This Podcast Is Episode Number 0318, And It Will Be About Increase Traffic And 30 Content Ideas For Construction Blogs Go through a quick search of construction/home service-based businesses near you, whether it’s a Handyman, Plumber, Painter, or a Framing company, or better yet google your competition and look at their information. Does it link to their websites? And if so, do they maintain a blog? How many people, including you, search the web for information before making a decision – buying equipment, booking a hotel, or eating at a restaurant? While a company website establishes your credibility as an industry leader, blogging presents an excellent opportunity for you to develop a relationship with your audience, strengthens your reputation as an authority in your field, and helps you stand out from the competition. You care enough to provide your prospects and followers relevant and useful information that they can practice and apply. When creating content, ask yourself these questions: • What is the purpose of this blog post? • Am I adding value? • Why is this important to my readers? Let’s get to practical pointers first and what you can do to improve your search ranking and drive more traffic to your blog (ask your website administrator or blog editor to ensure this is implemented, or you can do-it-yourself by searching tutorials particular to your website hosting platform): 1. Local SEO (Search Engine Optimization) Make it easy for Google (or a search engine) to understand the essential elements of your business. Clearly state information like the location - city, state, specific trade, and the particular clients (commercial or residential) that you serve.  2. Post photos with alt text (alternative text) An “alt text” also known as “alt attribute” is used within an HTML code to describe the appearance of an image on a page. If an image is not rendering on your page, an alt text will be displayed in place of it. It helps search engine crawlers to index an image properly, therefore improving your search ranking. 3. Title count and meta description Describe your page precisely and write exclusive information particular to that blog post. You can preview how your blog post will look on a Search Engine Result Page (SERP) using this tool. 4. Clickable email and phone number How many times have you looked something up using your smartphone and would like to give them a call right away? To see if they're still open, if they can deliver to your house, or if they offer pricing options? You see their number on the web page, clicked it, and nothing happens. This is clearly a missed opportunity. As example: Clicking (206) 361-3950 or email [email protected] will launch the phone app or your email app, waiting for you to take action. Depending on the website hosting platform you’re using, you can configure the settings or add some coding to your content. Click here for an in-depth tutorial. 5. Layout Create a better user experience by providing your visitors an easy to read, digestible, and scannable content by using: subheadings bullet points checklist short paragraphs blocked quotes Here are the blog posts and content ideas: Client Interviews Testimonials are one-sided and usually a short text of how you performed. Take it up a notch and make it a Q and A post: Why did they hire you? What processes have you been through together to come up with a successful plan? This would deliver an impactful message to your audience. How-to Guides Imagine a mother’s anxiety before a significant renovation, add her full-time job and her family’s needs to that. If you can address most of her concerns before wreaking havoc inside their home, that’s value right there. Example: How to Prepare for a Kitchen Remodeling Project Checklist Write about safety and procedures, your daily inspection, or tasks reminders on what to do. Guide By creating a handbook post, you are basically telling...