With more than 1,000 information technology (IT) companies registered in and operating out of Houston, TX, IT is one of the most competitive industries in the region. Most of them have websites, and many of them have a blog. So when you finally decide to embrace inbound marketing and start blogging with the best of them, you could find yourself with a hard act to follow.
Here are 4 killer IT blogs on offer from Houston-based companies, which you can check out to get some inspiration and ideas for your own:
1) TechCess
This play on words (derived from “Texas”) has a heavy Microsoft focus, but that doesn’t detract from the value of the posts. Posting every second day or so, the blog aims to help small and medium-sized business clients with their computing networking and infrastructure needs. And of course, to drive traffic to its website.
It goes a bit further than the basics, though, which is why it makes it onto this list, in our opinion. For example, the post on May 16th is all about the “backstabbing” characteristics of Apple iPhone’s Siri, which has a vulnerability that allows hackers to access your contacts—without unlocking the iPhone!
But the real jewel in the TechCess crown is the company’s ability to write attention-grabbing headlines for its blog. From “The virtual hand that terrorizes the cradle” to “Space technology repair by Chewbacca” its use of alluring headlines ensures that few readers can bear to leave without at least taking a peek! The titles generally fall short on the keywords, though, which is a pity because the company could benefit from some extra help in that department.
Take-Away: It’s essential to write compelling blog post titles to draw your reader in, pique curiosity and create excitement. They should also contain keywords, to help boost your SEO efforts and help readers find your posts.
2) Alert Logic
The strength of Alert Logic lies in its Product Marketer Diane Garey’s understanding of the company’s market place and ability to offer commentary on issues facing the industry. As the chief blogger, Garey is personal and personable, and uses current affairs well as hooks on which to hang her hat. The Target security breach, for example, provides excellent fodder for her post on “What Lessons Every CEO Can Take Away from the Target Breach.”
The blog posts are somewhat shorter than best practices dictate, and she doesn’t typically follow blogging format conventions such as the use of subheads, bullets and numbered lists, which could result in her losing some potential readers. All the same, the insights are good and she sticks with topics related to the company’s technology, such as:
- Log managements
- Threat management
- IT compliance management
The best part of Alert Logic’s blog is the fact that it provides real, meaty information to users, which keeps them up-to-date on what’s happening around the world in the IT industry and helps them to make the decisions they need to.
Take-Away: The most important aspect of content marketing is to provide quality content that educates and informs your readers. It’s even more vital than your SEO efforts, because users are more likely to share something that interests and appeals to them than they are a bland blog post, regardless of how well optimized it is. And ultimately, it’s the number of people who become clients that counts, not the number of page impressions.
3) Gimmal
Gimmal’s blog, like the company, focuses on software products and services. The marketers post with little in the way of regularity, which would doubtlessly help its reputation and readership. It would also feed its relatively active Twitter account and increase the number of followers.
The company seems to have a good system outlined, however, with various members of its management and staff taking turns to write the posts. This is not only a good way to get management buy-in for its inbound marketing strategy, but it’s also good for building thought leadership in the industry.
Take-Away: Blogging regularly is vital if you want to build up readership and a following. Get your staff involved for diversity of contributions and buy-in by management.
All in, the TechCess, Alert Logic and Gimmal are prime examples of business blogging for the Houston IT industry to follow. Check them out and see what you should be doing to build your business presence in the area.
