DID
YOU KNOW...
Many CEOs Maintain Their Own Blogs?
Business Blogging FAQs For Beginning to Advanced Users
Learn the Basics about Business Blogging and Advantages to Help Market Your Business
Business
Blogging FAQs to increase your company's presence online
and market your products/services for virtually little
to no cost.
Business Blogging FAQ #1: What
is a Blog?
A blog is the shortened form of "Web log,"
which is usually a short entry, like a journal, of thoughts,
ideas or a response to a question. Blogging was made
popular in 1999 when several companies made easy blog
software and tools.
Business Blogging FAQ #2: Do blogs
have different categories?
Yes, blogs have two main categories: Personal and Business.
Personal blogs can be written much like a journal or
can be more newsworthy. These blogs are posted by anyone,
oftentimes without any company or affiliation with any
organization. Business blogs are a mode for business
large and small to communicate with their customers,
potential customers, and employees to share knowledge,
advertise specials or events and expertise.
Business Blogging FAQ #3: What
are the advantages of blogging for businesses?
Corporate blogs are simple and easy to do. Blog software
is available or you can use free blogging sites such
as Wordpress.com post your blogs. Other sites include
Blogspot, Blogger, and Noodle5- some which are paid
sites.
Blogging
is low cost and can be used to increase your company's
Website search engine rankings, when you incorporate
links back to your Website. If you have a tight marketing
budget, starting a business blog may be your best alternative
to promoting your business.
Business
blogs can be advantageous for promoting new products
or services, upcoming sales or promotions and more.
Business
Bogging FAQ #4: How long does each blog post need to
be?
There is no set limit for each business blog post; however,
blogs can be short as 100 words or longer as needed.
Since blogs are short, business owners and employees
can post as often as they like, but should post at a
minimum of once a week.
The more often business blog, the more likely people
will return. So if businesses can blog every day or
a couple times a day then they will likely see more
traffic to their blog and thus more traffic to their
Website.
Business
Bogging FAQ #4: How long do blogs need to be?
There is no set limit for each business blog post; however,
blogs can be short as 100 words or longer as needed.
Since blogs are short, business owners and employees
can post as often as they like, but should post at a
minimum of once a week.
The more often business blog, the more likely people
will return. So if businesses can blog every day or
a couple times a day then they will likely see more
traffic to their blog and thus more traffic to their
Website.
Blog about your company's upcoming promotions, special
sales or contests. Provide a "What's New"
page introducing recent additions or changes with your
company or its Website. Post photos of new products
with their descriptions.
Business
Blogging FAQ #6: How do I know who is visiting my blog?
A few blog sites such as Wordpress.com offer analytics
to track how many people visit your blog site as well
as the most popular blogs, phrases people are searching
and incoming links. Check whether your blog site offers
these kinds of analytics.
Business Blogging FAQ #7: How
do I moderate comments?
Some blog sites allow you to moderate comments before
having them made public. You'll receive an email message
that a comment is waiting to be approved. Then you can
read and edit or delete the comment as you see fit.
Business
Blogging FAQ #8 How do I get search engines to index
my business blog?
Use keywords relevant to your business both in the title
and in the copy of your blog. Utilize tags and categories
on every blog post so visitors can find your business
blog. Submit your business blog to the top blog directories
providing links to your company's Website, thereby increasing
visibility among the search engines.
Also, log in to your blog site and start commenting
on other blogs. Add these blogs to your blogroll and
you will be promoting each other.
Wendy
Suto, Founder and President of Search Circus,
a Cleveland Ohio Website marketing firm:
"Nothing is more important to a business's
success than being listed in the major search engines
[like] Google, Yahoo! and MSN through natural search
engine optimization (SEO). These are a customer's
tool of choice for locating Web sites - outranking
all other forms of media advertising offline and
online."