A blog, otherwise known as "weblog", is a website containing a collection of articles or "entries".
Blogs began as a sort of online diary, where folks would post entries about their private lives for all to see.
Now, blogs are more than just public diaries; the author of a blog may write about pets, romance and relationships, current events and news stories, celebrity gossip - anything you can think of, someone is blogging about it.
Blogs are becoming increasingly popular as an essential marketing tool for businesses.
If you own a small business, a well-written blog can help you rise reach your desired audience and draw more customers to your main website.
Business blogs, otherwise known as corporate blogs, are usually built for "SEO" (Search Engine Optimization) to improve ranking on popular search engines such as Google.
Through a strategic use of keywords and linking within each article, your blog can help your business rise to the top of search results.
Blogs are a wonderful way to reach potential customers.
Your blog is a place where you can talk about your products and services, as well as any upcoming sales or events you're planning.
It's an opportunity to show prospective customers a glimpse into your business by writing about your philosophy, sharing other customer stories, and more.
You can even have a dialogue of sorts, by allowing comments on your blog (if you don't like a certain comment, you can always delete it later).
By adding a personal touch to your blog and sharing stories with your readers, you can build an online presence that not only informs readers, but makes them feel as if they know you personally - always a plus, especially in the seemingly impersonal world of online marketing.
To get the most out of your blog, I would recommend you post 1-3 new articles per week.
They don't have to be long, half a page is fine.
But search engines such as Google tend to favor new, original content.
Look at most popular blogs, and you'll notice they post new material at least a few times a week, if not every day.
It can be hard to think of new ideas for your blog, and you may run out of inspiration.
Here are some good article ideas to get you out of a blogging rut: FAQ's.
Use your blog to answer common questions you get from customers, and only talk about one or two per article.
If you can't think of any, simply ask a customer if there's anything he or she would like to know about your business.
News Stories.
Look through the headlines! If there's a story that is relevant to your business, blog about it.
Customer Stories.
Do you have any customers with an interesting story or background? Feature them in your blog - but check with them first to make sure they are okay with it.
Names can always be changed.
Product of the Day/Week/Month.
Use your blog to feature your most popular products at regular intervals - it's a great marketing tool and you'll never run out of material.
Sales, Promotions and Events.
If you have an event coming up, or a special promotion or sale, use your blog to get the word out.
Then email your friends, customers, and prospects the link to keep them in the loop.
Blogs are not only a great marketing tool, they're also a lot of fun.
Coming up with new ideas for your blog can leave you feeling invigorated and inspired.
They provide new ways of connecting with people all over the world, and spreading the word about your business.