help small business bloggers align with these criteria by providing comprehensive, interconnected content that enhances the user experience and boosts SEO efforts.
Turning Your Topical Cluster Into a Mini Content Funnel
I like building topical clusters like miniature content funnels. Each cluster revolves around a central pillar page designed for conversion—this is our Bottom of the Funnel (BOF) content, where we aim to turn readers into customers. Surrounding this pillar are cluster posts, each supporting and feeding into the conversion goal but positioned at different stages of the funnel.
Let’s look at an example of what this might look like for the broad topic of “landscaping services near Red Bank, NJ”:
Again, this is just an example for visibility’s sake—the real deal uses actual data, catchier headlines, and all those other fun bells and whistles.
Okay, great. But why start at the bottom of the funnel?
The idea behind this is to capture those low-hanging fruits right from the jump. A certain percentage of people don’t need to walk through the process slowly, so starting at the bottom can capture some sales or new customers immediately. Then, we put the content funnel in place for those who still need a little nurturing.
Internal Linking Within the Cluster
Internal linking effectively shows readers and search engines the connections between your content pieces. Each supporting cluster article in our strategy links back to the Pillar Page at the bottom of the funnel, helping to guide visitors toward conversion.
Similarly, the pillar article links to each supporting topic, illustrating the interconnectedness and relationship among all pieces of content. This linking strategy enhances SEO by distributing link equity and improves user navigation by clearly outlining a path through related topics.
External Linking
Incorporating external links into your content is a recognized SEO best practice. For instance, linking to a relevant statistic, such as “73% of homeowners now consider eco-friendly practices when selecting their landscaping service,” can provide additional value to your readers and boost the credibility of your content.
Following a Strict Publishing Schedule
Consistent posting schedules keep audiences engaged and returning for more. Regular updates signal to search engines that your site is active, potentially boosting your SEO rankings.
Sticking to a predetermined schedule helps align your content with overarching business goals and marketing strategies, while consistent content delivery builds trust and reliability with your audience.
Monitor and Refine the Strategy As Needed
Use tools like Google Search Console or Bing Webmaster Tools to track how each piece within a topic cluster performs regarding traffic and engagement. Look for underperforming topics or gaps in your content that could be filled, indicating opportunities for expansion or optimization.
Regularly updating content with new insights keeps it relevant and favored by search engines. Lastly, adapt your content strategy based on user feedback and evolving search trends to ensure it remains effective and aligned with audience needs and search engine algorithms.
Nurturing the Community Around Your Business Blog
You didn’t think it just stopped when we hit publish, did you? Engaging your readers goes beyond just providing informative content. Responding to comments helps you build a sense of community. It shows that you value reader input and are actively involved in the conversation, which can strengthen relationships and build loyalty.
You could even throw up a few interactive elements like quizzes and surveys to encourage active participation and extend the time folks spend on your site.
Maximizing the impact of your content also involves repurposing it into various formats. For example, you can turn a blog article into a social media post, a video summary, or a podcast episode. It extends your content’s reach across different platforms and caters to different audience preferences, thereby increasing overall traffic and engagement.
Working With Small Business Bloggers To Drive Growth
We’ve merely touched the surface of what’s possible, but the point is that conjuring up a little organic traffic is your ticket to sustainable growth. Effective blogging keeps your website fresh and is a strategic tool for development, engagement, and conversion.
Making the time investment to research and write content that resonates with your audience while boosting SEO can be complex. You might consider navigating the intricacies of blog marketing on your own, trying various tactics to see what sticks. But if that doesn’t pan out, there’s a more straightforward, efficient path to success.
This is where I step in. I’m ready to help you turn your blog into a dynamic asset that drives organic traffic, enhances customer engagement, and increases your brand’s visibility.
Start Blogging Your Brand.
If you’re ready to forge a connection with your neighborhood, I got you.
Chris Karl
Content Strategist, Writer, & Editor
Chris is a seasoned content strategist, writer, and editor dedicated to eliminating bland and boring content from the internet one word at a time. His extensive experience has led to working with top-tier digital platforms like Monkeybox Media, WordAgents, Screen Rant, Wealth of Geeks, and MSN.