Small business blogs often become digital graveyards – well-intentioned but ultimately lifeless. You’ve invested time, energy, and creativity into your posts, yet the engagement remains stubbornly low. The hard truth? Your blog might be holding your business back instead of propelling it forward.
Your blog isn’t just another page on your website. It’s your digital storefront, your round-the-clock salesperson, and your brand’s voice all rolled into one. When it underperforms, your entire online presence suffers.
It’s time for a wake-up call. Let’s look at seven unmistakable signs that your small business marketing blog is crying out for a makeover.
1. Your Blog Traffic Has Hit a Wall
Remember the early days when your small business marketing blog traffic was climbing steadily? If that upward trend has flatlined or, worse, started to decline, it’s time to take a closer look at your strategy. A plateau in blog traffic is a clear signal that your content might not be resonating with your audience as strongly as it once did.
You’re not alone in this challenge. Semrush reports that generating traffic and leads is the top challenge for marketers across the board. Consumers are constantly evolving, and what worked wonders a year ago might not cut it today. Maybe your topics aren’t hitting the mark anymore, or perhaps your SEO strategy needs a refresh. Whatever the cause, recognizing this stagnation is the first step toward revitalizing your blog’s performance.
2. Crickets in the Comment Section?
Engagement is the lifeblood of a thriving small business marketing blog. When readers comment, share, and like your posts, it indicates that your content is striking a chord. But if your comment section is quieter than a library at midnight, it might be time to reassess your approach.
Low engagement rates aren’t just disappointing—they’re a missed opportunity to build relationships with your audience. BuzzSumo’s finding that 50% of articles get 8 shares or less is a wake-up call for content creators everywhere. Your blog posts should spark conversations, encourage shares, and foster a sense of community among your readers.
Consider how you can make your content more engaging. Are you asking questions at the end of your posts? Have you tried incorporating interactive elements? Maybe it’s time to tackle more controversial topics in your industry or share unique insights that can’t be found elsewhere. Remember, engagement is a two-way street – the more you interact with your readers, the more they’ll interact with you.
3. Your Content is Starting to Grow Cobwebs
The freshness factor matters. If your most recent blog post is celebrating its first birthday, you might have a problem on your hands. Outdated content fails to provide value to your readers and can harm your credibility as an industry expert.
Keeping your content fresh and relevant isn’t just about pumping out new posts (though that’s important, too). You should revisit and update your existing content to ensure it remains accurate and valuable. Orbit Media’s reveals that bloggers who update old posts are 74% more likely to report strong results is a compelling reason to dust off those old articles.
Set aside time to audit your existing content regularly. Look for posts that can be updated with new information, refreshed with current statistics, or expanded with insights you’ve gained since the original publication. Not only will this keep your small business marketing blog feeling current, but it can also give your SEO a nice boost.
4. Mobile Users Are Squinting at Your Site
We live in a mobile world. A small business marketing blog not optimized for smartphones is like a store with a locked front door – you’re essentially turning away a huge portion of potential visitors. Mobile optimization isn’t a luxury; it’s a necessity.
The numbers speak for themselves: Statista reports that in the last quarter of 2023, mobile devices generated nearly 60% of global website traffic. That’s well over half of your potential audience who might be struggling to read your content if it’s not mobile-friendly.
Mobile optimization goes beyond making your site readable on a smaller screen. It creates an enjoyable and effortless experience for mobile users. This includes fast loading times, easy-to-tap buttons, and a layout that doesn’t require constant zooming and scrolling. If your blog isn’t delivering on these fronts, you’re likely losing readers before they even get to your brilliant content.
5. Your CTAs Are MIA
A small business marketing blog without clear calls to action (CTAs) is like heading out on a road trip without your GPS—your readers might enjoy the journey, but they’ll have no idea where to go next. CTAs guide your audience, showing them how to further engage with your brand, whether that’s signing up for a newsletter, downloading a resource, or making a purchase.
The power of a well-crafted CTA cannot be overstated. According to HubSpot, personalized CTAs convert 202% better than default versions. It shows that readers respond when they feel you’re speaking directly to them and their needs.
Take a look at your blog posts. Are you including relevant CTAs? Are they personalized to your reader’s interests or the content of the post? If not, you’re missing out on valuable opportunities to deepen your relationship with your audience and guide them further into your sales funnel.
6. Your Posting Schedule is… Whenever You Feel Like It
Consistency is key in blogging, just as it is in many aspects of business. If your posting schedule is more erratic than a caffeinated squirrel, it’s time to bring some order to the chaos. Regular posts keep your small business marketing blog active and set expectations for your readers (and search engines).
A HubSpot report reveals that companies that publish 16+ blog posts per month get 3.5x more traffic than those publishing 0-4 monthly. It’s a powerful argument for consistency. While 16 posts a month might be more than your small business needs, the principle holds true even at lower volumes: regular, predictable content performs better.
Creating a content calendar can help you stay on track. Plan your topics in advance, set realistic publishing goals, and stick to them. Your readers will come to anticipate your posts, and search engines will recognize your site as a consistent source of fresh content.
7. You’re Not Capturing Emails
If your small business marketing blog isn’t helping you build an email list, you’re leaving money on the table. Email marketing might not be the new kid on the block, but it continues to be one of the most effective ways to nurture leads and drive conversions.
The stats back this up in a big way. Campaign Monitor reports that email marketing drives an ROI of $44 for every $1 spent. It demonstrates the enduring power of having a direct line to your audience’s inbox.
Look for ways to incorporate email capture into your blog strategy. This could be through offering a valuable download in exchange for an email address, promoting a newsletter with exclusive content, or even just adding a simple “subscribe” option at the end of each post. Remember, every email you capture is a potential long-term relationship with a customer.
Need Help Bringing Your Small Business Marketing Blog Back to Life?
Revitalizing a small business marketing blog can feel like a task you’d rather put off, especially when you’re already juggling the many responsibilities of running a small business. But the potential rewards – increased traffic, better engagement, and more leads – make it a worthwhile endeavor.
From breathing new life into old content to kickstarting your brand’s storytelling journey, my professional blogging services can help transform your blog from a digital wallflower to the life of the online party. Whether you need help developing a content strategy, creating engaging posts, or optimizing for search engines, a little assistance can make all the difference.
Ready to take your blog from forgotten to unforgettable? Let’s chat about how I can elevate your online presence and drive real results for your business. Your future readers (and your bottom line) will thank you.
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.