There has been plenty of confusion on what exactly is a blog, sometimes called a weblog. To clarify the term, it is used to describe an online journal that is frequently updated. The process of posting content in the journal is called blogging. The person who posts entries in the journal is called a blogger. Blogging is a quick, easy way to publish content on the Web. You simply log in, enter your content and submit. The term "blog" came about as a way to avoid confusion with the term server log.
Blogging has redefined the way we are using the internet, turning people from readers into writers on the net. Technorati estimates that over 75,000 new blogs are created each day. Blogs can be personal or professional. Business blogs can be internal or external. Internal blogs are used for communication within the company. External blogs are used for communication from the company to the customers. The focus in this article is on external blogging.
What are the advantages of a blog? It's easy to publish your content on the web. And content is important for online business development! A blog is useful when the content is found by search engines, it also helps to keep visitors returning to your site. You can post your content easily with the WSYWIG editor on the blog.
Blogs are an inexpensive way to have a web presence. It doesn't cost anything to set up a blog. Results are instant: You simply type in your content and submit. You will see your new post right away. If you wish to change the content, you can do so and see the new post immediately.
Blogs are a great way to get your site noticed by the search engines. Search engines love blogs. Blogs by their very nature are set up for you in a way that search engines like. This is the real reason blogs are so popular.
When you set up your blog, you may want to have it on your own website, if possible. For example, if you are using Blogger to post your blogs and your site is on Blogspot.com, change the settings in your Blogger account to ftp. You will need to enter your site username and password with the path. Blogger will post the web pages to your site for free. Another advantage of using Blogger is that Google owns it. (If this sounds too technical, email me and I'll do my best to help you.)
You can have several blogs for different subjects. You can write a wide variety of content and use one blog for each subject.
Blogs can be used to position your company. For example, if you are a coach, you can have tips on coaching. Always make sure your blog provides valuable information.
Increased sales: Blogs, if used effectively, can be a great tool to drive traffic to your website. Note, however that, blogs should be used to inform and educate your audience rather than purely as a sales tool.
When you first create your blog, post content daily, preferably twice a day for the first few weeks.
Make sure you use keywords in your blog. Also, use a central theme for your blog.
Add links on your blog to important pages on your website, if you have one. Don't forget to link the blog from your website as well so search engines can follow the links.
Submit your blog to as many RSS Directories and Search Engines as possible. (Ask me for help if this sounds like a foreign language).
Comment on other blogs, chat groups and forums. Make sure to leave a link to your blog.
Tag your blog. Tagging is very popular across the Internet. Sites like Technorati, Del.icio.us and many others have a feature that allows you to place your article under keywords or "tags" that everyone interested in that tag can see.
The tips above are just a few of the ways to drive traffic to your blog. If you would like more information on blogs or how to set up your own blog – I'm here to help. If you need some help understanding some of the technical terminology used, please contact me at nina@interdream-designs.com.
Happy blogging!
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