If you have a retail space in NJ, you probably want it to get all the attention it can get. It’ll help you spread the word that your retail space is open, and that it sells what it does. Not only will this attract customers, but those customers (or non-customers) will in turn spread the word further, knowingly or otherwise.
Store owners are aware of a number of tips for boosting the visibility their store has, but blogging is typically not one that’s used as much. In this article, we want to talk about blogging, why it might be the answer to your problems, and how to begin.
What is blogging?
From WPBeginner: “A blog is a type of website where the content is presented in reverse chronological order (newer content appear first). Blog content is often referred to as entries or “blog posts”.
Blogs are typically run by an individual or a small group of people to present information in a conversational style. However, now there are tons of corporate blogs that produce a lot of informational and thought-leadership style content.”
Don’t confuse a blog with a website. WP Beginner says, on this subject: “Blogs are a type of website. The only real difference between a blog and other types of website is that blogs are updated on a regular basis with new content, which is displayed in reverse chronological order (new blog posts first).
Typical websites are static in nature where content is organized in pages, and they are not updated frequently. Whereas a blog is dynamic, and it is usually updated more frequently. Some bloggers publish multiple new articles a day.
Blogs can be part of a larger website. Often businesses have a blog section where they regularly create content to inform and educate their customers.”
Why you should be blogging about your retail space in NJ
The Guardian says: “A business blog is one of the most cost-effective and easiest ways to promote your business. Done right, it can drive traffic to your website, increase your sales, establish you as an authority in your industry and also help you to reach new markets.”
Now, let’s look at those points in more detail.
- Driving traffic to your website
While having a website is highly important and is the first step in this process, having a blog is also super important because it gives you an opportunity to add fresh content on a regular basis that’s peppered with high-ranking keywords. You can do all of this very easily with no extra web development cost, so what it effectively means is that you get a lot more visitors for a little extra effort.
- Increasing sales
What do more viewers mean? More customers. Especially if your blogs provide value, and cleverly link to your products without seeming spammy. The trick is to seem helpful instead of pushy. So instead of making the blog about the product, choose products that fit the theme of the blog, and mention them lightly instead of pushing them down your viewers’ throats. Just like keyword spamming brings negative results, so does product spamming.
- Establishing the brand
When you write blog posts, you add lots and lots of new content to your website and make it dynamic, as opposed to static. This is really good for SEO, and the fact that you spent time on thinking of blog ideas and bringing them to fruition shows customers that your brand cares about its customers and isn’t just out there to push their product.
- Help you reach more customers
With blog posts, you can reach a much wider base of people – visitors from other states and countries who may just be looking for information but who may turn into loyal customers, for instance. Blogs give you the option to work with a lot more keywords, so you can reach out to a much wider user base and reel in more viewers. These, in turn, can change into customers over time.
So, these were some of the reasons why you should be blogging about your retail space in NJ. There are many more reasons, of course – you’ll find listicles that state ten, twelve, or even twenty reasons why you should be blogging – but we wanted to stick to the basics without overwhelming you with too much new information.
Blogging tips for beginners
If you’re new to blogging, it may seem rather overwhelming, because you should be putting out fresh content on a regular basis – usually weekly – and that’s a lot for the average business owner, on top of handling their business. While you can always outsource the blog to a professional writer, here are some tips for those who want to give it a try. It’s really quite easy!
- Write for humans
Don’t write for Google or for other search engines. Don’t bother yourself too much with SEO. What’s more important is that you write for your viewers. What’s liked by viewers is liked by search engines. In fact, for a lot of websites, ignoring the SEO side of things might work too.
That’s because if you have a broad user base and plenty of people frequent your site, they will find your blog and things will slowly build up to where you get new viewers for your blog without bothering with SEO. It’s important and useful, but not enough of either to overwhelm yourself with new information.
- Plan your posts
From The Guardian: “Lack of time and ideas are the most frequently cited reasons many small businesses cite for not having a blog. However, with a bit of planning, you can have enough ideas to keep your it running for weeks or even, months ahead.
Your posts can be answers to the questions most frequently asked by your customers. For example, if you are a jeweler, you could write a blog post on what to look for when buying a diamond.
Google Adwords Keyword Tool is another great way of finding keyword phrases that people are using to search for your services. The keyword phrase, once you’ve identified it, could be your blog title. It’s a simple and effective way of driving traffic to your blog and letting the world know about your services.”
- Provide value
The Guardian says: “The key to a successful business blog is giving your readers valuable content. That is how you establish your website’s authority in your industry. In addition, if you give your readers valuable content, they will reward you by becoming return visitors and also parting with their money.
If lack of time or lack of writing skills is an issue, you could outsource your blog to a blog writing service. These do exactly what it says on the tin – write your blog to meet your customers’ needs and also drive sales for you.”
- Readability is key
Now, we said in the first point that you should write for humans. However, bear in mind your target audience and write for them. The posts should be readable and fun, not masterpieces crafted to show off your writing skills. Sure, there are people who may appreciate that, but a blog is not the place for it. On your blog, you want to be reader-friendly and fun.
Like we mentioned earlier, blogs are supposed to be written in a light, conversational style – which is a boon for most people. Of course, this will differ a bit depending on your target audience, but for the average retail store, you should be able to write an informative blog post that answers questions and helps viewers while hitting two birds with one stone.
So, these were some tips for blogging about your retail space in NJ. Get creative, have fun, and don’t hesitate to do a little bit of promo, as long as you don’t get too excited about it. People want answers to their questions, so try to keep that foremost on your mind.
Finding the perfect retail space in NJ with Blau & Berg
As your business grows, you’ll need a bigger retail space, and that’s where Blau & Berg come in. With our business tips you can help your business grow, and if you’re looking for a new retail space in NJ, we can help you find the perfect place that ticks all the right boxes.
Since its inception in 1932, The Blau & Berg Company has held a leading position in the New Jersey and Tri-State commercial real estate market. Headquartered in Short Hills, New Jersey, Blau & Berg is an independent, full- service commercial real estate brokerage firm providing services in the industrial, retail and office spaces, including: site selection, acquisitions, dispositions, leasing, tenant representation, portfolio sales, asset repositioning, and property & construction consulting.
Our mission is to be recognized as a trusted real estate company that provides exceptional and uncompromising value to our clients, employees and salespeople.
