Commercial Ink - What Good Is a Blog?

What Good Is a Blog

Many people have heard about blogs, especially since they have recently become more and more popular with businesses. But what exactly is a blog, and how do blogs really affect business? According to dictionary.com, a blog is short for "weblog", and is an "online journal where an individual, group, or corporation presents a record of activities, thoughts, or beliefs." A "blogger" is someone who keeps up the blog, and "blogging" is the activity of updating the blog. A blog is set up in reverse chronological order (most recent entrees first), and most contain archives of past posts. But, there is much more to a blog then just "a journal of activities." It is an interactive site and can provide news and updates on a given subject. Blogs have evolved from one person's online journal to a new place to market ideas and promote events.

There are five types of blogs. The first is a personal blog. This type of blog is an ongoing diary or commentary written by an individual. Sites like Twitter allow for "mini" personal blogging, by allowing participants to share their thoughts or feelings simultaneously. The second type of blog is a corporate blog. These are written for business purposes and can be used internally or externally. Next are blogs by genre. These are blogs that focus on a particular subject like travel or politics. Another type of blog are those produced by a certain type of media like a video or a sketch. Lastly there are blogs by device which are blogs composed by a device other than a computer such as a blackberry or webcam.

Blogs are becoming increasingly more important to businesses for many reasons. The reason that is most obvious to the majority of business owners is that blogs increase search engine optimization. This happens through constant updating and through providing links on the blog to your company's website. Another reason blogs are important to business is because they allow for a larger audience reach compared to television or radio. Blogs can reach millions of people per second from all over the world. This gives all businesses a chance to be "international" in scope. They are a quick, easy, and inexpensive way to promote new products and services as well as to brand your company in a positive way. Because people can comment on your blog, positive feedback from customers can have a positive effect on business. Essentially, blogging is a great tool for establishing a company as an expert in its industry or niche. It has evolved to become a legitimate source of news that has the capability to greatly influence public opinion.

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