Blogs

Businesses are buzzing about blogs. A blog--short for Web
log--is simply a digital diary or online forum. Technically
speaking, a blog is an online journal that is regularly updated
with content and built on a platform with automated syndication.
The appeal of blogs is driving businesses to find ways to
capitalize on these unique public journals. Almost 80,000 new
blogs are created every day, according to the semiannual State
of the Blogosphere report from Technorati, a Website that
indexes blogs. There are some 14.2 million blogs in existence,
55 percent of which are active. Business publications are
rapidly bringing blogs to the front lines, boosting their
presence on the Web and search engine performance.

How Businesses Are Using Blogs

Blogs can be created to cover almost any topic. Here are some of
the ways you can use blogs to benefit your business:

* News -- Since blogs can be syndicated, any content addition is
easily distributed throughout the Web. Company news can make
great content.

* Education -- You can use blogs to educate consumers about
products and services. Google's Adwords Blog is a good example
of this usage.

* Commentary -- Insightful analysis of industry-specific news
and events makes great blog content.

* Promotion -- Blogs can be a great channel to promote new
products or services. This promotion can be achieved through a
combination of news, education and commentary. Blogs and Search
Engines

Blogs tend to perform well with search engines. Search engines
have historically looked for content-rich Websites that are
updated frequently. Search Engines like unique and popular
content; they also favor content with keyword links. Blogs
contain these elements, which makes them a great match for
search engines.

In addition to helping your Website rank well in search engines,
a blog can provide quality links back to your main domain. Plus,
it can expand your traffic and presence on the Web, all of which
can add up to more sales.

Tips for Developing Blogs

Here are a few quick tips to help you have a successful blog:

1. Keep it simple: Blogs should be easy, quick reads that link
to other pages that are more in-depth.

2. Keep it fresh: Blogs should be updated frequently. Good
content should be added a minimum of three times a week.

3. Provide useful content: Add content that is useful for others
to read and your blog's popularity will grow.

A blog can help you better serve your customers, plus enhance
your brand image online.