How a Blog Can Help You Build an Online Business
If you’re building an online business, one thing I would strongly recommend is having your own blog. I’ve been working online for many years now and I’ve learned a lot along the way, and one thing that really stands out to me is how important it is to have something that you actually own.
I’ve used Facebook, YouTube and other social media platforms for years and they can be great for getting your content in front of people. You can build contacts, followers and an audience, but there is one problem. You don’t actually own those platforms.
How To Build An Online Business From Home
I actually experienced this myself when my Facebook account was disabled. I’d spent years building up my account, creating content and making contacts, and then suddenly I couldn’t access it anymore. I went through the verification process and tried to get the account back, but unfortunately I wasn’t able to recover it.
It made me realise just how risky it can be to build everything around a social media account that you don’t control.
Luckily, I already had my own blog, so I still had somewhere to send people and somewhere I could continue building my online business. That really reinforced my belief that your own website should be the foundation of your business, with social media being used to help drive people towards it.
Why I Believe You Need a Blog for an Online Business
I’m not saying you shouldn’t use social media. I still use it and I think it is a great way to get people to see what you’re doing.
The difference is that I don’t want my whole online business to depend on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube or any other platform.
These platforms can change their rules at any time. Your reach can drop, your content can be removed or, in some cases, your account can be restricted or disabled.
If that’s where your whole business lives, you’ve got a problem.
That’s why I believe having a blog for your online business is such a good idea. Your website gives you somewhere of your own to send people.
For me, MattFeastOnline is basically my home on the internet.
If somebody finds one of my videos or sees something I’ve posted on social media, they can come over to my website and find out much more about me.
They can see my story, my experience, the things I’ve learned over the years and the different areas of online business I’m involved in.
That’s something you simply can’t do in the same way with a social media post.
Don’t Build Everything On Social Media
I’ve seen a lot of people build a big following on social media and that’s great, but I always think you need to have a backup plan.
Imagine spending five or ten years building an audience on one platform and then something happens to your account.
What happens to all those people? What happens to all your content? What happens to the business you’ve built?
That’s exactly why I don’t want to rely on social media alone. Use it. Absolutely.
Use Facebook. Use YouTube. Use Instagram. Use whatever platform works for you.
But use those platforms to help bring people back to your own website. That’s a completely different way of looking at social media.
Instead of social media being your business, it becomes one of the ways you get people to your business.
Your Blog Tells People Who You Are
Another thing I really like about having a blog is that it gives people the chance to get to know you.
I’ve got my story on MattFeastOnline because I want people to know there’s a real person behind the website.
I’ve been working online for many years and I’ve had plenty of ups and downs.
I’ve had successes and I’ve had failures. I’ve tried different things and made mistakes along the way.
I’m quite happy to talk about those things because I think that’s what makes a website more genuine.
If you’re building an online business, don’t be afraid to tell people your story.
You don’t have to pretend everything has been perfect. Tell people what you’ve tried.
Tell them what worked. Tell them what didn’t work. Tell them about the mistakes you’ve made.
That’s your experience and it gives people a reason to trust what you’re saying.
Google Loves Useful Stories and Experience
One thing I’ve noticed since I’ve been working on my blog again is how important useful, genuine content is.
My blog was pretty much dormant for a couple of months and my rankings dropped.
So I started working on it again.
I’ve been creating articles every couple of days, doing keyword research and looking at what people are actually searching for.
I’ve also been writing about things I’ve personally experienced rather than just putting out generic information.
After doing this for around four weeks, I had 61 pages ranking in Google.
I’m happy with that because it shows me that putting the work into your website can make a difference.
Obviously, I’m not saying that everybody will get exactly the same results. SEO doesn’t work like that.
But from my own experience, I know that if you stop creating content for a long period of time, things can go backwards.
If you start working on your website again and create useful content, you give Google something new to work with.
You Don’t Need To Blog Every Day
I’ve never believed you have to publish an article every single day.
Sometimes I’ve blogged regularly and sometimes I’ve hardly touched the site.
Recently I’ve been publishing around twice a week, although sometimes it is more and sometimes it is less.
I think the important thing is to be consistent without just pumping out content for the sake of it.
If you’re going to start a blog for an online business, think about what people actually want to know.
Do some keyword research. Look at the questions people are asking.
Then write about something you actually understand. That’s what I’ve been doing.
I’m not trying to pretend I’m an SEO expert sitting in an office somewhere telling people what they should do.
I’m sharing what I’m actually doing with my own website.
Blogging Works Very Well With Affiliate Marketing
Another reason I like having my own blog is because it works very well with affiliate marketing.
I’ve been involved with affiliate marketing for many years and I’ve promoted products through networks such as ClickBank, JVZoo and WarriorPlus.
Having your own blog gives you somewhere to talk about those products properly.
You can write a review. You can explain how something works.
You can talk about your own experience. You can explain what you like and what you don’t like.
Then, if somebody is interested, they can make their own decision.
That’s much better than just throwing an affiliate link at somebody and saying, “Go and buy this.”
I prefer to give people information first. That’s the way I approach my own website.
One Blog Can Support Several Online Businesses
This is another thing I really like about having a blog. You’re not restricted to just one business.
Your website can cover different areas within your niche. You might write about blogging one day.
You might write about affiliate marketing another day. You might review a piece of software or talk about an online service.
You might explain something you’ve learned about SEO or online marketing. Someone might come to your website looking for one thing and then find something completely different that interests them. You just don’t know where that visitor is going to end up.
That’s why I think having a blog can be such a good base for an online business.
You’re building something that can grow with you.
Don’t Forget Your Own Email Address
There’s another thing I recommend and that’s having your own professional email address.
It might sound like a small thing, but I think it’s important.
If you’re serious about building an online business, get your own domain and use an email address connected to it.
And if you can build your own email list as well, even better.
I’ve always believed an email list is extremely valuable because you’re building another way of staying in touch with people.
You’re not relying entirely on Facebook to reach them. You’re not relying on Instagram.
You’re not relying on somebody else’s algorithm. You’ve got your website and your email list working together.
That’s a much stronger foundation for an online business.
Build Something You Own
After all these years, this is probably one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned.
Build something you own. Use social media, but don’t depend on it completely.
Use YouTube. Make videos. Post on Facebook. Get your content out there.
But at the same time, build your own website, I do recommend Siteground. Start your blog. Create useful articles. Share your experience. Learn about SEO.
Build your email list. It doesn’t have to happen overnight. I’ve been doing this for years and I’m still learning.
My blog has had good periods and quiet periods, but I’ve started putting the work back into it and I’m seeing the results.
That’s what keeps me motivated.
Why Having Your Own Blog Is So Important
For me, having a blog is about having somewhere that my online business can live.
It’s where people can learn about me. It’s where I can share my experience.
It’s where I can write about products and services I’ve used.
It’s where I can build content that can potentially bring visitors through Google.
And it’s somewhere I can send people from my social media and YouTube videos.
That’s why I believe a blog for an online business is so important.
Don’t just spend all your time building somebody else’s platform. Build your own.
You don’t need to start with hundreds of articles. You don’t need to know everything about SEO.
You don’t need to be an expert. Just start. Write about what you know. Share your experiences. Help people. Keep learning.
That’s exactly what I’m doing with MattFeastOnline and I’ll continue building it because I believe having your own website is one of the best foundations you can have when you’re trying to build an online business.
Want To Build Your Own Online Business?
If you’re interested in blogging, affiliate marketing, SEO or building an online income, have a look around MattFeastOnline.
I’ve shared my own journey, including the good bits and the failures, because that’s what real online business is like.
If you have a question or want to get in touch, you can find my contact details on the website.
Build your social media presence, but don’t forget to build something of your own.
My Recommendation for Creating a Blog
My recommendation if you’re serious about building an online business is to start your own blog and make it the base of what you’re doing online.
Don’t worry about making it perfect from day one. I certainly didn’t. Start with the basics, create useful content and keep improving your website as you learn.
Over time, your blog can become something you’re really proud of and a place where people can learn more about you, your experience and what you have to offer.
If you’re thinking about starting a blog, my advice is simple: take that first step and get started. Your website doesn’t have to be perfect when you begin. It just needs to begin.
Disclaimer: Everything I share on MattFeastOnline is based on my own experience, opinions and research. Results from blogging, affiliate marketing, SEO and other online business activities will vary from person to person, and there are no guarantees of income or success. Some links on this website may be affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you make a purchase through one of my links, at no extra cost to you. Always do your own research before purchasing any product, service or business opportunity.