Is a Blog Right For Your Business?

Lemmings are cute, but dumb. If you tell them jump off a cliff, they will. Just like people who start blogs because everyone doing it. Guess what happens after a little while? The blogs die.

In managing a list many Web sites, most which are blogs, I deleted countless sites from list because sites blogs no longer existed. The people ran out steam or had no reason start them first place.

How do you know when a blog right your business? Learn why people start blogs, how they find their niche how blogging tools can be used more than blogs.

Some people like read blogs, others like read newsletters, still others like rely feeds some read a few or all them. No matter method information distributed, each medium has one thing common: content. Having a blog connects your newsletter your business with all these readers delivers important content a particular style.

I've been blogging since June 2000. If you review my early blog entries meryl's notes, you'll notice they're more personal. When blogs first hit scene late '90s, they were personal diaries journals. Like blog business, my blog has transformed from personal business speak, although I still add personal notes here there.

A few bloggers tend talk about their work, their products their little world. That might work celebrities where fans want know everything about them, but doesn't work average business person. Other business people want information how succeed when a blog spends time hawking products offering information no value, few people will return. The people whose products sell well are ones who provide valuable information. Readers already know what kind information they're getting, so they trust that when they buy something, will be same or better quality. This value must be reflected their blog. It's much like people who only sign up a newsletter after first seeing an example.

No one wants be a lemming (I would hope). How do you decide whether or not set up a blog? The answer isn't black or white (what did you expect?). Ask these questions:

• Can you regularly update - at least five times a week?
• Do you have something say other than just linking others?
• Do you read other blogs or feeds?
• Can you provide information value others not just yourself?
• How large your newsletter subscriber list?
• How many unique visitors do you get an average day, week or month?

The big decider whether or not you can write blog almost daily. The people behind high traffic blogs post multiple times a day. Though resourceful, merely linking other sites doesn't give visitors much reason make effort come yours. Reading other blogs or feeds a great way learn how carry a discussion. Find other blogs covering topics similar yours check them out. Disagree with their opinions? Write about explain your reasons. Cross-blog discussions are common, that's where trackback comes handy.

Trackback a blog feature. If you decide comment another blog posting your blog instead that blog's comments page, then you link conversation through trackback link. Trackback similar permalink, permanent URL blog entry, but has a different URL copying pasting your blog's trackback box.

Aside from technical aspects operating a blog a daily basis, subscriber list size Web site traffic are good indicators what kind reaction you'll get when opening a blog. Starting from scratch with little traffic means you have a long road ahead lots work do. There no magic formula anyone can sell you $97 make your blog an overnight success. But with some perseverance ingenuity, your blog can engage many prospects clients.

Considering there are numerous blogs out there, pick a niche topic when starting a blog a better shot at attracting keeping an audience. meryl's notes focuses three areas: webby, geeky wordy. In reality, this too much. What I need do my readers create three separate blog entry points, so those interested writing, newsletters Internet marketing get nothing but wordy entries. Those interested Web design get webby stuff technophiles receive geeky content.

I also manage a personal blog separate from meryl's notes. It's about cochlear implants deafness. This could fall under geeky category, but it's a personal blog doesn't belong meryl's notes. This blog written a different audience.

The blogging tools both my blogs come with syndication capabilities so those using feed readers or aggregators can read content through software. When sending a new issue a newsletter, comment or link blog, that way blog feed readers will get goods, so all three bases are covered.

Blogging tools aren't just for, well, blogging. Such tools are an excellent way help you update your Web site more often than you otherwise would. I use manage list tableless Web sites. Using blogging tools much easier than way I managed before, updating HTML files by hand. Though using a blog tool, isn't a blog. In this case, blog tool has become a content management system (CMS).

Small business owners don't have a need fancy pricey CMSes out there. They find easier use blogging software manage their sites or hire someone adapt tool their site.

Blogs have found a place businesses people are finding creative ways use them. Some companies have a blog intranet communicating project status, jeopardies metrics. They're used knowledge management. With information pouring in, blog tools provide a way share, organize process information.

Being a follower can be good or bad. No one wants walk off a cliff with lemmings, but everyone wants succeed. Best practices won't help, since decision blog based organization's mission, needs goals along with its target market's desires needs. A blog about lemmings? There one, sort of. Or maybe you'd like start your own talk about dumb business moves.

Meryl K. Evans Content Maven behind meryl.net who increases conversion rates by writing editing content so organization can focus their core business. She editor-in-chief eNewsletter Journal Shavlik's The Remediator Security Digest. Visit her Web site at http://www.meryl.net/blog/.

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