Content is king when it comes to making your website stand out from the competition. It has an immediate impact on the impression your website makes during the 10 seconds you have to grab the visitor. A site rich in information that can solve your audience’s immediate problems also lends authority to your brand.
According to Hubspot, 51 percent of internet shoppers research online before making major purchases, and you want to be there when they make that decision.
Unlike the whimsical algorithms of social media and the impermanence of pay per click (PPC) marketing, content on your website gets better with time. Age lends rank to websites, improving your positioning without further investment. In their post on blogging frequency stats, Hubspot stated that, “every blog post you make has the chance to enhance not only optimization but awareness of your brand.”
In addition to the longevity blog posts provide, Three Girls Media believes a long-term marketing strategy with the consistent addition of content builds trust with consumers. Offering value creates a relationship with buyers, and identifying a solution to their problems means buyers will turn to you for that solution.
Writing Your Own Content vs. Hiring A Content Writer
Now that you’ve decided to leverage the content on your website, you need a plan to create well-written and SEO-friendly pages that rank well with search engines and speak to your target audience.
Many business owners write their own content but can’t keep it going in the long term. In addition to frequency, consistency is also incredibly important to improving and maintaining SEO. If a business can’t create content frequently and stick to a consistent schedule, their content marketing strategy isn’t going to be as effective.
The Pros And Cons Of Writing Your Own Web Content
Writing your own content is the least expensive way to get more indexable pages on your site. You can begin right away and it won’t cost a dime, but many business owners struggle to find the time. There are advantages and disadvantages to writing your own content.
The pros of DIY content:
- Creating your own website content is free, and all it costs is your time.
- Writing your own content lets you use your own voice. The tone and style of your content should connect with your niche audience and make it unique from others.
- You’re the expert. No one knows your business better than you do, and writing your own content will allow you to promote your strengths.
- Writing your own content lends sincerity and authenticity. It shows your target audience that you’re a credible expert and passionate about what you do.
- Creating your own content keeps you in the loop as your industry changes and provides instant feedback from customers when they comment.
The cons of DIY content:
- Creating content can be very time consuming, especially if you have no writing background.
- Many business owners are passionate experts at only a few aspects of their industry, which means that your own content may be too narrowly focused.
- Writing your own content keeps you from doing other things. Despite the pros, writing content can take time away from the core concerns of your business.
- Creating your own content means cramming skills, and writing may not be your strength. Even if you have a thousand great ideas for content, you may not have the skills to present them clearly in writing. Your writing voice might be wrong for your target market, and best search engine optimization (SEO) practices take months to learn and require constant tweaking.
- You’ll need to be dedicated to regular writing. Just drafting up 10, 20, even 100 pages of content isn’t enough to compete online, and the most successful businesses add new content daily.
The pros of hiring a content writer:
- By engaging professional writers, such as Three Girls Media, you can ensure frequent content updates on your business’s website. Regular updates trigger search engines to index your site frequently.
- Hiring a content writer adds more dimension to content on your site, with multiple viewpoints and diverse voices. Provided the core message is consistent, a wider range of voices can mean a wider audience you can engage.
- Finding content writers experienced in your field brings new ideas and approaches to your content. Professional content writers can identify the latest developments in your industry, giving your brand a reputation for being on top of the latest news.
- Websites from multiple sources can give the impression that your company is bigger than it really is, lending more authority to your brand.
- Your writing skills may not be of professional quality. An experienced writer will create well-written content that makes you and your company look professional.
- A good writer knows how to focus on key selling points and create full-length posts that provide depth. SEM Rush says that long-form content generates more backlinks than short form blog posts.
- Professional content writers and copywriters stay up to date on best SEO practices. This means that you won’t spend more time marketing your product than you do producing it.
- A trained content writer can repurpose some of your older content so it can be reused. They’ll know exactly how to make it fresh and can package it in a way it can also be used with social media.
The cons of hiring a content writer:
- You get what you pay for. Some business owners try to cut corners on copywriting services, and you may get poor content if your budget is tight.
- Because content writers aren’t always experts in your field, the content may be superficial and lack the kind of depth that lends credibility to your site.
- Hiring professional copywriters is definitely more expensive, especially if they’re highly experienced in your industry.
- Some content providers stress quantity over quality. Websites of over 400 pages get superior indexing, but poor quality will eventually detract from any benefit that quantity provided.
You should determine your goals before deciding between the two and be honest about assessing your own skills and availability. Some business owners compromise by combining the two strategies, with the owner adding either voice for expertise to content or by choosing the topics covered and letting the professional writer add details and tone. Whatever you decide, be consistent, helpful, and customer-focused to get the best ROI, whether you’re investing your time writing or your money outsourcing your content.
Are You Looking For A Content Marketing Partner?
Contact Three Girls Media today for a complimentary 30-minute consultation to learn how we can develop a long-term content marketing strategy for your business!
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