Understanding
and Profiting From Blogs
by
Andy Wibbels
Here’s my definition of a blog:
A blog is an instantly, easily and
frequently updated website focused around a topic, industry or personality.
A blog - short for 'weblog' – looks very much like an online diary. The most
recent entries – called posts - appear on the homepage of the blog with links
to archives of older posts. Posts are separated by date and topic. Often the posts
allow readers to add their own comments at the end to give their opinion or
reaction to the post’s content. Blogs typically include a short bio about the
blogger as well as a list of the blogger's favorite blogs and links (called a
‘blogroll’).
But that's just a cosmetic description. The real genius in blogs and
blogging comes in how they are written. You can update your blog instantly from
any Internet connection anywhere in the world. Even from your summer home in Tahiti - as you sip an ice cold island cocktail. Blogs
are designed for people who don't want to learn HTML. You use a special type of
blogging software – called a blog tool - to create and update your weblog. You
type your latest post into a simple online form. You click Publish and it is
instantly available online for the whole world to see. It's super-easy. If you
can send an email - you can create a weblog.
Besides revolutionizing online publishing, blogs are also a revolution in marketing.
While most companies put all of their marketing content through a lengthy and
labored design process, a blog is instantaneous publishing at the speed of
thought. Blogs take the power of ‘word of mouth’ marketing and bring it online
where bloggers and their readers can influence a product’s success (or failure)
with the click of a button.
How a Blog Works
But how does it work? Why is it easier and cheaper and faster than a
conventional website? Here's a walk-through.
1.
You want to update your website with your latest
article, update or announcement.
2.
Using any web browser from any computer, you login to your
blog tool and click the button to create a new post.
3.
An online form appears asking for the title of your post.
You type that in.
4.
There is also a field for you to write the body text of
the actual blog post. You type that in, too.
5.
You click Publish.
6.
Your weblog is updated in a matter of seconds and your
newest post appears online for everyone to read.
7.
You go back to your life and remember when you used to
pay a web designer every time you wanted to update your site.
How Blogs Help Business
Blogger Angie McCaig nailed it when she said that a
weblog is a fantastic online marketing approach because it provides:
·
fresh content on a daily or at least very
regular basis
·
an informal voice that visitors can respond to
and get to know
·
useful information via outgoing links
Think of how many advertisements your customers receive everyday. Every
year, it becomes more difficult to create marketing messages that rise above
the noise and get heard. Further, we all know when we're being marketed to –
and often don’t like it. Blogging brings back that human voice - that
informality that doesn't take things so seriously and enables you to build
trust and a deeper connection with your prospects and clients, because they’re
getting to know the real you, not your company’s persona. Blogs don’t aim to
seduce the reader into a hypnotic ‘buy-anything trance,’ they aim to inform,
entertain and create an active conversation.
Visit EasyBakeWeblogs to find out more
information on Andy and blogging.
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