Why Create a Business Blog

How Blogging Can Help Your Business

What is a blog? In its simplest form, it is like an electronic journal.  Each entry is called a “post” or an "article", and they are arranged in chronological order on the page.  A blog is a way for people to share information, whether it is personal, professional, advice, and more. Web pages many times are 'static'-they do not change that often. Whereas blogs are 'dynamic', they are changing all the time-more and more information is added to them-thus they are more current and informative.

To keep a web site current and always changing with new information requires a webmaster. Whereas a blog can be updated by anyone who can use a word processor. With business blogging you get the benefit of providing updates to your consumers and staff without having to re-do an entire website. You just log onto your blog and add a post letting everyone know what is going on. By eliminating the need for a web designer you save money by using a blog program.

A business blog can be used for two purposes:

• To interact with other staff-provide updates and information on a regular basis in an easy manner
• To promote your business or provide important information for your customers

This article is specifically regarding promoting your business through the use of a blog.

Important- the main purpose of a business blog is not to sell products or services. It is to create dialogue with potential customers, build credibility and integrity. If you gain trust and are seen as an expert in your field, you will gain the confidence with your blog readers. It is then more likely that they will purchase products or services from your company.

Your business blog should be seen as a resource for valuable information-not as an advertising web site. Readers will not encourage others to read your blog if it is seen as nothing but an advertising gimmick. The reverse is that readers will send others to your blog if it is seen as valuable resource. Other bloggers will want to link to your site.

Realize that it is going to take time 1-2 hours a week to have a successful business blog. You will need to post articles 2-3 times a week. You will need to take time to respond to comments and questions posted on your blog. The good news is if there is positive dialogue between yourself and your readers, individuals will come back to your blog over and over again. If they need a product or service you offer, they are more likely to purchase from you than someone else.

Here is something to think about. If you only posted 2 articles a week for 52 weeks that would mean you would have 104 articles on the web about your industry. Add to that comments from readers and there could easily be over 300 links on the web to your blog-business.

If you write interseting and helpful articles, you will build up a reputation for your blog, thus others linking to your blog. This increases the chance for your blog to come up in search engine results.

It onky makes sense if you are following the principles we have laid out (along with our Business Blogging Tips), you obviously have a greater potential of gaining additional customers through the web than your competition that is not blogging.

If you are serious about doing a business blog, its success relies not only on implemeting the information in this article but having an entire Internet strategy. Make sure you are swapping links with all your business web sites - business web site, on-line store, product pages, FAQs, etc.

A professional blog, done properly, will truly help you to reach more potential clients. Not convinced? Go to any search engine and type in some keywords related to your industry. Take note of how many links go to a blog. Would it not be nice if your blog (business) came up with the others?  As time passes by, there will be more and more blogs coming up in the search engines-why not yours?