Many businesses are using blogs to get themselves noticed on the web, but what are they and what do they do?

What are blogs?

Put simply, a blog, or a web log, is an online journal posted on the web. They are easily published and  maintained; each entry features a title, the main body of text, the time and date it was posted, along with a permanent web link to the post. The rate at which bloggers post an article or comment varies greatly from several per day to once a month; the latest post will always be shown at the top of the page with the older entries showing below or, in the case of a long running blog, within an archive menu.

Why are blogs important?

A business blog can perform multiple tasks; firstly it increases your web presence and provides a platform upon which a business can release press statements and announce new products or services. Within its blog, a company can supply advice on their industry area, specific to their known target market, whilst at the same time capturing a new audience. By doing this the blog could indirectly lead to increased business revenue.

How do I start one?

For a business blog there are blogging extension modules within Joomla! that can be incorporated into your own website. If, however, you only want to do a personal blog, sign up for an account with one of the blogging web sites; there are plenty to choose from, e.g. Blogger.com, Typepad.com, Blogware.com, and WordPress.com.
Once you have created your account, you are ready to start blogging.

What makes a successful blog?

From a business perspective, a successful blog is one whose content is useful and unique to the reader. A well written, informative blog will encourage visitor traffic to your business website and ultimately generate revenue for your company. When considering how to write the content the same general rules apply to that of writing web copy, more details about which can be found in our ‘How to Write Good Web Copy’ article.

How do I promote my business blog?

There are a number of ways to promote your blog; some of these are within the blog itself by commenting on other related blogs, promoting other blog sites on your own, directly linking with other blog sites, and inviting readers to ask you a question. Other ways are through references on your own web site, utilising social network sites to direct people to your blog and, of course, mentioning it directly to people.

Where can I find more advice and help regarding blogs?

A simple Google search will provide you with a mass of blogging advice websites aimed at all levels, from beginner to accomplished.