Five Advantages of Blogging for Business
Hello Again!!
This week has been full of blessings! One major blessing in my life is David Walker and he has agreed to guest post on my blog! David is a professional blogger and internet marketer and he is enjoying the financial freedom that the internet can bring. He is actually “living the dream”!
Thank you David! I am honored!! Please leave your questions and/or comments below!
By now you’re probably familiar with blogging. If not, a blog in it’s simplest form is an online diary displayed in reverse chronological order (i.e. most recent entry first). A blog will generally be updated regularly and written in the first person rather than the third which is a common technique used on web pages.
Blogging for business is becoming very popular as companies, both online and bricks-and-mortar see the numerous benefits from doing so. Here, David Walker discusses five advantages of blogging for business.
1. Easy to Set Up
There are several blogging platforms available that are free of charge and easy to set up. WordPress is the primary example of an open source blogging platform that is free to use.
The good thing about WordPress is that there are various free themes (templates) available for you to change the way the website looks without being technical.
When you start to make money online and want something a little more bespoke, you can hire somebody to create a tailor-made design unique to your business.
The costs to create a theme are focused much more on the overall design than traditional web development costs which focus a lot on what goes on “under the hood”.
2. Quick and Easy to Keep Your Customers Updated
Writing a blog entry is quicker and easier than a web page update.
First of all you simply have to log into the administrator section of your blog and you’re ready to go. This means you can update the blog from anywhere with an internet connection.
Blog entries are written in the first person as an individual blogger, rather than as the ‘organisation’ and hence you don’t have to be as precise with the spelling and grammar although that doesn’t mean you should take a sloppy approach to blogging.
The blog should be the first place you tell customers about new products or developments.
3. Search Engine Friendly
Blogs in their nature are updated frequently and often rich in content.
It is for these reasons, search engines love blogs more than any other form of content delivery at the moment.
Blog posts are usually to the point and representative of what people are talking about whether it’s a news item, pop culture reference or product and another reason blog posts rank well in the search engines.
Blog posts are very “linkable”. Somebody may write an opinionated blog post and another blogger may disagree, write a blog post from an opposing view point and link to the first post as a point of reference.
These links will also help your overall search engine position.
4. Build a Relationship With Your Readers
When blogging you will blog as an individual on behalf of the company. This enables you to be more open and transparent in your opinions and thought than if you were simply “towing the company line”.
For this reason you readers (customers) will be able to associate with you as a human being. This will establish a much closer, stronger relationship and will extend the overall lifespan of a particular customer.
5. Get Opinions From Your Customers
Blogs are great to gage opinion from your customers.
Each post can allow readers to add comments, offer their opinions and contribute to the discussion.
This is a much more interactive way to deliver content than the traditional format of simply “broadcasting” your message on a static website giving your customers no way of responding.
The opinions of your customers can help you make educated business decisions in the future – at the very least you can find out the type of content they respond to and give more of it to them!
Very cool Lisa. I love WordPress blogs! Another option is Blogger, which is what I used when I first started. I prefer WordPress because of the look and feel of the, many times, free templates that you can use.
For a comparison of Blogger (by Google) versus WordPress, check this out, http://bit.ly/dA5Hga. I think it’s a pretty cool comparison.
Oh, and thanks David, for the cool post. I especially like point number 5 where you talk about interacting with your audience. This is an aspect of “Web 2.0″, and a wonderful one at that. More interactive platforms make the world a bigger, brighter, and smarter place.
All the best,
Ed Rubi
Ed Rubi recently posted..How To Register For An eBay Sellers Account
[Reply]
Lisa Hernandez
Reply:
June 30th, 2010 at 5:13 AM
Hi Ed!!
I have a blogger blog, too, but the poor things gets lonesome! I really like my WP blog. I am gonna change it up a bit. That’s the cool thing about WP..if you don’t like it, just upload a new theme and viola! new blog!!
I am supposed to have threaded comments which makes reading these comments easier, but my theme doesn’t support it, so that makes me want a new one too!. I was looking at WOO themes or Elegant themes. We’ll see. maybe I will win one, I have been on a roll lately!
Anyway, that link you posted has some pretty interesting comparisons between the 2 blogging platforms. thanks for sharing it!
Talk to you soon!! have fun!
Lisa~
[Reply]
Hey Partner,
David is fab!
He knows a ton of information abiut blogging and list building, it’s always nice to read guest posts.
You will need to do one on mine!
Sally
Sally recently posted..Sally Is Retiring From Blog Hopping GASP…
[Reply]
Lisa Hernandez
Reply:
July 18th, 2010 at 8:12 AM
Oh My Goodness! Sorry for taking so long to respond to yall!! My notification thingy must have been turned off!! My BAD!!
@Sally, Thanks Girl, I really like David, he’s the BOMB! Great guy and when I get a minute I would be honored to guest post on your blog http://www.sallyneill.com You have an awesome blog!
@Dev, Thanks for coming over and checking out David’s stuff. He is really good!! Glad I met him and glad you stopped by!!
@Justin, Interacting is what I do!!(except when I don’t know I am supposed to!!) Gets me in trouble too!! Social butterfly-ness….makes me UN-focus(is that a word??)
@Glen, Very cool indeed!! find out what folks want and give it to them! What a concept…I think I will try THAT!!
David hit the nail right on the HEAD!! Ow!! 
@Anthony, Hi Anthony and thanks for stopping by. Are you just setting up your site? I went over there and there wasn’t too much going on. Holler if you need any help and GREAT PIC!!
@Craig, David guest posted on your blog too? I will go over and check it out!!
Hey folks…if you like David’s stuff, go over to Craig s blog and check out some more of David!! http://www.craigsowerby.com/build-your-list-using-jv-giveaways/ Wow! David sure gets around! He ROCKS!!
Again, Thank you all or stopping by!! I read and appreciate all the comments and suggestions from everyone!! Hope you are all having an AMAZING DAY!!
Take care and God bless!!
Lisa~
[Reply]
Hey lisa,
Glad to see david here.
Really great Post. You’ve made some awesome points david. Great work man
.
Thanks for sharing this great Post.
~Dev
Dev | Technshare recently posted..3 Solid Reasons Your Blog Is The Perfect Launch Pad For Your Business
[Reply]
Great list of the advantages on blogging for business. It may takes some work and effort but I think it truly worth the time spending. I especially like the last one.. it is a nice way to interact and build relationship with your customers/guests. Thanks for sharing!
[Reply]
Hey Lisa,
Well said about the blog being a platform so that your costomers and reader can interact with you. It’s a great way of finding out what they want and then you can go and create a product for their needs.
Excellent information
Glyn
[Reply]
Hey Lisa
Great info on Blogging for Business
Success
Anthony
Anthony Johnson recently posted..
[Reply]
Lisa:
Hi! Great post! Google LOVES blogs for content so you are “spot on” as the Brits say. I need your help, too. Do you have someone who can create a logo and do a WP template for my new business, SmartWeb Marketing? You might remember I was heading in this direction after Dean’s class. Also I can tell John’s class is really working well for you –I am jealous!
Take care,
Ralph
Ralph recently posted..Google AdWords Expert Shares Top 5 Reasons to Hire SmartWeb Marketing…
[Reply]
Lisa Hernandez
Reply:
July 18th, 2010 at 7:57 AM
Hi Ralph!
Sorry it took a minute to get back to you! What kind of template? It’s so easy to set one up yourself, but I do know a great guy! Little pricey, awesome work!!I am sure he will get you taken care of!
You have a new site? I will have to check it out!!
I will email you the web designer folks and hopefully he can help you out!!
take care!! Good to hear from you!
Lisa~
[Reply]
Hi Lisa,
I have had David guest post on my blog. It was all about JV Giveaways. He is really good at writing and he is full of useful information.
I have 2 niche sites up at the moment and they are both using WP. One is more of a static site and the other is more interactive. Personally I prefer the interactive site as you can talk and comment with your visitors.
Cheers
Craig
Craig recently posted..Put Your Email Marketing On Auto Pilot By Using An Auto responder
[Reply]
Hello Lisa, I’m visiting here after Sally Neill recommended you as one of her Top 10 Blogs. From what I have seen so far, her advice is spot on.
It was good to read about the advantages of blogging by David Walker, someone who is actually making a living at it. Encouragement for us all. I shall definitely came back soon.
John
[Reply]
Lisa Hernandez
Reply:
July 29th, 2010 at 9:11 PM
thank you very much John! I was shocked and surprised when I saw that video Sally did about the blogs sending her the most traffic! I was actually PROUD!!
She’s such a great girl!!
David Walker is amazing to say the least. I have been in contact with him a few times and he just basically ROCKS!!
Thanks for stopping by and see you in the 100 comment challenge!!
Lisa~
[Reply]
Hi Lisa,
David’s a prolific guest poster – he’s on mine as well!
http://www.keithpurkiss.com/blog/10-tips-to-drive-traffic-to-your-blog
I’ve only done one which was on John Thornhill’s blog last year.
Look forward to reading your post on Sally’s blog.
Thanks
Keith
Keith Purkiss recently posted..I Won A Prize While On Holiday In Ireland!
[Reply]
Lisa Hernandez
Reply:
July 29th, 2010 at 9:08 PM
Hi Keith,
I really like david. He’s so business-like and so helpful! I have no idea what I am gonna write abut on Sally’s blog, but I will have to get started! It seems like it takes me 3 weeks to post something on my own blog!! HAHA!!
I am off to see your blog about David’s 10 tips and John’s Blog that you guest posted on. Now you have me real curious
Thanks for stopping by!!
Lisa~
[Reply]
Oi Lazy Girl,
Where you hiding, not seen you in agesssssssssss, I miss my partner in crime, come back, all is forgiven ha ha.
Sally
Sally recently posted..What Happened After My Interview
[Reply]
Lisa Hernandez
Reply:
July 29th, 2010 at 9:06 PM
Hey Sally!! Girlfriend!! PIC!!
I have been so BUSY!! (and you call me lazy girl! I wish!!)
the last few weeks have been crazy! Learning how to make web pages, ad swaps, auto responders, HTML….all sorts of things! Still can’t get that stinkin Camtasia figured out!! Still cooking for 8 every night! I need another one of ME!
Talk to ya soon Girl!! your baby is beautiful!
Lisa~
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