You may have heard the word but do you know the benefits? The trendy vehicle for individuals with unrelenting points of views – blogs are making inroads into the corporate sector. Could a blog be right for your company? Lets take a closer look.
First, what is a blog exactly? The term blog is short for web log. Think of it as online journal. Basically, it is an easy to use, web based word processing program that allows users to write and post material online in a journal like format. Individuals create posts and those posts “stories” are placed on top of older posts with out the need for web development knowledge. Posts can even be categorized, sub-categorized and archived so that “end users” can sort through information quickly. Additionally, a blog owner can choose to allow their blog to be interactive by allowing visitors to post comments on articles and there by interacting with readers.
Blogs began as a spare time activity but lately more and more companies are blogging for business. Why? Blogs provide an easy way for a company to share information with their end users. They can be used to educate, inform, update and explain business services in a quick easy way. Rather than waiting for your web designer to post your firms latest news story, you can log in, type it up or even copy and paste it and simply hit post and it’s on the internet. It’s really as easy as that.
So who is a blog good for? A blog is great for any business that would like to continuously add, update and share information information on the web. Maybe they’re news stories, press releases, frequently asked questions, service revisions, product enhancements, new classes – if you constantly have information you would like to share then a blog is for you. Blogs are also great for very small businesses or entrepreneurs that don’t want to or can’t afford to invest a lot of money in a website. Let’s say you are a Psychologist or a Lawyer. A blog is an excellent alternative to a website because you can post your standard pages like the about us, services and contact pages and then you can publish articles and share your expertise with potential clients. Going this route your entire blog becomes your website. If and when you expand your services or hire a new professional, that too can be easily updated through the blog.
Blogs are so popular today that most internet searches land you on a blog without you ever noticing the difference. Major companies like the New York Times, Newsday and Microsoft have incorporated blogs into their daily online presence. Virtually any businesses can put the same power to work for them and now more than ever communicate and in real time with potential new clients and customers.
Finally, blogs help business increase their web presence with fresh content. Your websites content is what gets you noticed on the internet. More than that, good content is your best conversion tool. Blogging for business means creating content that drives more potential clients to your site and converts them into new clients.
Blogs don’t just end with words. Todays blogs are feature rich and allow bloggers to sell products, feature advertisers and more. Some sites even earn their primary income from a blog.
To learn more about what blogging can do for your business here are some great books on the subject. Start Your Own Blogging Business
Blogwild!: A Guide for Small Business Blogging
Naked Conversations: How Blogs are Changing the Way Businesses Talk with Customers
