Everyone seems to have a blog. Your colleagues, your brother, even your Grandma has a blog. Will your business fail without one? No. Can a blog boost your business? Most definitelty!

If you create a smart blogging strategy that is. If not, a blog is nothing but chaos and noise. Why would I say that? Becasue there are literally thousands of new blogs being created each and every day in the blogospere, the universe of blogs. Just like a Website, you need to make your blog stand out from the rest.

A blog, short for weblog, is an online journal published for public reading.Typically the author frequently updates. At first glance, a blog looks similar to a Web site. If you look very closely, you may notice that many short postings are organized by the publication date. that is a blog. There are many tools you can utilize to create and manage your blog: Blogger, Movable Type, Typepad and WordPress.

A blog will provide you with key communication opportunities:

* Publish timely information instantly

* Create controlled conversations with readers

* Establish credibility as an authority

* Improvement of Organic (natural) search engine ranking

* Procure media exposure

*Lower client acquisition costs

* Generate high volumes of prequalifeid Web site traffic

* Maximize ROI

By comparison, a Web site appears stagnant net to a blog. Updates of articles and press releases on your site can be performed but it is not realistic to think thta prospects and the press will bookmark your site and see what may be happening anew on your Web site regarding your business.

Even if you were to publish an online newsletter, called an e-zine (short for electronic magazine) the only ones to see it would be subscribers. Although it is an e-zine and a powerful marketing vehicle, it is cut off from a majority of the Web surfers and search engine spiders.

A blog, however, is a conversation held in public. Readers can stop in for a visit, post comments and even request you deliver your blog directly to them.

If you would like to reach blog readers, simply spitting out company marketing materials will not work. Your blog must be personal, educational and responsive.

ANYONE CAN DO IT

Being responsive has become increasingly critical because blogs are not solely published by businesses.On the contrary. Blogging popularity has skyrocketed because it is a quick and simple way for anyone to voice anything. Everyone can be a publisher. The question remains: What are bloggers saying?

Some are saying nothing, some are saying something, and some are slamming your business. Wait a minute, what? That's correct. The blogosphere is a public relations powerhouse, which can work either for or against you.

The more visible your business, the more likely it will be a target for good and bad press.The media is not the instigator of negative news. You have to be on the alert for angry customers, consumer protection groups, competitors and disgruntled employees past and present.... anyone whom does not like you. Blogging is a highly visual channel for unhappy individuals. A blog recieves prime visibility because it is attractive spider bait.

Search engine spiders scout out blogs because they are full of content that is frequently updated. Plus, blogs can attract links more easily than a Web site can. If you create a blog that serves the public, you will continue to create a fan base that will link to your blog without you even asking them to do so. Because spiders love content-rich pages with quality links pointing to them, a blog can often be more appealing bait than a static Web site.

Our discussion regarding engaging readers, responding to bad press, and baiting spiders should show that purely publishing a blog is not marketing. Whether you already have a blog, or desire to publish one, I will continue, in the near future, to reveal sound strategies for leveraging supporters and complainers to procure free publicity and new clients.

Until then, good luck and happy blogging!