I Just Don't Get It...why Blog If You Already Have A Site?

[eww]

Call me dense, but I just don't get it. If you already have a website, why create a blog? Aren't blogs subject to the same SEO tactics as a website? Shouldn't your website already have a lot of good content that someone would want to read? I get the concept of a blog creating traffic to your website, but doesn't someone actually have to find your blog in the first place? I read here the list of blog directories...do people actually go to these directories to find a blog that might interest them? Hmmm...maybe I'm too lazy to jump on this train...

[torka]

Depending on how its used, a blog can be an opportunity to put a more "human" face on your business, to give it a "voice."

Blogs don't have to be separate from the main website. It's easy enough to incorporate it into the website, and actually makes particularly good sense if the blog is intended to be the "official company blog."

Even if you don't want to use it for "traditional" blog posting, blog software makes an excellent content management system for article publishing, so it can make sense to incorporate the blog into the main site if you already have or plan to publish a number of articles on an ongoing basis, even if you have no need of a "traditional" blog.

In fact, I've converted many of my existing sites to WordPress just because the software makes it so easy to update my pages and add new useful content.

Blog software also offers the benefit of RSS feeds and pinging built in. You can potentially add either of these to any standard website, but they're built in and automated in blog software. Pinging lets blog search engines know that you've added or updated a post, and RSS feeds allow interested customers the chance to quickly update themselves on the new content on your site.

It's true, not every business needs a blog. But I wouldn't necessarily reject the idea out of hand.

--Torka

[mktgbiz]

NEW I think is a word that might fit here.

Even though I am not an expert blogger, heck I barely blog, the key with "good bloggers" is they are always contributing NEW content when blogging.

NEW keeps people's attention and interest. I also think blogging is shorter and a faster way than article submission.

Don't know all the ins and out myself, but I know it doens't hurt in the least and if your blogging can place you one position above your competition, than better get blogging!!


Just me 2 cents.........

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[eww]

Great post, Torka. I get it now, thanks. Like mktgbiz said, it doesn't hurt to give it a try. Perhaps I'll dabble a bit. Thanks both!

[EyesOpen]

Blogs serve different purposes for different businesses.

For some, they help create a sense of community, allowing customers to interact with you and fellow customers. Having your voice heard and responded to, by what is often a static, faceless corporation, changes the way people look at you as a company. It puts a face to the typical website and marketing spiel.

For others, it’s a quick and painless way to add fresh content to a static website. Offering up tips, stories, or updates on your company/product/business can be a very good way of pulling in Google traffic, and as long as the blog is an integral part of the company website, rather than a separate domain or blogger account, can form a fundamental part of your web presence.

People love to be involved, or at least to appear to be involved, and they love to have their voices and opinions listened to. A company blog is a simple, cost effective way of letting this happen.

[zoobie]

Originally Posted by torka

A blog can be an opportunity to put a more "human" face on your business, to give it a "voice."

Blogs don't have to be separate from the main website. It's easy enough to incorporate it into the website, and actually makes particularly good sense if the blog is intended to be the "official company blog."

So best of luck in posting your blogs. I'm sure you'll enjoy posting those.

[scottco]

EWW:

There is a lot of hoopla about blogs.

You are wise to consider some objectives before you venture into blogging.

Some of them might be to:

• communicate and get feedback from your customers or prospects. Many businesses also use blogs to make announcements or support current customers with follow-up articles, etc. (Aweber is a good example of that)
• increase qualified traffic from search engines (this can often be done more effectively with a blog than more static pages on your regular site, due to the shear volume and frequency of your postings, proper titling of your blog entries, and the power of many of the blog publishing software (content management systems).
• get the attention of the media. If your blog is the first to take on a topic in your niche, or has a unique angle or quality, it is possible to get significant attention from the press.
• connect with other bloggers in your market (through the unique blog features of trackbacks, etc.) -- this can be a great way to promote traffic, joint venture, etc.
• gain credibility by journalizing your expertise on a topic related to your prospects' needs -- it's an effective method to write short articles -- becoming a recognized "publisher" in your marketplace of valuable, unique content.

Much of this can be done on your regular site, but blog publishing platforms have some nice bells and whistles to manage content, and connect with visitors that normally can't be done on a more traditional website.

[willie hill]

Hi Guys,
just my 2c
A web site is static- unless you have a news letter on your web site,
the content of your web site is going to stay the same.
This is OK, some one types in loklok and there you are on the Se listing
A blog is dynamic,
it is always in a state of change, content will always get injected into it
and maybe down track when you have enough links in and out on your blog, will then over take your web site organic ranking

[Rando]

Do you think blogging serves the same purpose as Newsletters? I'm not a blogger but I've send out a couple newsletters to our clients. Do you think I should do both blogging and newsletter?
By the way, The company I work for is a Web development and an E-business Solutions provider.

[torka]

Maybe a similar purpose, but not necessarily exactly the same. It depends on what you put in your newsletters and what you put in the blog.

Generally a blog will be updated at least once or twice a week, maybe daily, maybe even more often. You can't do that with newsletters (not without annoying your readers, most likely).

--Torka