How Often Should You Blog? (+ Creating a Content Schedule)
If you’re a business that wants more exposure online, the answer’s simple: pave more paths to your website. That could be through social media, maybe a business card, or, our favorite: blogging.
But here’s the head-scratcher: How often should you publish blog posts?
Do you just post one every month and say Kum-by-ya? Or is it better to post one every other day?
That’s what we’re here to answer today at TalktheTalk. Let’s get into it, shall we?
The short, no-BS answer:
You’re looking for a number. Well, here it is:
Most experts agree that blogging two to four times a week is good for most businesses. That’s a schedule that should give you enough time to write and publish quality posts, while also providing your readers with content on the regular.
Of course, pumping out more quality content will only help you. This is why many successful businesses opt for a professional hand with writing high-level, value-packed blog posts relevant to their niche.
Why blog anyway? 🙄
It’s like a chore. Well, not for us, but we get you. There’s a lot of research, planning, and typing that goes into blogging. Nevertheless, it’s very important that you partake in it.
Here’s why:
You attract more leads ($$$): Companies who run a blog successfully generate 67% more leads on a monthly basis, than those that do not have one. And for the cherry on top, inbound leads from blogging costs 61% less than outbound methods like cold calling.
You get more eyes on your stuff (great for brand awareness): Businesses that blog generate 55 percent more website visits than companies without blogs, and 97% more links back to their domain. When you attract more traffic to your site, you give your business more free exposure. 99% of the time, that’s a good thing (the other 1% is when your website crashes from too much traffic - but hey, that's a good problem to have!).
It’s great for brand authority and SEO: If you want to secure a higher position on the search results page for a long-term supply of money-generating traffic and a trustworthy reputation, then you’ll want to join the 95% of businesses that report higher SEO rankings with a blog than those without one. By publishing valuable content regularly, your brand will become a leader in its space.
Consistency is Key: How to Keep Your Blog on Track
When it comes to blogging, consistency is key. By posting regularly, you'll be able to build an audience and establish trust with your readers. If you're only posting once a month, it's going to be much harder to keep people engaged and coming back for more.
But how often is "regularly"?
It's a good idea to aim for at least once a week, but some bloggers post multiple times per day or even per week. It depends on your audience, industry, and niche as well as the amount of time and resources you have available for blogging.
If you’re looking to grow organic traffic, you want to publish as much optimized content as possible. For example, we use SurferSEO and SEMrush to ensure every blog post we write is keyword rich, comprehensive, and engaging. Here’s a general guideline on frequency:
Small blogs should post 3-4x a week (most of our clients pick this plan).
Large blogs should post 4-6x a week (this is what we do for our blog).
If you’re looking to increase brand awareness, diversifying your content and adding useful information is key. You’ll want to add images (even create custom graphics), stats, and pro tips that people can link back to or find on Google (you want to do this for growing organic traffic too, but it’s especially important here).
Small blogs should post 1-2x a week.
Large blogs should post 2-4x a week.
Choosing Your Blogging Frequency: Factors to Consider
When determining your blogging schedule, there are a few factors to consider.
How competitive is your space? For example, if you're in a highly competitive industry, you may need to post more frequently to stay ahead of the competition. On the other hand, if you're in a niche with less competition, you may be able to get away with posting less frequently.
Who are your readers? You should also take into account your audience demographics. If your target audience is busy professionals, they may not have as much time to read your blog, so you may want to post less frequently. If your target audience is stay-at-home moms, they may have more time to read your blog, so you may want to post more frequently.
What’s your armory looking like? It's important to think about how much time and resources you have available for blogging. If you're a business owner with a full-time job, it may be difficult to post multiple times per day or per week. But if you're a stay-at-home mom with a lot of free time, you may be able to post multiple times per day or per week.
Determining Your Blogging Schedule: Tips and Tricks
Once you've considered the factors mentioned above, it's time to set a realistic blogging schedule. One tip is to schedule your posts in advance. This will help you stay organized and on track, and it will also help you ensure that your blog is active and engaging.
A great way to do this is by using a content calendar to plan out your posts in advance. This will help you stay organized and ensure that you're covering a variety of topics.
Here’s how to create a content calendar:
Conduct keyword research: Before creating a content calendar, it's important to conduct keyword research to understand what terms and phrases your target audience is searching for. Tools like Google Keyword Planner and Ahrefs can help you identify high-volume, low-competition keywords that are relevant to your industry and target audience.
Create a content theme: Having a clear content theme will make it easier to create content that aligns with your SEO goals. For example, if your theme is "home renovation," your blog posts could focus on topics such as "DIY home renovation projects," "budget-friendly home renovation ideas," and "hiring a contractor for home renovation."
Psst. We show you how to do it in this topical authority guide.
Include long-tail keywords: Long-tail keywords are longer and more specific phrases that are less competitive and easier to rank for. These keywords often convert better because they are more targeted to the user's search intent. For example, instead of targeting "home renovation" you can target "Home renovation tips for beginners"
Use header tags correctly: Header tags (H1, H2, H3) help to organize your content and make it easier for search engines to understand the structure of your page. Use H1 tags for the main title of your blog post and H2 and H3 tags for subheadings. Also, make sure to include your primary keyword in the H1 tag.
Schedule your posts: Once you have a clear understanding of your goals, target audience, and keywords, it's time to schedule your posts. Use a content calendar tool like Trello, Hootsuite, or Asana to plan your content in advance and ensure that you're publishing new content on a regular basis.
Wrapping Up: Blogging on Your Own Terms
All in all, there's no one-size-fits-all answer to the question of how often you should blog. It depends on your industry, niche, audience demographics, and the amount of time and resources you have available. But by considering these factors and setting a realistic blogging schedule, you'll be able to establish yourself as a thought leader and build an engaged audience.
If you need help with SEO blogging, reach out for a free consultation call with us today. We’ll have 5 FREE keywords for your next five blog posts ready.
And remember, the most important thing is to have fun and enjoy the process of blogging. Happy blogging!
