Freelancers, you may have been on the fence about the idea of writing a blog and then persuaded yourself not to because you "don't have the time" or you "don't see the point".

But it's time to get off that fence and on that keyboard because we're here to tell you why you need to put 'blogging' on your to-do list!

Ready to find out?

Then read on as media update's Lara Smit is exploring four benefits of blogging for freelancers here:

1. Blogs help you to market your brand

As a freelancer, one of the best ways to procure clients is by creating a reputation for yourself in your industry.

But how do blogs help you to do that?

Blogs give you a platform to tell clients what your brand is all about. They allow you to:
  • talk about your services
  • discuss your products in detail
  • emphasise your skills
  • highlight your experience, and
  • describe to customers what you would like to achieve in your profession.
Therefore, a blog is one of the most simple and effective marketing tools that a freelancer can have.

2. They help you to show clients who you are

A blog is a great way to add a personal touch to your website. This is because it gives you the unique opportunity to tell clients about your brand's story.

By writing blogs that describe your journey as a freelancer, customers can gain a deeper understanding of:
  • who you are
  • what motivates you
  • what you are passionate about, and
  • why you have chosen your career path.
But why is that important?

Writing about your journey humanises your business and shows prospective clients the face behind your name. In the freelancing business, this is a key part of gaining new customers. Why?

When you tell clients about your journey while they enlist your services, they feel as though they are contributing to the progression of this journey.

Additionally, they feel as though they are investing in your unique skill set and further fueling your passion for your work. This allows them to feel as though their purchase is more meaningful.

3. Blogs allow you to establish yourself as a thought leader in your industry

Blogs allow you to write about your industry and share some of your knowledge with others. By creating blogs like this, you are able to position yourself as an expert in your field.

What are the advantages of this?

By sharing information that is important to people in your industry, you will be more likely to gain a following from people in your community. This will allow you to connect with other professionals in your field.

Not only will this help you get a following from people in your community, but it will show prospective clients that you know exactly what you're doing. It will also show them how passionate you are about your work. Therefore, they will feel more confident in their choice to hire you.

4. They boost your website’s SEO

Blog posts are a great way to boost your website's ranking on search engines.

How so?

By optimising your blog posts, search engines will recognise your website as a relevant platform for searchers. Therefore, your website and links to the blog posts will appear higher up on their searches.

So, how do you optimise your blog posts?

By:
  • using the right headings
  • incorporating keywords
  • linking to reputable websites
  • avoiding keyword stuffing, and
  • writing in a clear, concise and structured way.

Do you have a blog? Let us know how using a blog has benefited you in the comments section below.

Need some more tips to stay in tip-top shape? Then be sure to subscribe to our newsletter.

Now that you know that blogging is a must, discover ways that you can master the art of blogging in our article, Five tips on how to be a great blogger.
*Image courtesy of Canva