Do I need a blog for my business? Here’s why…
Do I need a blog for my business? I mean, it’s 2026 is blogging still worth it for small businesses?
If you asked me in person, “Do I need a blog for my business?” My answer would be, “Yes, yes, and yes!” Having a blog boosts SEO, AI search visibility, builds trust and authority (with humans, Google and AI LLMs), positions you as an expert in your area, provides answers to real questions your clients and customers are asking, has long term ROI and leads to an increase in customer inquiries and conversions.
Is there anything on that list that you’re like, “Nah, I don’t need that. Who needs visibility or for people to find me and book my services. I much rather just dance on instagram.” I think not.
I get the hesitation though…
Whats the actual value? There seems to be no immediate reward.
Too busy & not enough time. It feels tedious and like one more thing to add to your already overflowing business plate.
What to even write about.
But, this isn’t about adding one more thing to your plate. This is about using blogging as a strategy. So instead of you searching to find clients by trending in the algorithm, you’re setting up your website to be visible to the exact people looking for what you offer and sell, when they’re looking.
You want your business to be EASY to find and your blog solely exists to help people (your people) find your business.
Does blogging help SEO and Google rankings?
Yes! Google wants content you write with your experience, expertise and perspective.
Your dream client just hired someone else.
Why?
Not because they have a better business, product or service. It’s not even about better branding. But because they could find them.
Google what you do right now… Do you show up?
Google how you help people… Do you show up?
Google common questions about your business, industry, area of expertise... Do you show up?
If the answer is No.
Start writing blog posts on your website.
Every time I work with a client or listen to a business owner at a networking talk about wanting more clients, more inquiries and not showing up on Google. I ask them about their blog and the answer is always a version of, “I don’t have time. Do blogs even matter? Do I really need a blog for my business? That’s so much extra work and I’m already too busy.”
But the reality is I’ve taken clients
from not ranking for anything to ranking for over 100+ keywords (and not just any keywords, but ones their clients are searching),
to ranking page one for multiple keywords and for multiple pages of their site
to being booked out and having to close their calendar
to showing up in AI answers and results in less than a month
to booking clients from showing up in AI answers.
You want Google to know who you are, so you need to tell them. Start answering the questions that people are asking. Then Google begins to see you as an expert, trustworthy and helpful. Every blog post allows you to target more keywords (answer more questions) which equals more opportunities to rank and show up on Google. Blog posts strengthen your entire website through topical authority, internal linking and ranking for long-tail keywords (customer questions) that may have a lower monthly search volume, but the more you rank for these, the more likely you will rank for your money (service page) keywords that may be more difficult to rank for initially.
Can blog posts help people find my business in AI search tools like ChatGPT?
Another resounding, YES!
I have helped multiple clients show up in AI answers and results (some in less than a month) and book clients from being cited in AI answers.
Something I often hear from business owners is, “With AI summaries and answers, why do I need a blog for my business or SEO for my website?
And the answer is because… AI didn’t kill SEO, but it did create a shift. The goal use to be find the keyword, write the content, rank page 1 on Google, clicks and traffic to your site. Now the goal has shifted to being cited and recommended in AI answers. More and more people are asking AI (like ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, etc,) instead of Googling and the queries are longer and more conversational.
What does that mean for business owners?
1 - SEO Impacts AI Search. If you want to show up in AI answers, you still need good SEO. That means you implement the same practices and strategies you would to rank page 1 on Google, because SEO is the foundation of AI search.
2- Write original, quality content with your personal expertise and experience that answers real questions. If you want AI to cite you in their answers you can’t just post generic AI generated articles. That may seem efficient, but if AI scans your post and the information is generic and something AI has already generated it is less likely to cite you and reference your website or business. AI needs trusted sources to cite, it has to pull answers from somewhere and you want that somewhere to be your website, web pages, blog posts.
3- Create well-structured content. Your content should be easy to scan, directly answer questions, have clear headings with direct answers. Break up your content with H2 and H3 headings structured as questions and have the body content answer the question (using original expertise, experience, insights). Use tables and lists, graphics images and video, add specific numbers and stats, Write like a human talking to a friend (in your voice). Create TL:DR or short optimized snippets that can pulled and cited by AI.
ROI: How Does a Blog Help Your Business Get More Customers?
Blogs increase visibility and attract qualified traffic. People are finding you, when they are actively asking questions and searching what you do.
I’ll give an example I met a woman at a networking who had a cool business and I wanted to gift her service as a Christmas gift last year. But I had lost her contact information, so I Googled what she did, several variations, even adding in the specific location and nothing. I knew she had a website, because she had mentioned it. I knew she was a local business, but she never showed up in any searches not even Google maps or Google Business Profile. I eventually gave up and booked a similar service from a business that did show up when I was searching.
I don’t know about you, but I much rather have my buyers and dream clients find me when they’re searching and ready to buy than spend time on social media trying to convince people why they should buy from me. And if my dream clients are searching and I’m not showing up that means I’m losing potential clients and customers.
I was a guest speaker earlier this year and spoke about exactly this and how important blogs can be for the visibility of your business and for your people to find you. One of the attendees of the event took notes on what I said, started implementing it in her business and saw an increase in organic traffic, increase in inquiries, visibility for her business, being cited in AI answers and increase in bookings for both her weekly classes and private sessions.
What should I blog about for my business?
Start by knowing who your dream clients are, who are you speaking to, whose problem are you solving AND then learn what questions are they searching, googling, asking ChatGPT (or other AI LLMs).
Are you answering those questions?
Start answering one question with a blog post on you website. It should be helpful and answer from your perspective, with your unique experience.
Instead of this…
Sharing the Story behind the Images
Lost in the Light
The Poetry of Ordinary Moments
Finding Beauty in the Unexpected
The Story We Didn’t Need Words to Tell
No one is searching these phrases when they’re looking to hire a professional headshot and branding photographer. These are all vibe without context and don’t immediately let the reader or Google or AI know who this is for or exactly what this is or what type of photography. These types of Blog titles are not focused on your client, or their questions, or keywords that are actively being searched and because they don’t tell Google who you are or how you help, they won’t rank or be cited by AI.
→
Try this…
How to Find a Professional headshot Photographer in NYC
Do Companies Need Brand Photography
What to Wear for Professional Headshots
What is Professional Brand Photography
Understanding the Difference: Headshots vs Portraits
Here we’re answering questions potential clients are actually searching. We’re telling people, Google and AI who we’re helping, what type of photography and providing helpful answers. If I need to hire a photographer for headshots for my company in NYC and I find a post on Google or AI cites a post, “How to Find a Professional headshot Photographer in NYC” and I read the post, I find it interesting and it links to the photographer’s service page with his offers/ services/ pricing/ process. I am qualified traffic looking for exactly what you’re offering and you already provided helpful information. The likelihood of my booking with you increases exponentially. Especially in comparison to me randomly finding your post in my algorithm as I scroll on my lunch break.
Knowing what to blog about for your business is understanding your audience and providing the best answers for them so you show up when they search.
How often should a business publish blog posts?
If you’re new to blogging, if your domain is new, if your business is new or you find you’re not ranking or showing up in search:
Month 1 & 2: Two to three posts a week
Month 3: One to two posts a week
Month 4+: Two to four posts a month
If you have an established business and domain authority, if you’ve blogged in the past, but it’s been a while, if you rank but not for what you want or not getting enough visibility:
Month 1 & 2: One to two posts a week
Month 3+: Two to four posts a month
Quality & Consistency
If the above posting schedules feel like too much. Pick a posting schedule that works for you. You want to pick a schedule that you feel good about, so you stay consistent. I would also pick one day a week or even one day a month where you write all the content and publish it throughout the month. I would recommend 2 posts per month at the very least to get started.
And remember quality matters sooooooooooo much. AI will not cite you in AI answers if you’re only posting generic AI content on your blog. You want your posts to include original and unique experiences, expertise, and perspectives. Include stories, case studies, and media.
Takeaways: What are the benefits of blogging?
1 - Boosts SEO, AI search visibility = Your Business is visible. You can rank on Google and be cited in AI answers.
2 - ROI: it moves the needle in your business. It may not happen as quickly as you want, but it provides longterm visibility, old posts turn evergreen, bringing in qualified site visitors for years.
3 - Your people find you
4 - Increase in customer inquiries and conversions
5 - Builds trust and authority & positions you as an expert in your area
Bonus: No dancing or chasing trends.
Extra Bonus: You can break your blog posts up into content for social media.
Bonus x3: Use a portion of your blog post to post on your Google Business profile and link to your services pages on your website.
Stop thinking of your blog as a blog
Your blog for your business isn’t an online journal or reflection content. It isn’t about you. Instead think of your blog as a library of answers for your clients. What are they asking and are you answering those questions.
