Most marketers would agree a blog is important to your business’s website and to creating organic search opportunities. But what are the rules and guidelines for business blog writing in 2022? How long should they be? What format should they follow? How often should a new blog be posted? Are there factors more important than length and frequency? We look at a few of the recent standards and guidelines on business blog writing in 2022.
How Long Should Blog Posts Be?
In 2022, it is suggested the ideal blog length for SEO is between 1,760 and 2,400 words. However, this is always changing. Numerous studies over the last decade show that Google's algorithm favors longer articles with more substance when comparing them to shorter ones, boosting the number of long-form blog posts by a large margin. That said, blog entries should contain at least 300 words. Having over 300 words in your article prevents search engines from classifying it as "thin content."
What Format Should Blogs Follow?
Regardless of how much someone enjoys reading, their eyes are bound to get tired, especially when reading from a digital screen. For this reason, your blog entries need to be formatted in a way that makes them easy to read. Here are some guidelines you should follow when formatting your blogs:
- Use headings and subheadings: These are perhaps the most important tools you have at your disposal for formatting your blog. Headings and subheadings make your text easier to skim and read. Using them for your blog is similar to constructing a visual hierarchy or an outline. It's best to use larger H2 tags for higher-level ideas and smaller H3 and H4 tags for more detailed ones.
- Make your paragraphs more manageable by dividing them into smaller chunks: When reading a huge block of text, people tend to lose attention. Think about how long a paragraph will be on a mobile device if it's that lengthy on a computer screen.
- Organize information using bullets and numbered lists: These make it easier for people to scan information quickly.
- Add emphasis: Bolding and italicizing are only two of several ways you can draw attention to specific terms and phrases.
How Often Should a New Blog Be Posted?
There are plenty of variables involved with the frequency of blog posting. Let’s start from the beginning by going over some of the most basic statistics. Every year, Orbit Media performs a blogging survey wherein they investigate content marketers' blog writing processes and outcomes. According to the 2021 poll, bloggers who post more frequently receive better returns. 32% of bloggers say they've had "strong results" from posting two to six times a week, followed by 17% of those who publish weekly. It has also been noted that the quality of a blog post is more important than the frequency, however.
There is really no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. There are many factors involved in determining how often a blog should be updated, so determining the optimal blog frequency can be challenging. Your target demographic and the quality of your material, among other considerations, come into play. If you want to know what frequency is best for your blog, you should experiment and do split tests according to your objectives and the needs of your target audience.
Are There Factors More Important for Blogs Than Length and Frequency?
Aside from blog length and frequency, there are many other factors that can aid in making a blog ripe for organic search results. Here are a few things that you should also consider:
Adding Visual Elements Such as Video and Images
You don't have to limit yourself to just writing articles on a blog. Try including videos or other graphic elements like presentations or infographics. Videos, GIFs, and other visual features are a wonderful way of breaking up the writing and keeping things interesting while also making it easy for readers to follow.
Optimize Speed for Mobile
Customers are impatient and dislike waiting for a page to load. That is why you should use available tools to analyze your website's load times and find ways to optimize the speed. Oversized photographs are a major source of this problem. With the enormous rise in mobile online usage, it's essential that your blog is quick and accessible for mobile phones and other devices.
Content That Is of Interest to the Reader
You're writing a blog to help your readers and, ultimately, to make your business flourish. Every article idea you come up with should contribute to achieving those targets. They should be relevant to your field and answer specific queries and problems your customers might have.
The Bottom Line
Any marketer will tell you that a blog is a must for your company/product website and your chances of being found through organic search results. We’ve shared some of the guidelines when it comes to blogging in 2022. If you’re struggling with managing your blog on top of other core business activities, the digital marketing services of Connection Model can help. We can assist you with your website, SEO, content marketing, and more. Contact us today.
Written By: David Carpenter
