Long gone is the image of bloggers being pasty, vitamin-D deficient geeks furtively working from their parent's basement. 

These days there's a blog for pretty much everything you can think of: from fashion and film to social media and even staplers. 

At SMK we think blogs can be a great asset for businesses, so we've put together five reasons why your brand should start blogging now.

Visibility

If we want to know something, we Google it.

Part of Google's algorithm for ranking pages is by the number of backlinks a website has – that is – links from other sites to your site. When these links are indexed Google is pleased and pushes up your search ranking. Regular updating and comments can also boost your search ranking.

According to figures from Version2, blogs on company sites result in 55% more visitors, blogs give websites 434% more indexed pages, and a whopping 97% more indexed links. 

Thought leadership

Having a blog lets you position your company as a thought leader in field and set the tone for debate. Guest posts from industry experts can be a great way to increase exposure and contacts.

Engagement

If you have a blog you should share it on your social media channels, such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Google+.

Aside from generating more of those backlinks that Google loves, you'll be introducing your brand to a new audience. 

Get visual. On Facebook videos are shared 12 times more often than links and text posts combined, while images are liked twice as often as text updates. 

Content

The best way of getting your blog, and brand, noticed is by producing compelling content – whether it's blog posts, images, videos and even status updates. 

You can use content to tell your brand story, and differentiate yourself from competitors. Great content is also more likely to resonate with readers. 

Interesting content is one of the top three reasons people follow brands on social media (behind special offers and being an existing customer), while 61% of consumers say they are more likely to buy from a company that delivers custom content.

Keeping up to date

Researching content for blog posts is one of the best ways to keep your finger on the pulse of what's happening with your field.

You'll discover ideas and people you may not have otherwise found, and chances are these discoveries will help you make you do your job even better. 

Check out SMK’s upcoming industry leading training courses in: Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Canberra, Auckland, Adelaide and Wellington.

Also, browse through hundreds of online social media video tutorials on eSMK Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube and more!!