A blog is simply an online journal where you can write down, digitally, your thoughts, ideas, opinions, and almost anything you want people to read. Blogs come in different styles, formats, and settings, depending on the user’s preference. Really, many blogging platforms have built-in features such as hyperlinks, plain text, pictures, and even allow you to embed videos and mp3s.
Audio Blogging
In place of just writing text, some bloggers create blogs more audio-friendly by using spoken word entries. These type of entries are called audio blogging.
- Basic Features of a Blog
- In general, a blog contains the following features:
- Title: Identifies or labels your post.
- Body: This is the actual content of your post.
- Trackback: Links other sites back to your blog.
- Permanent Link: Every article has its own URL.
- Comments: Your readers can respond or comment on your posts.
Beginner-Friendly
Another significant advantage for blogging lies in its user-friendliness. Most other websites are constructed from hundreds of individual pages, while a blog is usually constructed from usually no more than a few templates. Therefore, it is very easy for the user to create a new page because they will already have a pre-set setting which includes slots for the title, body, category, etc.
How to Start Blogging
This simplicity especially helps the first-time user who can immediately start blogging. They can avail of hundreds of templates provided by the blogging sites.
Joining the Blogging Community
Anyone can create a blog by becoming a member of any blogging site of their choice. The moment they become members, they automatically get into that particular blogging community. They can view other bloggers’ pages, link them to their own blogs, and comment on other members’ postings.
Thematic Blogging
Blogging is not restricted to personal use. Most of the blogs remain concentrated on themes such as sports, politics, philosophy, or social commentary. People use them for knowledge sharing, expressing opinions on diverse topics.
Blogging for Advertising and Awareness
Some bloggers use blogs for advertisement purposes. Sometimes authors advertise their books. Some others publish current issues, happenings, news, and disasters.
Educational Uses of Blogging
Blogs also play a vital role in education. Professors blog lessons, and through this, students who miss classes catch up on assignments.
Business Blogging
Blogging is beneficial to the entrepreneur because it aids in promoting their business. Millions of people log on every day; hence, blogging has turned into a venture that pays. Some bloggers sell their merchandise, and others get money through advertising.
Personal Journals
Personal journal is the most common form of blog, which many of the first-time bloggers use. Through this format, people log their daily life, submit poems, rants, and opinions. Many people find blogging a very good medium for self-expression.
Blogging Communities
Mostly, bloggers interact with one another, thus creating a community of people who share ideas, thoughts, and comments.
Shopping in Blogging Directories
Blog directories include blogs on an entire gamut of subjects, themes, and configurations. This is where the first timers should gravitate to, for a feel of what blogging is all about.
Global Popularity of Blogging
There are takers for blogging across the world. A blog, which is actually an abbreviation of the term weblog, doesn’t have any strict rules. Bloggers could express themselves in any way they would like to, and most of the blogging sites would not charge anything at all.
Choosing a Blogging Platform
There are so many blogging websites out there that allow a first-time user to join a community that will suit his or her interests.
How to Find the Right Blogging Site
It is like searching any other blogging directory. These directories have categories and it’s really simple to find what you want. Blogging is for everyone since it’s fun, easy, and simple.
Increase Your Business Through Blogging!
How to Use Business Blogging
One of the cool instruments of online marketing is a business blog. This instrument saves you gallons of money, but with just one click, it gives you many business opportunities. A blog means friendly, customizable, and flexible—thus, a great medium to share useful information and market your products most efficiently.
Get the Competitive Advantage With Blogging
Business blogging will help any company to be far ahead of competition. Some of the key benefits are:
Word-of-Mouth: If your products make the headlines in any of the 14 million blogs, which have 80,000 more daily additions, and also attract 30% of 50 million users as readers, think what it would do for your company. Information travels at a rapid pace online, and an interesting blog post on your product can be forwarded to hundreds more potential customers.
Awareness and Loyalty: An open relation with the clients generates their trust and ultimately their loyalty. Responding to their queries and feedback might motivate them to try your products and services.
Feedback: Blogs are pretty useful in product research and reviews. The feedback and behaviors of customers can then be watched to help tune your products and resolve any issues in a very short period of time.
Community Halo Effect: Bloggers are generally nice folk who will review and discuss your product. The more engaged a member of the blogosphere you are, the more likely that your product will be on their radar.
Promotion of Your Business Blog
To truly optimize your marketing, be sure to promote your business blog by submitting your business blog to:
Blog search sites and directories
Include your URL. Just be sure that your blog is worth reading and includes information that people can’t find elsewhere. Also, update it frequently.
Blogs as Trade Show Booths
Think of your blog as similar to a booth at the world’s biggest trade show. Marketing opportunities lurk around every corner, ready to take your sales to the next level.
Using RSS Feeds
Really get milage from your blog by adding Really Simple Syndication, or RSS, feeds. Use good keywords that will help in search engine placement so people can actually find your site and blog. The more traffic you get, the more sales you can potentially garner.
RSS Feeds for Updates
RSS feeds come in handy in sharing news updates in the form of RSS reader applications, hence proving effective for businesses and online marketers alike.
Getting Started with Business Blogging
If you’re convinced that a business blog does pay off all the marketing efforts taken towards it, ensure that your company is ready to begin with it. Make your blogging process focused towards your business goal:
Research: Start reading blogs on tips about blogging and a lot of consumer-based blogs to learn from their experiences.
Test: Create a few test blogs to assess the results.
Set Up Your Blog
After the successful test, begin to develop your blogs accordingly;
Design: You can either use pre-designed templates of the blog hosting services or custom design your own to resonate with your company’s identity.
Choice of Topics: Choose those topics that matter to your business. Always be flexible, open-minded, and never think that things will go your way.
Safety Measures: Use disclaimers, brief management on the effect of blogging, policies on blogging, avoid very promotional content, update the content and make it relevant, ensure reflection of company values, and encourage employee participation.
- Start Blogging: Do at least 20 posts before you start to market your blog.
- Market: Start marketing your blog.
Monitor and Tweak: Track readers, measure success, and tweak as needed while maintaining brand consistency.
Consistency: Consistency in chosen themes should be maintained and do the updates regularly preferably on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
Get Ready to Reap Some Business Blogging Benefits
By following these steps, you will give yourself the opportunity to get a full return from business blogging and see some results.
