Was Oasis still together the last time you published an article on your website?

Then it might very well be time to outsource blog posts for your woman-founded business.

After addressing the two most popular concerns I’ve heard about this smart investment, I’ll cover the other main signs that show whether you need to outsource content writing and, most importantly, what benefits this will generate.

Can I outsource my blog?

Err… duh? Yes, of course, you can outsource your blog!

Unless you already have an in-house content writer or you’re a copywriter yourself, the answer is always: yes, you can AND SHOULD.

Outsourcing your blog will result in a strong content marketing strategy that will allow you to:

• reach a higher percentage of your target customers

• grow your audience

• boost your website’s SEO

• stand out against your competitors.

As I mentioned before, there are a couple of popular misconceptions around this investment, which is why I can almost hear you say: 

But, Giada!

#1 FEAR: “A freelance blog writer won’t be able to write about my industry.”

It’s literally our job to write about different topics, fields, and industries!

For example, I’ve written about digital marketing, home decor, slush machines, e-commerce, SaaS, meal kits… and this is IN THE PAST WEEK ONLY.

If anything, it’s riskier to write about your own industry when you’re part of it, as you’ll be more likely to use complicated jargon that will put off your readers.

At the same time, don’t think you can just leave your blog to a writer and forget about it altogether. Research skills aside, the reason why I can write about so many different industries is because I ask my fantastic clients for input.

This allows me to go beyond what can already be found on Google and position them as thought-leading expert in their field.

#2 FEAR: “It’ll sound different from my brand voice.”

NOPE.

As long as you give us a clear brief and show us relevant samples of your brand tone, blog writers like me can match it like chameleons.

4 tell-tale signs you need to outsource your blog posts

How can you tell if you should actually outsource your blog?

Simple: one (or more) of the following statements will ring true for you.

1. Your blog hasn’t been generating tangible results

When done correctly, content marketing is a game-changing strategy that will bring you more organic traffic via search engines, help you grow your audience, and facilitate the sales funnel.

If you can almost hear crickets when you click on yours, it’s time to outsource your blog posts.

2. You’re not a content writer yourself

Just because you used to be pretty good at English in school, it doesn’t mean you can write blog posts that drive results.

For this to happen, they need to be:

• Written specifically for your target audience

• Written from a marketing rather than literary or artistic perspective

• Optimised for SEO using the right keywords

• Part of a wider content marketing strategy

That’s why ‘content writer’ is an actual job title!

3. You haven’t got an in-house content writer

If you’re not a copywriter but you do have an in-house content writer, then you probably don’t need to outsource blog posts. 

However, if you don’t, how else do you expect to get results and an ROI?

Unless you’re happy to hire an in-house content writer and pay them a full wage every single month, outsourcing your blog to a freelance blog writer is your best option… and waaaaay more cost-effective (more on that later).

4. Your business blog hasn’t been a priority in… a while

Well, if you only blog whenever you remember about it and you simply churn out a quick article on the first topic you can think of, then it’s normal that you haven’t been getting tangible results.

However, I get it: planning and writing high-quality content takes a ton of time!

Outsourcing content creation will mean that you won’t have to worry about it anymore: someone else will make it their priority for you.

Now that we’ve covered the most common reasons why you might need to outsource your blog (guilty?), let’s get to the exciting part.

8 benefits you unlock when you outsource blog posts 

1. You won’t run the risk of ‘forgetting’ about your blog

When it comes to blogging (and preparing Bloody Marys for me, but that’s a different story), consistency is key.

The more you blog, the more opportunities you have to reach new members of your target audience, but… honestly?

Committing to one article a week is much better than going on a daily blogging spree for two weeks and then forgetting about it for three months.

When you outsource your blog, someone else will take care of it, and you can bet anything that they will stick to the number of articles that you’ve agreed upon.

2. You’ll get a content strategy rather than lots of standalone articles

Writing blog posts without a strategy is like attempting a few chords without knowing what song you’re playing: you might make a nice sound, but that’s about it. It won’t lead to much. Just like buying a couple of blog posts for £10 on Fiverr. 

You’ll get words on a page. 

Even worse, you’ll probably end up blogging about internal news like “We’re delighted to announce that we’ve just been nominated for…” 

Yeah, nobody cares.

When you outsource your blog to a professional blog writer, you’ll get an actual content strategy based on your USP, industry, and the interests of your target audience.

For example, when I write blog posts for my clients I focus on:

• Creating content for all the stages of the funnel (especially the top)

• Interlinking them to help leads move across its different stages

• Researching both popular and untapped topics for their audience

• Using the right keywords to help them show up on Google

• Retaining readers by turning them into followers or subscribers

• Bringing value with EVERY. SINGLE. BLOG POST.

3. Outsourcing your blog posts is more cost-effective than hiring an in-house content writer 

The average salary of a content writer in the UK is currently £22,510 (1). And don’t forget that you’ll need to pay for their holidays, time off sick, and equipment.

When you outsource your blog, you only pay for what you actually get.

As a freelance blog writer myself, I promise I pay for my own time off, laptop, and coffee (the latter would especially cost you a ton of money by the end of the year!).

On top of that, don’t forget that content marketing costs 62% less than traditional techniques and generates 3 times as many leads (2).

4. You’ll show your audience that you care about them

By having a blog that’s updated regularly with informational and educational content (no more boring company news!), you’ll show your dream customers that you want to start a conversation with them.

Your brand is NOT all about blowing its own trumpet! 🎺

It’s about bringing value to its audience and welcoming them into its world.

5. You’ll attract more people via search engines

Wanna know a secret? Well, it’s not a secret for content marketers, but it is for companies that insist on blogging about internal news or ‘February updates’.

Every single blog post is a new website page and, as such, a chance to rank for a different long-tail keyword.

For example, my main website pages are optimised for SEO keywords like ‘website copywriter’ and ‘blog writing services.

 However, thanks to my blog posts, I’ve managed to attract leads who were googling specific topics or questions like “why is my website not ranking” or “what does a copywriter do”.

And the best thing is... once those articles have been published and promoted, they will always be out there!

They’ll bring you leads even when you’re sleeping (without waking you up, of course).

To give you an idea, check out the case study for the blogging strategy I’ve created for a sustainable fashion website.

6. Your overall website SEO will be boosted, too

When you outsource content writing, you won’t only get lots of new chances to rank for new keywords: the SEO of your entire website will also benefit from it!

There are several ways in which blogging helps SEO, but, to give you an idea:

• An average of 97% more inbound links (3)

• More opportunities to add internal links

• Fresh content that shows Google that your website is still relevant

• An average of 434% more indexed pages

7. A blog writer will position you as an expert in your field

If you’ve finally decided to part with your hard-earned money to, say, get some coffee sent to your home every week, who are you more likely to buy from?

• Company A whose website is all about how much they love their industry

• Company B whose website includes a blog full of articles like “What’s the ACTUAL difference between light, medium, and dark roasts?” or “How to make the best coffee with your French press?”

Company B, right? 

That’s because their blog immediately shows that they actually know a freakin’ lot about their sector.

They’re not just saying “we’re passionate about the coffee industry” (boring and corporate): they’ve created a blog that welcomes you into their world and helps you make the most of it.

By doing the same, you can build trust and position yourself as a thought-leading expert in your field.

8. You’ll save a ton of time

Yes, coming up with the right strategy, researching keywords, and writing high-quality blog posts takes time. 

But guess what? That’s my job! 

You’re already badass at what you do, so why would you want to waste a few hours writing when you can outsource your blog posts?

Once you do, you’ll basically put your blog on autopilot.

All you have to worry about is sending me some quick bullet points and… enjoying the results.

How much does it cost to outsource blogging?

The cost of outsourcing blogging varies depending on several factors.

For example, your industry, how many blog posts you would benefit from every month, how long they should be, whether or not the writer would also be in charge of coming up with the actual strategy and content calendar, etc.

That’s why most content writers and blogging strategists quote per project.

Personally, I have a standard package for the Blog Business Booster🚀, my signature blogging retainer. Its highlights:

• blogging strategy and content calendar

• quarterly planning & strategy sessions

• collaborative topic idea generation

• 2 x monthly blog posts (up to 1,000 words each) based on your input as an expert and my additional, in-depth research

• Keyword research and SEO whenever possible

• More perks and bonuses to help you get the very best out of your investment and blog

  Currently £400 per month - Additional and longer blog posts will be quoted per project, if requested

Unlike on content mills like UpWork, you’re not just paying for “words on a page”: you’re investing in a strategy and consultancy to get some actual results out of your blog.

Outsource your blog to a writer & strategist for female entrepreneurs (moi!)

Realised it is indeed time to outsrouce your blog posts? Don’t waste your time and budget on crappy content written without a strategy.

Through the Blog Business Booster🚀, I’ll turn the website of your female-founded brand into a lead-generating machine. And position you as a thought-leading expert in your field.

That way, you’ll be THE name that immediately pops up in your dream audience’s minds when they’re ready to buy.

More #crafty blog posts on this topic:

References

1. (n.d.). Average Content Writer Salary in United Kingdom. Retrieved from https://www.payscale.com/research/UK/Job=Content_Writer/Salary 

2. (n.d.). Content Marketing Infographic. Retrieved from https://www.demandmetric.com/content/content-marketing-infographic 

3. Burnes, R. (2017, September 5). Study Shows Business Blogging Leads to 55% More Website Visitors. Retrieved from https://blog.hubspot.com/blog/tabid/6307/bid/5014/study-shows-business-blogging-leads-to-55-more-website-visitors.aspx 

I’ve recently realised that, if you’ve never outsourced the writing side of things, working with a copywriter might not be as intuitive as it might sound to me (a copywriter. Duh!).

Before learning how to work with a copywriter, you might have other questions that need answering: what does a copywriter actually do? How will they benefit my business? 

To make things easier for you, I’ve compiled a step-by-step guide on how to work with a copywriter so that you know exactly what to expect. 

High five!

What actually is a copywriter?

A copywriter is the person who creates the written text and marketing materials (known as ‘copy’) to help a company promote their products, services, and overall brand.

For example, this can take the form of website copy, PPC ads, emails, brochures, leaflets, sales pages, product descriptions, and much, much more.

Copywriter or content writer?

Nowadays, the word ‘copywriter’ is often used as a synonym for ‘content writer’. 

However, while someone might be both (*raises hand*), they’ll be wearing different hats depending on what type of copy or content they’re writing. 

When discovering how to work with a copywriter, you should first figure out which one you need for your specific project.

The main difference between working with a copywriter and a content writer is that the former writes copy that is intended to convert (into sales or another specific action, like getting visitors to subscribe to your newsletter), whereas the latter creates informative content that attracts new leads and builds a relationship with your audience (like blog posts).

Copywriting is about immediate action. Content writing? The long-term game.

Different types of freelance copywriters

When looking to work with a copywriter, you’ll usually bump into these three main categories:

• Generalist copywriters who write all kinds of copy for all kinds of industries

• Copywriters who will write all kinds of copy for a specific industry

• … and those who have niched down by type of copy instead, like me: no matter what industry you’re in, I’m part of the website copy & blog writing squad

What does a copywriter do?

‘Wait, if all they do is write about my company, then I can just do it myself! ‘

Well, not really.  

Or, better: you can, but the results won’t be the same unless you happen to be a copywriter in disguise.

First of all, being a fiction writer or being good with words isn’t the same as being a copywriter.

There’s a heavy element of marketing and SEO knowledge that comes into play before us copywriters even begin to type away.

Writing copy for a specific audience

A copywriter won’t just ‘write about your company’. 

They’ll focus on how your products or services can solve the pain points of your target audience.

Less ‘we’re delighted to announce’, more ‘you won’t believe what we’ve just created for you!’.

Fewer vague buzzwords like ‘business solutions’, more immediate and clear statements that grab their attention.

The truth?

There are tons of brands out there doing something fairly similar to what you do.

Still, a good copywriter will allow you to stand out against them by making your USP crystal clear and your call-to-actions unmissable for your dream customers.

The importance of SEO copywriting 

When it comes to online copy, a copywriter must also be SEO-savvy (as in ‘search engine optimisation’).

This means that we scout for the keywords that your target audience is actually googling, sprinkle them in your text in all the right places (using variations and without them sounding repetitive, of course), and use hierarchical heading structures that will make things easier for both search engines and your human readers.

This will allow you to attract more customers organically via Google and other search engines.

While nobody in the SEO industry can promise first-page Google rankings, having some SEO-friendly copy on your website is one of the most realistic ways to achieve them.

Do I actually need a copywriter?

Yes: if you have a business with an online presence and are not a copywriter yourself, then you definitely need one.

Why?

Reasons you need a copywriter

Some of the main reasons why you need a copywriter include:

• Writing about your own business is tricky: you’re so emotionally invested in your journey that it’s easy to focus on what you’ve achieved rather than what you can bring to the table for your audience

• Plus, you’ll probably end up writing about your products or services from the perspective of someone who already knows all about them: this might be confusing to read for someone who’s only just landed on your website and is met with complicated jargon

• Grammar and punctuation mistakes can really undermine your credibility and brand perception. A copywriter helps you avoid them!

• If you don’t optimise everything for SEO correctly, nobody will find your website in the first place

Benefits of investing in copywriting services

As well as figuring out how to work with a copywriter, do you already know why?

In fact, when you invest in professional copywriting services, you unlock tons of benefits.

Just to name a few:

• You won’t sound like another (tedious) corporate company

• Your offer will become clear and unmissable

• Even the most boring product features will turn into fun and juicy benefits

• Both your lead generation and sales will grow

• Your brand will be perceived positively and, most importantly, actually remembered

• Your UX will improve

• You’ll rank higher on search engines, meaning that more customers will find you organically

How to work with a copywriter: 13 lucky steps

Now that you know more about what we do and how working with a copywriter can benefit your business, how do you approach one? 

And what can you expect?

Avoid surprises by going through my simple guide on how to work with a copywriter and make the most of this collaboration.

1. Before you begin, know your USP and target audience

This is probably the biggest piece of advice in this entire blog post:

Do yourself a favour and do NOT start working with a copywriter until you’re absolutely clear about your USP and target audience

Why?

’Cause, if you don’t, you’ll end up paying double by having your work redone in a few months.

Remember: a copywriter is there to translate your message into the right words for your specific audience. How can we do that if you’re not clear about your USP and who exactly you’re selling to?

• If you’ve been in business for a while, I’m sure you know all of this already, but you might want to double-check if your first thought was ‘oh, my products are for everyone’

• If you’re fairly new, on the other hand, take some time to conduct some market research, create customer personas, and find out as much information as you can about your dream customers

Once you know them as if they were your best friends, exciting times: you can start working with a copywriter!

2. Find the right freelance copywriter for your business

This can feel overwhelming at first, but trust me: it doesn’t have to be. 

On LinkedIn or search engines, start looking for copywriters and have a feel of their actual writing.

Has any of them immediately stood out? That’s already a great sign.

Have a look at their website and portfolio: that way, you can get a better idea as to what kind of work they’ll be delivering.

But hey, don’t worry if you don’t find anything that’s similar to what you do! Writing about all kinds of different topics is part of our job, and it’s actually what prevents it from being repetitive.

As I mentioned before, some of us are generalist copywriters, and some others niche down by type of industry or copy, so it really depends on what you’re after.

For example, I specialise in website copywriting and blog writing services to turn ambitious female entrepreneurs into THE go-to solution in their dream audience’s eyes.

3. Request a quote, and be sure you’re clear as to what it includes

“Ok, but how do you work with a copywriter, like… logistically?”

Simple. 

When you’ve found a copywriter or two that you like, tell them about your challenges and goals to receive a quote.  

Sometimes, their website will have some pricing information or ‘starting from’ points, but most of us quote per project. 

Why? Because every project is different!

Maybe you need a three-page website, or maybe you need five. 

Perhaps you want a text-only blog post, or how about I include a few relevant stock images?

Either way, give your copywriter as much information as you can regarding your project so that they can send you a custom quote.

But don’t expect them to also upload your new copy directly onto your website or include a few images if that wasn’t included in the actual quote.

If you have any doubts, it’s always better to ask. 

Me? Some of my copywriting services (e.g. LinkedIn bios) have a fixed price.

When it comes to website copy and ongoing blogging services, however, I start with a strategy session (£99) that will translate into a custom #crafty blueprint. This will detail exactly what you must focus on to achieve your unique goals, with a clear breakdown of what this should include from a copywriting point of view.

The blueprint is obviously yours to use however you please, whether that’s with me or another writer! But, if you decide to use it to work with me, I’ll knock the £99 off the quoted price. Easy.

4. Have the right expectations when it comes to prices

Content mills like Fiverr and Upwork might have led you to believe that you can get 1000-word blog posts for £15 and web pages for £50 or so.

No.

That’s like expecting a high-quality ethical coat to cost £10 just because a fast-fashion store that has produced one in a sweatshop sells it at that price.

When you buy underpriced copy for £0.03 per word or so, that’s all they’ll ever be: words on a page. Professional copywriting services are a lot more than that. 

Plus, there’s a ton of work (and learning, and experience...) behind what could look like ‘just a 500-word web page’.

A professional copywriter will:

• Conduct topic research

• Competitors' research

• Keyword research

• Familiarise themselves with your brand tone, or create a unique voice for your company

• Repackage your offer through an audience-oriented hook for your dream customers

• Make you come across as the best in your industry without sounding like you're bragging

• Write the actual copy

• Optimise it for SEO

• Edit and proofread it

Working with a professional copywriter is an investment that will pay off thanks to all the conversions you’ll get.

Cheap copy, on the other hand?

It will mean having to ask another copywriter to redo it in a few months.

I’ve seen this happen too many times.

(If you’re curious, here’s why you won’t find me copywriting on content mills like Fiverr).

5. Agree on a realistic deadline

Do you actually need this project ‘yesterday lol’ (by the way, I can speak for all copywriters when I say that we HATE that reply), or have you got time?

If you do, it’s much better to be honest with your copywriter and give them the deadline they need.

Sometimes, the best ideas come to us when we’re going for a walk or having a shower. 

A few days give us more chances of this happening as well as more time to experiment with different options and go back to what we wrote with a fresh mind after leaving it for a day.

6. Sign a contract and, in most cases, pay 50% upfront

Please, don’t ever take it personally if a copywriter asks you to sign a contract, no matter how friendly your email exchange has been!

First of all, it’s pretty standard practice.

Second of all, it’s to protect you as well.

Most copywriters request a 50% deposit upfront, so we want you to be 100% sure that we won’t run away with it: that’s why a contract will always have terms & conditions that protect both.

7. Provide your copywriter with as much information as you can

Now, this step might change slightly depending on who you work with. 

Personally, like many other fellow copywriters I know, I rely on a simple project planner to help you create a brief.

If you decide to work with me, I’ll ask you to fill it so that I can learn everything I need to know about your business in order to write about it for your specific audience.

For example, this includes information about your dream customers, your USP, what action you want your readers to take after reading that page, etc.

However, as I mention in the project planner itself, you’re more than welcome to send me any other materials that you think might be useful, such as your brand bible.

Just don’t assume that you can tell a copywriter ‘write a homepage for my company’ or ‘write an article around this keyword’ and leave it like that.

DON’T.

8. Let them do what they do best (write)...

For the best results, let your copywriters do their magic on their own. 

Unless it’s the day of the deadline, don’t email them or call them to ask how the work is going. 

If there’s any problem or they realise they need more information, they’ll let you know. 

Pinky swear.

But, please, don’t put more pressure on us.

I’m always super-excited for my clients to read what I’ve created for them, but there would be no point in sending them a quick preview before I’ve actually finished editing and proofreading it.

9. … But inform them if anything changes

Hopefully, that won’t be the case because you’ve already given them a detailed brief (and they’ve probably already started writing, by now).

However, life happens.

 If anything regarding this project changes, let your copywriter know ASAP rather than wait until they’ve finished the entire thing.

10. Read the first draft and, if relevant, provide constructive feedback

Realistically, what you receive is just that: a first draft.

The reason why I ask certain questions in my project planner is that I want it to be as close as possible to the final thing so that you don’t waste any time. Like… 99% there.

However, most copywriters include some free rounds of revisions (two, in my case) with their services, because a few tweaks are usually needed.

Seriously, don’t be scared to ask!

Just make sure that you’re giving us actionable and constructive feedback: is there a specific sentence that you don’t like? Do you think we should focus on this other product a bit more? Let us know and, I promise, we’ll change it ASAP.

On the other hand, vague comments like ‘I just don’t like it’ or ‘make it more marketing’ won’t help either of us (yes, I’ve actually received the second one myself, a few years ago).

11. Make sure that you’re 100% satisfied with the final draft

Take the time to review our copy thoroughly before saying that it’s all fine and paying our invoice. 

Unfortunately, we can’t work for free if someone shows up three months later with a completely different brief for the same page or asking us to edit an entire section.

Ask us whilst we’re still working on that project for you!

12. Pay your invoice without getting us to follow up (please!)

How to work with a copywriter while maintaining integrity? Treat them with respect. Just like you would a lawyer or any other person offering professional services.

I’m super grateful to my clients since, over the past year, I’ve never been paid late. Not even once (if you’re reading this, you’re the best!).

However, I know of a few fellow copywriters who have been struggling with bills because of late payments. 

When I first started out, I myself used to write blog posts for a company that would pay me late EVERY. SINGLE. MONTH. 

This made me waste so much time following up via email, calling them to chase those late payments, and, needless to say, it was a cause of anxiety and stress.

Remember: when working with a copywriter, you’re dealing with an actual real-life person who also has expenses and responsibilities, just like you.

So, make sure you send them the money before your agreed time.

13. Hey, it doesn’t have to be a goodbye!

Just because that project is out of the way and you don’t necessarily need anything from them right now, it doesn’t mean that you must part ways with that copywriter.

First of all, you never know when you might need their services again. 

Plus, if they’ve spent a few days writing about your company, the chances are that they’ll want to follow your journey, too!

I know I always do.

Why not connect on LinkedIn?

And, if you want to help them reach more clients, send them a shiny testimonial or write them a Google review. It’ll make their day!

Work with a copywriter for female entrepreneurs ✨

Now that you’ve gone through my entire step-by-step guide on how to work with a copywriter, I hope everything is clear as to what the process is usually like.

Questions? Drop them in the comments.

Are you an ambitious female entrepreneur looking to generate more leads and sales through your marketing copy?

More #crafty blog posts on this topic:

Suffering from blank page syndrome? Has your company blog been gathering cobwebs? Then hiring a blog writer is definitely the right game-changing solution for your female-founded business!

Yes, not just your company blog itself: your entire business. 

From SEO to leads, here are the main benefits of hiring a blog writer.

1. A blog writer will turn your ‘company news’ into a successful content marketing strategy

Far too many companies have a “blog” (sorry, but the inverted commas are needed) that they use for company news. Then, the same companies dare to complain that ‘blogging doesn’t work’ because they didn’t get more website traffic nor converted it into leads and sales.

Who in their right mind would google ‘February Achievements of Company X’, spend some precious ten minutes of their lives reading about them blowing their own trumpet, and think “you know what? I can’t wait to buy from them!”?

That’s not how a business blog is meant to work, and a professional blog writer knows that.

A successful blog is one that’s packed full of articles on relevant industry-related topics that educate, entertain or answer the specific questions of a business’s target audience.

A blog writer will create a custom content marketing strategy and write about subjects that your dream customers are already googling, like ‘7 Easy Ways to Create an Urban Jungle in a Small Flat’ if you sell plants or ‘How to Choose Among Light, Medium and Dark Roasts’ if you’re there to fuel their coffee addiction.

2. You won’t have to worry about content creation or blank page syndrome

For a blog to give you tangible results, it must be updated regularly. Not once every few months when you magically remember about it.

However, coming up with so much high-quality content, performing all the keyword research, writing the actual articles, and uploading them together with some pictures… it all takes a freakin’ lot of time!

Plus, if content writing and SEO aren’t your thing, you’ll probably end up staring at the screen for longer than you wish.

When you hire a blog writer, they’ll take aaaaaaaaaall of that away from your workload.

3. They will create the right blog posts for your target audience (no fluff!)

A blog shouldn’t be used to write for the sake of writing. 

‘Oh, I’ve just written three blog posts about our new product!’ 

Ok, but does that actually benefit your target audience? Are they already interested in that topic?

If not, you’ve just wasted a few hours of your time.

Instead, one of the benefits of hiring a blog writer is that they’ll craft articles with your specific target audience in mind.

This goes beyond superficial misconceptions such as ‘I sell clothes so I’ll just write about fashion, catwalks, and trends.’ That’s too broad! 

What’s your USP, and who’s your target audience?

For example, if the clothes you sell are made ethically and in an eco-friendly way, as a blog writer I’d create content around topics such as: switching from fast to slow fashion, identifying the most sustainable materials, how to make clothes last longer, etc. 

See? If you’re virtually talking to eco-conscious customers, catwalks and trends that lead to tons of waste would certainly backfire.

4. They will help you rank for more keywords

A professional blog writer is also skilled at SEO. 

That’s why you won’t just get pretty words on a page: every single one of your blog posts will be optimised for a specific long-tail keyword and relevant variations.

After all, there are only so many keywords that you can realistically hope to rank for with your main website pages (e.g. if you’re a stationery store based in London but delivering worldwide, they’ll be something like ‘London stationery’, ‘stationery shop London’, ‘best stationery’, etc).

However, when you think that every blog post is also a new website page, you can now realistically target dozens of new keywords.

For example, ‘12 Stationery Gift Ideas for Your Writer Friend’.

If you were to blog once a week, that’s 52 new keywords by the end of the year!

5. They will boost the overall SEO of your small business website

The benefits of blogging for business go beyond these keywords. In fact, the right content strategy will help your entire website rank higher!

This is because:

• More website pages show search engines that you have plenty of relevant content;

• Websites with blogs receive an average of 97% more inbound links than those without them;

• You can easily add internal links that help search engines better understand your sitemap.

Find out more about how blogging helps your website SEO.

6. They will give you a ton of content for your socials & newsletter

Stop thinking of your blog, social media, and newsletter as three separate watertight compartments!

When you can rely on a professional blog writer, you’ll also have plenty of content to share on your platforms. 

7. They will increase your lead generation

Blog posts that are correctly optimised for SEO allow you to generate more traffic via search engines, but not just any traffic: the right one!

By attracting your specific target audience onto your website, a freelance blogger for hire will help you generate more leads. For example, whenever relevant, I add a call to action about subscribing to their newsletter at the end of the blog posts I write for my clients.

Sharing them on socials? Then you can generate even more traffic and leads!

To give you an idea, websites with blogs have a 67% higher lead generation.

8. They will help you retain your audience

Your customers are bombarded with thousands of marketing messages every day, so you most definitely can’t expect them to follow every single company. So how do you get them to pick you? 

You keep bringing them value with your content, and a blog is a fantastic way to do so, especially if you share your articles on your newsletter and socials, too.

9. They will position you as a thought-leading expert in your field

Before deciding to buy from you instead of one of your competitors, your audience needs to trust you. 

They need to think that you’re the very best at what you do. And how can you convince them?

Easy: you blog about relevant industry-related topics that showcase your expertise.

10. Collaborating with a blog writer is cheaper than an in-house solution

Another excellent benefit of hiring a blog writer is that they’ll only charge you for the blog posts themselves. That’s it. 

You don’t need to pay for their software, pension, equipment, holidays, or anything like that.

We do all of that ourselves.

11. A professional blog writer will free you up more time to focus on other aspects of your business

Finally, when you hire someone to write blog posts, you no longer have to worry about the writing and content creation side of things.

This will save you a ton of time that you can use to do whatever it is that you do best when it comes to your badass female-founded business.

Nice one!

Now that you know more about the benefits of hiring a blog writer, are you ready to unlock them?

I help ambitious women entrepreneurs and female-founded businesses become THE go-to solution in their dream audience’s eyes.

From planning the right articles to writing them and optimising everything for SEO, I can take care of your blog so that you can start seeing some actual results.

More #crafty blog posts on this topic:

Just like there’s no way you’d forget to add an About page to your business website, you definitely shouldn’t miss out on learning how to create a company blog either. Why?

Because blogging for your business is a versatile content marketing and SEO strategy that can bring you a TON of advantages and results!

To name just a few of the benefits of blogging, it helps you:

• reach more of your dream audience organically

• target them at all the stages of the funnel

• rank higher on google

• generate more leads

• position yourself as an expert in your field

• stand out against the competition

However, all those benefits are only possible when you’re blogging the right way, of course.

The blog on your business website should NOT be about company news

If you were ready to start dishing out articles based on corporate news (“Check out our new branch!” or “We’re delighted to announce that we won another award”), let me save you some time:

don’t bother starting a company blog, because nobody is going to read it.

“Wait, what should I blog about instead?! It’s a COMPANY blog, after all!”

No.

The blog on your business website should be conceived as a content marketing strategy to attract and grow your target audience by giving them value. And company news are NOT value.

You must focus on blog posts that answer their questions about your industry, niche, or type of products and services.

That way, they’ll find out about you for the first time through their Google searches, you’ll position yourself as an expert in your field, and your audience will start to move down the funnel.

Are we on the same page, now?

Excellent! Let’s learn exactly how to create a blog for your business that helps you do that.

4 steps on how to create a company blog that STANDS OUT

Not a blog filled with articles that nobody is going to read.

One that actively helps you generate more traffic and leads.

1. Pick a realistic schedule and stick to it

How many times have you bumped into a blog page consisting of a promising introductory article, a second blog post about a relevant topic, a third one after a year gap, and then just… tumbleweed?

Blogging frequently is obviously the best option, especially to rank on search engines—there are even companies that blog every day!

However, if you haven’t got the capacity and budget for it, there’s no point in churning out hundreds of crappy articles.

Consistency and quality over quantity.

Committing to two excellent articles per month is much better than writing three articles a week to begin with, then one, and then forgetting about your blog for a couple of months (and so on).

So, be realistic!

Think of how often you can actually write articles in the long run or, if you’re commissioning them to a blog writer, how many articles per month you can afford.

2. Create a blogging strategy with your target audience in mind

Just like you have a marketing and social media strategy, you need one when you learn how to create a company blog if you want to write the kind of pieces they’ll read.

It’s also easy to lose motivation if you only have one idea for the first article and then… tumbleweed (again), so I recommend coming up with 5-10 titles before you actually start writing a blog post for your company.

• Research relevant topics and long-tail keywords

When it comes to your industry, what questions do your target customers have? What are they interested in? What are they trying to find out?

For example, if you sell eco-friendly and reusable products, you could blog about sustainability-related topics (e.g. ‘How can I reduce my plastic footprint? 10 easy tips!’). 

Start with your audience’s pain points, and do some brainstorming. You can also think of a sub-topic, google it, and look at the questions in the ‘People Also Ask’ section (psst: answer them!).

Have a cheeky look at your competitors’ blogs, too (just for inspiration! No copying nor stealing).

Now, the most important thing if you want your audience to find these articles when they google their questions or queries:

Every single blog post should be based around a different long-tail keyword.

So, you must learn how to write SEO-friendly articles, too (be sure to bookmark that blog post for later).

• Write content that provides value

Around 80% of all Google searches are informational: whether by answering their question or letting them walk away with something they didn’t know before, your blog posts must provide value to your readers.

Optimising your articles for search engines is obviously vital, but don’t forget that, ultimately, it’s us humans who’re going to read them and, eventually, buy from you.

Don’t just write for the sake of writing or SEO: make sure your readers can enjoy your articles and, most importantly, gain something from them.

This is also an excellent way of showing your expertise and building trust. 

• Keep the sales funnel in mind

Blog posts are also the perfect place to add links to your other articles, products, services, and sales pages, as long as they’re relevant to that particular topic and the position of your prospects in the funnel.

Most articles tend to be for top-of-the-funnel leads, so use them as a starting point to help them start their happy descent towards the bottom.

If you sell sustainable clothes and have written an article on ‘Why fast fashion is bad’, you could end it by linking to a blog post on ‘How to ditch fast fashion’.

When writing articles for prospects who’re already towards the bottom of the funnel, it’d make more sense to link to your product or sales pages.

And, either way, if you mention something that you actually sell or offer as a service, it’s always worth linking to it at the very least.

For example, if you sell coffee-related equipment and are writing an article on ‘How to brew with the Chemex’, it’d be CRAZY not to link to its product page, don’t you think?

3. Promote your blog posts on social media

You’ve just written a ground-breaking blog post? Awesome! Make sure you tell everyone.

Share a direct link to your article with an unmissable call to action across your social media channels to drive traffic to your blog.

This shouldn’t be a boring “be sure to check out our blog”. Once again, the focus should be on your audience’s needs.

So, tease its content, and give them a flavour of what they’ll gain from reading it.

4. Share the best articles in your newsletter

Blog post packed full of value are also handy to complement your newsletter.

You can either base an entire email around one or add links to this month’s best blog posts.

This will help them gain traction and direct your readers towards your website.

Getting started with your company blog 🔥

Basically—when done right—blogging is an exciting and versatile strategy that will increase your lead generation, grow your audience, boost your SEO, build trust, and complement your social media and newsletter.

Now that you know how to create a company blog, are you ready to make the most of these benefits for your female-founded business?

If you can’t wait BUT:

• you’ve got no clue as to what to blog about to attract your audience

• you don’t know how to optimise those blog posts for SEO in a way that actually drives results

  I can help you in two main ways.

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If you have or are planning on starting a company blog on your business website, you must learn how to write SEO-friendly blog posts. Otherwise… who’s gonna read them?

Sure, your existing audience will see them on your social media or newsletter.

But the superpower of SEO blog posts is that they help you grow your audience in the first place and generate more leads.

To do that, you must make it as easy as possible for them to find your articles on Google when they’re looking for insights or answers to questions they have on your industry.

In other words, you need to learn how to write SEO blog posts correctly.

At the same time, though, never forget about your actual audience.

DON’T. YOU. DARE.

So, before diving into my beginner’s guide to writing SEO-friendly blog posts, let me clarify something.

What makes a good SEO-friendly blog post?

A good SEO-friendly blog post is written with your audience in mind, brings value to them, AND is optimised for search engines. It’s not just about keywords!

When writing a new blog post, you should always focus on creating excellent content for your target audience. Not for Google.

Then, you can optimise it in a way that incorporates the best SEO practices, from keywords to headings and UX. This will make it easier for your audience to both find and read your article.

But don’t ever make the mistake of writing with only search engines in mind!

Search engines aren’t going to invest in your products or services.

7 steps on how to write SEO-friendly blog posts for your audience

Now that we’re on the same page, let’s see exactly how to write a good blog post for SEO and your target customers.

1. Choose a topic and do some keyword research

The right topics will depend on your specific audience, but you should always aim for something that:

• brings them value/answers their questions

• is related to your industry, niche, products, or services

Once you’ve got a general idea, find the best keyword to describe it.

Ideally, it will be a long-tail keyword, which is just a fancy word for “a phrase consisting of three words or more”. Why?

Because it’ll be more specific and therefore help you generate the right traffic.

For example, if you were breaking down the steps to brew your own lavender tea, your keyword shouldn’t be just ‘lavender tea’. That’s too vague!

Your potential readers are more likely to Google ‘how to make lavender tea’ or ‘lavender tea recipe’.

But you don’t want to leave that to guesswork.

To find the right long-tail keyword for your blog post, use some keyword research tools to see what people are actually googling.

Google’s own Keyword Planner is actually a great place to start as a beginner (and it’s free).

So, type your idea, and see how people are using it. For example, ‘how to make lavender tea’ gets searched between 100 and 1K times per month in the UK alone.

All you have to do at this stage is keep your chosen keyword in mind.

2. Write quality content that brings value

As we’ve already established, when learning how to write SEO-friendly blog posts, you must never stray away from bringing value to your target audience.

After reading them, they should always walk away with something, whether that’s the answer to the title’s question or a deeper understanding of a specific topic.

So, carry out some research, add your own insights, and write an excellent article that tackles your chosen topic in a way that speaks to your own target audience.

3. Make your blog post scannable

Had you bumped into this exact same article but without any paragraph breaks or headings, would you have still read it?

Probably not.

And I don’t blame you: you simply haven’t got time. Neither have your prospects.

When you write SEO-friendly blog posts, you must also make them easy to scan so that your readers can immediately figure out what you’re covering, skim read it if they wish, or just… read it without straining their eyes.

Meanwhile, this will help search engines understand them more easily, and they’ll always prioritise articles that favour UX.

It’s a win-win.

So:

• create a hierarchical heading structure (only one h1 per blog post, some h2, and some h3 nested underneath your h2)

• use line and paragraph breaks

• avoid lengthy paragraphs

• consider using bold text to highlight key concepts

• include images

4. Integrate keywords organically when writing blog posts for SEO

One thing your target audience and search engines have in common?

They HATE robotic keyword stuffing, so don’t you dare repeat your long-tail keyword in every other sentence.

Your blog post must flow smoothly!

My main tip on how to write a blog post for SEO is to sprinkle your keywords strategically by adding them to:

• the blog title

• the URL

• some of the headings

• the body of the article (in the first 100-150 words, the last or second-to-last paragraph, and a few times within the actual text)

• your meta descriptions

• image names and alt text (more on that in the next paragraph)

5. Optimise your blog images for SEO

You’ve found the most Pinterest-worthy pictures to go with your blog post.

That’s great!

Your human readers are going to be very impressed, but I’m afraid search engines can’t see them, even if there’s text in the image.

What they can see, though, is their name and alt-text.

So, ditch any lazy ‘image07.jpg’, and use relevant keywords instead (as long as they actually describe the picture).

Oh, and be sure to resize and compress your images on websites like TinyJPG so as not to compromise page speed (heavy files are a no-no for SEO).

6. Add a call to action

I assume you don’t want your readers to just read your article and then forget about it for the rest of their lives, right?

You might want them to subscribe to your newsletter, follow you on social media, or check out the product that you’ve positioned as the solution to their current pain point.

That’s why it’s vital to include a specific call to action.

7. Choose the perfect title

You might have written the most impressive article since the birth of the Internet, but… who’s going to read it, if nobody clicks on it when they see it on Google?

Your title should hook the reader in, getting them to click on your blog post rather than all the other results in the SERP (search engine results page).

The reason why I recommend doing this after you’ve written the actual article is to make sure the title actually describes its focus.

Use your long-tail keywords, tickle their curiosity, and make an implicit promise to them by teasing exactly what the blog post is going to offer (e.g. “How to Write SEO-Friendly Blog Posts [Beginner's Guide]”: it seems to have worked for you. Gotcha!).

You could also ask a question, or even state something controversial or unusual that your readers will want to check out (“What No One’s Telling You About Growing on Instagram”, or “Why Your Beard Needs Caffeine Just like You”).

Listicles perform particularly well too, especially when they include odd numbers (e.g. “13 Ways to Cook with Avocados”).

And be sure to address the reader directly whenever you can (“How YOU Can Quit Your Day Job & Live the Life You Deserve”).

A little disclaimer on writing SEO-friendly blog posts

So, is that it?

Well, not really.

If that were the case, anybody could do my job.

Learning how to write an SEO-friendly blog post that:
- has higher chances of showing up before those of your competitors
- actively helps you grow your audience
- works as part of a bigger content strategy…

well, that requires a lot more knowledge and experience.

From finding the right keyword variations to structuring your blog posts in a certain way and knowing how to analyse those of your competitors before writing yours, A LOT of work goes into most articles ranking on Google’s first page and generating actual leads.

HOWEVER, trust me: what you’ve just learnt will be enough to get you started and write your first SEO-friendly blog posts.

But do you already know how to:

• plan your blogging strategy in the first place?

• identify the right topic ideas for your audience at this specific stage?

• turn those visits into subscribers and leads?

• create a sustainable blogging schedule and actually commit to it—even when you’re busy?

If you don’t, I’ve got you. It’s all clearly explained in my Boost Your Business by Blogging eBook, a step-by-step guide written for complete beginners.

It’ll show you exactly how to start (and keep up) blogging on your business website. And, most importantly, how to do so in a way that grows your audience, brings you more leads, and positions you as an expert.

How I can help with your SEO blog posts

Now that you’ve learnt the basics of how to write SEO-friendly blog posts:

• Found this helpful? Start receiving a weekly content prompt and more advice on how to grow your female-founded business through your marketing copy

• Too time-consuming? Wanna be 100% sure you’re setting yourself up for success? Let me do all the hard work for you! Discover my blog writing services helping ambitious female entrepreneurs become THE go-to solution in their dream audience’s eyes

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