Blogs are stupid

[16k_zx81]

Ive noticed an interesting trend recently among people designing new PC Repair business sites to add a 'blog' section.

I can see the reasoning for this: Google likes fresh content. We all want to rank on Google, and so, the way to do this must be to add a Blog, because it will give us better SERP.

Thats the belief. I happen to think its not necessary, and lets just assume that its not particularly useful to page rank, relevant to other factors.

So if you can humour me with that idea for a sec, here's what I think.

I really dont think it brings visitors specifically with the intention of visiting the site in order to read the Blog. I mean, firstly, most of the sites Ive seen have, like, 5 blog posts, after which the person running the site ran out of steam or just got too plain busy to maintain a constant stream of juicy little tidbits.

And seriously, this is the Internet. If someone wants to visit a computing blog, there are much better options than pretty much any PC repairs business website.

Dont get me wrong, I dont think it puts customers off. Im sure they dont get to a site and say to themselves "eew, it has a blog, Im going somewhere else". So in that respect no harm done, as such.

I doubt though, Fred has a broken laptop screen, finds a repairs site on Google, and then has a dilemma about whether to read the Blog first or find out the phone number and get on the phone to get a repair organised.

And, no, Im not saying no one ever reads blog posts on computer repair sites. They may well do. But just because someone reads a blog post doesnt mean they're more likely to buy services, which is presumably what a website for a computer repairs business is there for.

Just thought Id put this out there, as it seems to be the 'in thing' at the moment, and I wanted to voice my doubts, because I thought it might be interesting to discuss.

Anyone else agree? disagree?

 

[1on1 Computer Services]

Don't hold back, tell us how you really feel.......

I have to agree, even though I'm one that doing it. I started to to see what kind of impact it would have on driving traffic. Kind of a test on the side so to speak while I wait on you to introduce your website package....LOL

 

[Xander]

And, given how little original content there really is, this is what most blogs are:

 

[1on1 Computer Services]

And, given how little original content there really is, this is what most blogs are:

OMG, LMAO.... too funny!

 

[PaulRome]

I completely agree.

I think if you have really good content you should make a page out of it and use the blog to announce and link to the page.

A pet peeve of mine is when someone uses WP to build a site and utilizes the static home page feature and calls the blog section a blog instead of naming it either something keyword related or something like news, journal, tips, updates, ect. I just think the word "blog" on a static site looks unprofessional.

 

[ATTech]

Blogs thrive for the same reason as facebook and twitter: narcissism.

With regards to computer repair specifically, yeah, the people that read these blogs aren't the ones buying your service.

 

[callthatgirl]

I agree and disagree. It seems that some are doing blogs, but not doing them actively enough to create a good marketing cycle that bleeds into 3 factors. Having just a blog up with a tip every few months, is of no value and it's better to not blog at all.

Here is our marketing cycle and my thoughts:

Blogs have a value 3 ways
1.) SEO--to rank higher in google (using key search words the average person uses has worked better for me than the famous "keywords" Google recommends)
2.) Value add for social media--people will sign up for your blogs or newsletters if they like the information you have to offer after finding you via SEO
3.) Call to action from newsletters-when you create a newsletter, you draw folks to read the full story on the blog and then they can book an appt with you if they like your advice or need your services.

Kind of a mess, but I know when I am blogging often, I get more hits, I do more newsletters and I end up being busier. When I am busy with the business, I have less time to focus on the blogs and newsletters and then I see my hits go down and then I see I need to pick up again because business slows down. What a mess, but is all part of a very large marketing campaign.

I just found out from a call this am, that the client coming in tomorrrow found us on page 2 of Google. She said everything on page 1 was all big business and too expensive for her. Nice to know that. Page 2 doesn't sound to bad for a $150 repair tomorrow. ROI? My time with the website/blogs to get my search words on page 2.

I love that blogger centipede!!! YUK, but funnier than hell.

So, to answer...they may be stupid, maybe not.

 

[BryanLee]

If no one did anything that hadn't already been done then there would be quite a lot of people with nothing to do.

I have a blog and it's not particularly good, but i put things on there that i feel would be helpful to a client. If they don't read it, i don't care. Chances are that by ignoring it they would only need my services sooner.

I do agree with calling it something other than a "blog". Mine is currently named "blog", but changing it to something a little more accurate is on my to do list.

Everything on the internet is narcissistic. Everything is all about me me me. That is just the culture we live in. You don't always have to agree with something to find it useful to you or your business.

My experience with blogs is that it gets my website searched for keywords that my "regular pages" don't always come up for. I'm sure that i could delete it today and not notice any difference though. I guess it's just a preference or maybe I'm bored and need something to do.

 

[cmonova]

Mostly agree. I think my main problem with blogs especially when customers want them is they never update them. They might think it's a great idea until they have it and realize it's actually "work" to keep it updated and relevant. That is why I highly discourage it with customers i'm doing websites for.

But been doing this blog for a few years http://computerrepairblog.com/ and really only becuase I owned the name. But, if anyone wants to write or rant about something let me know would be glad to post it. Saturate it with your business name, real name, location or whatever you want. Gets indexed pretty nicely.

 

[PCSupportGlasgow]

Personally can see your point and we could probably be regarded as one of those companies with a blog that doesnt really have many posts on it for the avarage user to view

Then again our blog is not really used as a blog either but mainly for 2 reasons

1) quick news titbits & pages that are old and out of date but still required to be on site but do not suit the main site anymore.
2) a means for us to have sections of our website for exisiting clients only

We find both work well for what we need them for especially the exisiting client only side of the blog which we always see a surge in orders when it updated and leads to client loyalty.


I do have one pet hate of computer repair company blogs and that is those that in their attempt to gain readers actually give away step by step how to do their job in a vain attempt to simply add pages to them.

 

[14049752]

Y'know, there is one aspect that nobody's mentioned.... a "blog" to post on relevant topics, in the news or whatever, gives you an opportunity to show that you're knowledgeable and that you keep up with trends.

I've had a number of customers specifically mention that type of thing. One said basically "Some of what you talked about was over my head, but it tells me that you know what you're talking about. And that's why I chose you over XYZ that quoted me a lower price." That customer has paid me thousands over the years.

My blog is never ever just regurgitating something on someone else's. It's all the same information, sure...but it's ALWAYS 100% original content and I try to make it relevant. However, I only update maybe 4-5 times a year because I'm otherwise busy. Am I a narcissist? Yeah, probably, but that's not a factor in why I have a "blog" section on my site.

 

[OldSchoolPC]

I agree with the OP. Blogs are stupid (for PC service websites). After realizing how horrible my website was (it was fricking horrible) I decided to use wordpress. But ya know what? First thing I did was make it static and remove the word "blog". I, like most of you offer a service. That service is NOT a blog and the end user wouldn't be inclined to blog on that site.They didn't find your site by googling "computer blog" they found it by typing in "pc service" or something. However, if anybody has extremely positive things to say about how blogging has helped their computer service website, I am all ears.

- Old School PC

 

[iptech]

Blogs are great

Blogs become more than stupid when they're turned into 'ebooks' or 'toolkits' sold with inflated prices and no-doubt based upon misguided advice from some loud-mouthed internet marketing 'guru' who sells their 'wisdom' in a modern-day variation of the pyramid sale. "You too can have untold material wealth like me"

Blogs that inform, entertain or even manage both have purpose and stickiness; but most consist of regurgitated content dressed-up with meaningless intensifying words so as to apparently add value and credibility on behalf of the author. Transcribe the same bs into an ebook with an enlarged font and wide margins and you can offer even greater value to the gullible and those keen to buy into this apparition of success, because the bigger the number - the higher the value.

Such bad blogs (spiced up with a bit of "Twitter") make ideal subject material for a good blog; so to that level, I'm all for them!

 

[techroc]

I don't believe blogs should be on IT servicing sites unless the blogs have relevant content to the services you may provide.

If I wanted to blog, I would rather blog on a social media network than on my business website. Just my opinion.

 

[16k_zx81]

And, given how little original content there really is, this is what most blogs are:

Reminds me of a particularly revolting movie I watched awhile back

The Human Centipede

I have watched a lot of trash, but this was something else...

 

[16k_zx81]

I've had a number of customers specifically mention that type of thing.

Would you care to quantify, precisely, how many customers have told you they have bought your services specifically because of something written in you blog?

 

[jdpetrov]

I have stumbled into both "blog regurgitation" and "blog desert" situation. I am in the midst of working on websites, repairing computers, and re-designing my own website to have time to use my blog for good tips.

I do like the idea of naming the blog something other than "blog". Never thought about that until now, but good idea!

Right now I am sort-of cheating to keep my Facebook Fan Page and Twitter account fresh with new items. I am using the Webroot Blog and some other virus alert blogs, combined with www.dlvr.it to automatically feed useful information to my Fan Page/Twitter by means of RSS feed. Whenever those virus alert feeds are updated, a title and link gets automatically pushed to my accounts, thus providing fans/followers with links to good news/tips and requiring zero effort on my part. It's basically a content autopilot that will hopefully keep fans/followers around long enough for me to get my act together and update stuff on a regular schedule on my own.

 

[14049752]

Would you care to quantify, precisely, how many customers have told you they have bought your services specifically because of something written in you blog?

Precisely, I'm not sure that I could. In the last three and a half years (since I added the section), I can think of at least five. Two that I remember were because we have a slightly tongue-in-cheek write up about what to do when you have a liquid spill...and they mentioned it. Another one, as I said, is a huge customer that was very likely just researching the companies that prepared him a quote.

 

[Drakester]

Blogs are fine if you have the time and energy to promote them and keep them fresh, however, If you don't it might hurt you more than it helps.

Drakester

 

[phaZed]

I'm with you on the Blog rant. Maybe I'm just too old-skool or something, but when I first heard "blog" I was like WTF is a blog. Then I looked it up and it was nothing more than a glorified message board. Stupid I thought, and then I didn't think any more of it. Now that I am a business owner it seems clear to me that Blogs are nothing more than SEO tools designed to boost crap sites into search listings or generating revenue from click advertising/page views. We have all seen it before, searching for something, thinking you found it, but no, it's just a BS blog entry with two sentences and no substance. Such is the way of the world I suppose.

Sure, there are legitimate uses for blogs, but for the most part there is really no reason for them... especially in our line of business. Our content shouldn't change too much, but should be complete none the less. All of which can be completed by editing and adding new pages to your overall site. Customer X isn't searching for RSS feeds of new Virus releases or new gadgets at a vegas trade show.. they need computer repair.

Thanks for the rant idea 16k_zx81, I have been bottling that one up for a while ... OK, now to go add this to my blog.. JK.