What can a Blog do for your business?

By Jennifer Farley | Jan 20 2007 |

You’ve probably heard some of the hype about blogs. Blogs exist on everything from Britney’s baby to stamp collecting. Blogs are simple web pages (and yes, a Blog is a website) that you can create, write and maintain yourself without any technical skills for only a few Euros a month. They are often described as online journals or diaries, but really the can be so much more than that. So why would you want to use one for your business?

Both businesses and traditional journalists alike had begun looking at blogs in a different way. Blogs are really just a content delivery method, but the thing is they are really easy to use. You can update your blog instantly from any internet connection on any computer anywhere in the world. You don’t need to learn HTML or web design. You use a special type of blogging software (called a blog platform) to create and update your blog. You type your post into a simple online form, click “Publish” and it’s instantly available online for the whole world to see.

So how does it help your business?
Writing a blog you can help your business and online presence because you will be offering your clients and prospects fresh content on a very regular basis. Blogs are generally written in quite an informal way (almost like sending an email to your friends) so visitors can get to know you better. By providing links to information related to your business area you can can demonstrate your expertise and knowledge in the field.

To break it down simply, having a successful blog can:

Boost your web traffic
Build trust with prospects and clients
Increase the size of your email list
Make you money online

Getting Started
Knowing what a blog does is one thing, but the best way to get acquainted with the conventions of the blog format is to read them. The more blogs you read, the more you’ll get a feel for the depth and breadth of style and subject matter they have to offer. The following list of sites contain links to blogs devoted to every topic under the sun. Take a bit of time to read a few.

Technorati
BlogPulse
Ice Rocket
Blogdex

One site I visit regularly, is problogger, an excellent site devoted to making money from your blog.

Starting Your Own Blog
There are many different blogging platforms available. Some are free, such as blogger, and other require a payment, which is generally not very much. Typepad blogs are available from about €5 per month. The difference between the paid for and free blog platforms really comes down to features. For example, blogger does not include categories which is a very useful tool.

At this stage you could sign up for a free blog and try it out to see how easy it is. Eventually you will need to make a decision about what platform you will use. To differentiate your blog from everyone else’s your blog should will need to reflect your business, and should include your company graphics and logo.

So any small business can start, build and have fun with blogs. Use your rants and raves and opinions to get more traffic to your site and gain a flood of new customers. Start now.

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