Ever wondered how a simple blog could transform your creative business? 

Back in 2020, I was curious too!

So, I took the plunge into the blogging world. Initially, it felt like the perfect avenue for sharing my thoughts, methods, and strategies. But truth be told, I struggled to show up consistently (I blame my slow writing skills).

I had a hard time delivering the depth and quality I aimed for due to a booked-out roster of clients and other business priorities that understandably took up most of my time. 

Enter my game-changer: my copywriter. 

For over two and a half years, we have been partnering to churn out value-packed weekly blogs like this one. 

The collaboration? A dream!

But it’s not all fun and games. It’s a strategic investment in my business.

“Why blogging?” you ask. 

Because it amplifies how I serve my audience and represent my business. 

This week, we’re exploring why blogging is overflowing with potential for creative businesses like yours. It’s not just a creative outlet or a “nice to have” —it’s a strategic business tool that can support your financial goals and shape a lasting legacy.

Why Blogging Can Be a Creative Business Game Changer

Blogging isn’t just words on a page– it’s an effective way to share your message, your creative work, and your process with the world!

It’s an opportunity to get your name out there, build credibility, and nurture an audience that needs what you have to share. Plus, it can actually be profitable, either directly or indirectly. 

And blogging is here to stay!

I mean, there are some blogs I’ve been following for years that I still look forward to reading almost as much as my morning coffee ritual (dropping them here: Cup of Jo and Design Mom). 

That’s the magic! 

Here are 4 reasons why blogging is one of my favorite marketing tools for creative entrepreneurs:

# 1 Share Your Story

In my book, the best marketing strategy is the option that allows you to lead with authenticity, and that often involves sharing your own story. Whether it’s your business journey, the inspiration driving your art, or even insights into how you work, sharing these aspects sets you apart effortlessly. 

Standing out from the crowd becomes second nature when you showcase your unique perspective and approach. Remember, there’s nobody out there quite like you, even if you feel surrounded by a sea of similar businesses. 

That uniqueness?

It’s your secret sauce, your unique selling proposition—what makes you truly one-of-a-kind!

#2 Huge credibility booster

When you share your unique approach to your creative work through a blog, you position yourself as a thought leader in your niche. This builds familiarity or the coveted “know/like/trust” factor. 

Plus, when you put out content regularly, such as a weekly or a monthly rhythm, you stay top of mind.

And the cherry on top? 

People learn you’re consistent and they can count on you! Often this means you’ll be the first person they come to when they have questions or things they are working through in your area of expertise. You become a resource (and that’s something you can’t simply buy)!

#3  Increased Exposure + Engagement

Sure you could get the word out by playing the algorithm game on social media. But the beauty of blogging is it’s housed on your website; a platform you own and have control over! 

When SEO optimized, it can improve the visibility of your website so your ideal audience is more likely to come across your name, setting you apart from the competition. 

With increased exposure often comes increased engagement. 

When you have a warm audience, you can learn a ton about your market through their feedback, responses, and questions. This kind of engagement ensures you’re on the pulse and more in touch with what they’re going through and what matters to them most! 

Blog engagement often reveals your ideal client’s current challenges, goals, and pain points so that you can better serve them through free or paid content and offers in the future that are timely, specific, and relevant. You’ll never be at a loss of ideas for impactful new topics, services, or products!

COO Tip: I am a big advocate of recycling content to optimize my blog exposure (and make sure it doesn’t just sit on my website collecting dust). What does that mean? It means that I use my weekly blog content as a pillar, and pull out snippets or ideas to share via email and social media. These emails and posts often drive to the blog where readers can dig deeper. This ensures that I can capture my audience’s attention wherever they spend the most time online and make the content I’ve created work harder for me and my business!

#4 Revenue Generator

Plus, blogging isn’t only about marketing, it’s also a revenue game-changer. 

Engaged readers often become loyal customers, paving the way for product sales, and sparking an interest in your services. 

While you may not be able to cash in on the very first blog you write, over time your blogging efforts can also result in an increase in revenue by opening up new income streams in the form of paid ads, sponsorships, speaking opportunities, and more. 

Content marketing often pays off when you offer something to your well-nurtured audience that leads them to buy from you in a most natural, organic, and responsible way.

For example, I often include calls-to-action in my blogs for readers to dig deeper into a topic through my paid services like business coaching or digital products like my course, Business Building for Creatives. There is never any obligation or expectation for my readers to enroll, but for many creatives who read my blogs, it can be the natural next step of learning from me. 

There are other ways to monetize your blog. While I occasionally include affiliate links, I don’t pursue sponsored posts, articles, or paid features in my business. But, these are perfectly valid options that might suit your business well! Just because I don’t use them doesn’t mean they aren’t excellent choices for you and your business!

Paid Ads

You can generate revenue through a blog by using paid ads. Running ads on your website can drive revenue (especially with a strong SEO strategy).

Paid Sponsorships, Features, and Affiliates

Sponsorships with brands or companies can also increase blog revenue. When you honestly use a company’s products, services, or tools using affiliate links (think: Amazon shopfronts) can be an effective way of getting a kickback when anyone purchases something you recommend. Simply weaving them into your blog content – in a way that is relevant and ethical – through embedded links makes it easy for your audience to buy the things you stand behind and endorse. Whenever I share an affiliate link, I like to include language like this to ensure I’m being transparent: “Quick Disclosure: The Flodesk link I shared is an affiliate link, which means when you click the link and make a purchase, it won’t cost you more, but I may receive a commission for sharing this with you. I promise I only ever share what I use and love, so I’d be sharing these with you anyway!”

COO Tip: Finding the balance between paid and free content can be a fine line. Decide what feels comfortable for you. I always say, If I can make a first impression that leaves my audience thinking– “if this is her free stuff, what is her PAID stuff like?”– I have succeeded! That being said, make sure you can deliver at a higher level when it comes to your paid offers so that everything you share is valued appropriately!

Is Blogging Your Thing?

So now you understand the power of blogging and how it can be leveraged as a marketing tool and a revenue generator.

While there are certainly benefits to blogging, it’s understandable if you’re still a bit hesitant about diving in right away. 

The most common concern?

“But I’m not a writer.”

If that’s you, here are some solutions you might explore!

What to do if you’re not a “writer”

First of all, not every business needs a blog, and that’s okay! If writing isn’t your vibe, no sweat. There are ways to market your business without having to regularly confront the blinking cursor of a blank Google Doc. 

But, even if you don’t consider yourself much of a writer, or the idea of writing doesn’t sound like a good fit, don’t “write it off” too quickly (pun intended)!

So what are your options?

AI

AI can help, but don’t lean on it too hard. Originality is key; otherwise, your content might end up vanilla-bland, generic, like everyone else in your industry. But, if you can brainstorm your ideas, typos and all, tools like ChatGPT can organize your ideas, edit your spelling and grammar mistakes, and shorten the time it takes you to get your ideas out of your head and onto the page. 

Outsource

Ever thought about hiring a content writer or copywriter? A copywriter isn’t just a writer—they use words and ethical persuasion techniques to strategically connect with your audience and move them through a customer journey that eventually leads to a sale! They’ll craft your message, capture your unique voice, free up your time, and turn your words into a 24/7 marketing tool that lives on your blog, working hard for you and your audience behind the scenes. 

Keep it Low-lift

Blogging often gets associated with dense, text-heavy content, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Not every blog needs to stretch into endless paragraphs. Sure, it works great for businesses who focus on educating, like business coaches (it’s me, hi!) or web designers, but that’s not the only approach to blogging.

Let’s take Yao, one of my clients, for instance. She’s an artdesigner, and her blog isn’t about teaching others to become artists (in fact she doesn’t even call it a blog at all!). 

Her audience? 

It’s all about current and potential customers. Her blog showcases the inspiration behind her artwork and collections so that customers and fans alike can appreciate the story behind the art!

Some blogs strike a balance between educating and displaying the process behind their product or service. 

Consider a branding photographer—they might share tips for DIY brand photography while also offering a peek behind the scenes of their on-location shoots or case studies to showcase the clients they work with. It’s engaging content that lets potential clients experience what it’s like to work with this photographer. 

While educational or inspirational blogs might not directly or immediately generate revenue, they are an impactful way to set yourself apart and help your audience decide if they want to reach out and book a call or buy from you.

Whatever you decide, it’s entirely up to you! The key is finding a strategy that feels sustainable, aligns with your audience, and best highlights the services or products you sell in your creative business. 

Explore other content marketing options

While blogging might not fit your style, plenty of other content platforms might. Consider podcasts or YouTube channels. They’re similar to blogs but might feel more accessible than writing. 

COO Tip: You can even repurpose podcast content by transcribing and editing it for a blog format. Stay open to creative solutions!

Starting Your Blog

If you’re ready to begin your blogging journey, here are a few steps to get you up and running!

1. Create a blog page on your website. 
   
   
2. Decide on a blogging rhythm. Start simple– you can always increase the frequency, but start with something low-lift that feels attainable. I recommend starting with a monthly or even quarterly blog!
   
   
3. Generate a list of topics. Consider:
   
   
   1. What you are excited to talk about or a different take on a common topic in your niche.
      
      
   2. What your clients are constantly asking you or struggling with.
      
      
   3. What your ideal audience is searching online related to your industry (AnswerThePublic is a great resource or you can survey your audience via social media or email).
      
4. Braindump anything and everything you know about the topic. I use a Trello board to organize my ideas!
   
   
5. Get to writing and lean on resources to help you like AI or editing tools like Hemingway app or Grammarly!
   
   
6. Share! Promote your blog via your email list. Post about it with excerpts to pique interest on social media, and ask your business buds if they wouldn’t mind sharing with their audiences (gotta love a good collab!).

By diving into the power of blogging, your creative businesses can unlock a world of opportunities, by sharing valuable content that hooks, teaches, and inspires. It’s not just a tool; it’s your business’s secret sauce for growth, developing trust, and building a legacy as a creative business owner that you can feel proud of!