Blogs?

Content is a key for any website, and we believe the more the better. That's where blogs come in. But what's a blog? A blog, (a contraction of web log) is the regularly updated journal portion of your site where you can author articles on topics related to your business. Entries usually consist of text, images and incoming and outgoing links. Blogs were first adopted by teenagers and college students interested in 'online diaries' but have since become an important component in many corporate websites. Companies have come to view blogs as a powerful tool for marketing, public relations, branding and search engine optimization.

Blogs work for the following reasons:

• They build name recognition
• Provide outstanding search engine results
• Establish your reputation as an authority
• Directly connect your company to its audience
• Dramatically increase visitors to your site

A blog, in the simplest definition, is your company journal. Whether it is authored by one person, or by several, it is a place for you to connect with your visitors. Typically, blog entries are created with easy-to-use hosting software where the author types the day's entry directly into the blog's interface and publishes it immediately. The authored entries are called 'posts' and can be easily linked by Web users, allowing them to be readily and speedily indexed.

Blogs give your company a forum to speak directly with your audience. The laid-back, informal style promotes familiarity with your reader and allows you to connect with your customer on a personal level. Blogging is often looked at as part of an ongoing conversation not just with your customers but with your industry peers as well. Creating and maintaining a blog will create another door for your visitors to find you. Here are six tips for creating and maintaining a successful blog:

• Focus on Content: Your readers are there because they are interested in what you have to say, not because they enjoy waiting for your fancy graphics to load. Focus on your content and make your blog easy to navigate through. Categorize posts and keep a calendar of past entries to help older and new readers' acquaint themselves with your site and look up previous posts. Also, your computer's spelling and grammar check is your friend. Use it.

• Update daily: Update your blog every day. Treat your blog like a job and set aside 1-2 hour blocks strictly for blogging. Most blog readers have a set of blogs they read every day. Fresh content will encourage your readers to come back and help put you on their must-read list. If you take a break from your blog, they'll take a break from you - and they probably won't come back!

• Keep it focused: If your blog is about technology don't write about sports. The occasional off-topic rant is okay, but any more than that and people will forget what you're supposed to be about and render your blog useless.

• Link to Experts: Link to outside sources to show your readers you know what's going on. And if others find out you're linking to them, they be inclined to link back to you!

• Encourage Participation: Ask your readers for their advice, criticism or comments. Getting your readership involved will make them feel connected to your blog and keep them coming back for more. Provide a way for readers to offer feedback and respond to it. Remember blogging is about joining the conversation.

• Keep Blogging: Establishing a strong and loyal readership takes time. If you don't receive comments about your blog, or even if you're sure no one is reading, keep blogging. Continue producing strong content and readers will find you.

Need more Blog information? -- Blogs and Branding