Which blogging tool should I use?

As Google moves toward a semantic approach, focusing more on the big picture of a search as opposed to keywords, producing creative content is more important than ever. Search Engines are developing better algorithms to help them identify unique content, quality, and bounce rates by visitors. As a result, marketers have turned to blogs to increase their organic SEO with unique, high-quality content. 

1. Visitor benefits
• A (well-written) blog is a great way for visitors to get to know owners, property, and the local area -- showcasing the human side.
2. SEO (Search Engine Optimization) benefits
• Blog posts will contribute directly to the website’s overall SEO strength.
• More content pages on the site will also help with ranking.
3. Property benefits
• Bolster lead generation efforts
• Aid in fostering brand loyalty
1. Marketers who use blogs generate 67% more leads than those that do not. (InsideView)
2. 60% of consumers feel more positive about a company after reading custom content on its site. (Content Plus)
3. 81% of U.S. online consumers trust information and advice from blogs. (BlogHer)

MyVR provides a few different options to get users started down the blogging path. 

Option 1: MyVR Blog

A MyVR blog is a light-weight blogging tool. Our goal was to create a simple tool emphasizing readability, simplicity, and usability in a distraction-free writing environment. The blog is perfect for the user wanting a simple, intuitive platform. Postings can be edited in the layout page editor just like any other page on a MyVR Website.

A blog creates a seamless user experience with postings crafted to mirror the look and feel of a website. Blog posts are added directly to a website ensuring a visitor's focus is centered entirely on a property’s offering.

A blog supports the ability to create and manage blog postings. Additional features like commenting, social sharing and scheduled postings are coming soon.

Option 2: External Blog Tool

Should users want to create a blog on a 3rd party blogging platform like Wordpress, MyVR provides users with the ability to link a 3rd party site to a MyVR website.

• Set up a subdomain
• Customize the navigation header to point the Website to the 3rd party blog — opening a new tab/window so that users do not lose sight of the original website.
• Customize the navigation on a WordPress blog to link to the website.
• Enable a blogging component which allows users to pull snippets to the homepage. Coming Soon

The primary advantage to utilizing 3rd party blogging tool vs MyVR blog is that users are creating a blog on a site dedicated to blogging, meaning users will have full-fledged blogging features at their fingertips, not to mention a community of dedicated bloggers as support.

Keep in mind setting up a blog up on a 3rd party site is not a beginner exercise. There may be some challenging aspects to getting a site setup and linked to a website. In addition, unless users build a custom template, a blog may never resemble the website which could potentially detour a visitor.

Blog Feature Comparison