What is a BLOG?

A blog is only a CMS.  CMS stands for Content Management System.

This is a tool that helps you organize information on the web.

A blog typically has some key traits.

1. RSS – This is a feed that gets broadcast to the world when the blog gets published.
2. Articles called posts – The most notable feature that makes something a blog is that it has more frequent content updates in the form of articles called blog posts.  These are often displayed newest first.

Primarily a blog is a website.  Outside of those two features, there is nothing that makes it different from another website, and even those two features are optional.

This brings up an interesting question.  What is the difference between an online magazine like FastCompany and a blog?

Nothing other than professionalism and effort.  A blog can be used as an online magazine content management system.  The only real difference is the effort.  To do a really great online magazine, you will really need to use many blog plug ins and customize it.  Then you will need a staff of writers and graphic designers.

So what is a blog?

A Blog is a widely accepted form of publishing information on the web  that search engines love.

New Business Blog

If you are going to start blogging and you are setting up a new business blog, here are 10 tips.

1. Don’t think about what a blog should be.  Think about what you want your blog to achieve for your small business.
2. Blogs are just CMS websites (Content Management Systems) – don’t be intimidated.
3. There is no absolute right or wrong.  You can write a combination of short, long and medium blog posts.
4. Use images, but if you do not have time, just put up the text.
5. Post less more frequently, not a lot only occasionally.
6. Add Google Analytics right away so you can watch your progress.
7. Don’t clutter your business blog
8. Don’t drive people off of your business blog with too many external links
9. Don’t make people search all over your new business blog for your contact information.
10. Link to your business blog from outside resources to get it a better reputation.

Word of Mouth and Blogs

Word of Mouth Marketing is one of those really hot areas that has been growing like wildfire.

The growth of Word of Mouth seems to be considering with the growth of social media.

The reason is simple.  Social media gives marketers a way to estimate the word of mouth that is taking place about a topic, product or brand.  Blogging is a big part of how word of mouth is measured.

This makes sense because not only does a blog give the author a voice, but comments on blogs give the author’s audience a way to respond to the author’s blog posts.

Sure, there are a lot of other social media marketing tools that you can use too.  However, blogging is your home base.  It is the core of your online persona and it is the place you like back to from the other social media tools.  And if you have built a good business blog with clear business goals, it is where people buy from you, request more information or download your free white paper.