A blog (short for "Web log") is a Web site. It is maintained by an individual with commentary, descriptions, or other such related items that deal with your "business."

This can include video. "Posts" or "entries" are displayed in reverse-chronological order, but that can be customized by the blogger. Many blogs provide commentary or news on a particular subject.

A typical blog combines text, images, and links to other blogs or web content. And this is why it has become so essential for work from home business owners.

What makes a blog unique is the ability readers (or followers) have to leave comments. It's interactive, and this an important feature of many blogs. All in all, blogging can be considered one of the first and most important aspects of the wider network of social media.

Creating a Blog for Work From Home Business

As a work from home business owner, there are 5 specific advantages to having a blog. If you don't currently have a blog, this article will provide the reasons why blogging should be integrated into your marketing strategy.

If you are already convinced why it is important to have a blog, but you are intimidated by all the technical challenges that may arise, I assist people with setting up their marketing on the internet. One of the first things we accomplish is creating a blog. Learn about how one of my associates created a blog in a weekend.

Blogging provides an online presence. It's that simple. You're either "on the web" or your not. Especially for work from home business owners, having a blog is akin to having an office or place where customers can find you.

Blogging can be fairly easy to set up, maintain and publish content that brands you as an expert in your particular area business. Be sure to watch the How to Blog tutorial videos that are at the bottom of this Hub.  

Because blogging is either free or very low in cost, it is a way to generate leads and new contacts for your business rather than purchasing leads.

One way this can be done is by optimizing your blog and getting placed on the search engines for the key terms that your potential customers and followers would search for.

This can take some time to achieve, but creating a sustainable way to generate leads and new contacts (and followers) is the life blood of your business.

Blogging can be a central hub of contact and communication between you and your customers or potential customers. 

Utilizing your blog as an important aspect in your web of content can help you get better results with your article marketing, press releases, podcasts and other social media marketing content.

It will take time, planning and structure to "spin and weave" your web of content appropriately, but once it's done correctly, search engines like Google will "pick you up" and you will, literally, be found the people that you want to find you.

As I had mentioned, creating your own blog is either free or very low in cost.

It is certainly much cheaper than creating sales letters or direct mailers in a "scattershot" method. This costs time and money. Also, a blog provides credibility...much more credibility than those advertisements, brochures and corporate or flashy websites.

This will assist you because the last thing you want as a work from home business owner is for your potential customers or clients to have their "guards up." A blog can help defuse that feeling. It's imperative that you are providing real valuable content.

And this is the real beauty and appeal of blogging. When you publish content, your audience can comment on your "posts." This social dynamic allows you to create, over time, a community of readers, customers and people you do business with.

They can inform your services and/or products with their comments and the on-going dialog that you seek to establish with them. Because of the feedback you may receive from your visitors (or followers), you can adjust to your target markets' observations and needs. 

What you'll find below are a series of four blogging tutorials that were created to get you started with a blog. This is just a start, not an exhaustive and complete "How to Create and Be Successful with a Blog" guide.

If you are a work from home business owner (or would like to get started), my business serves various work from home business individuals and communities. Eric Walker Marketing can assist you with getting your internet marketing set up so people can find you.

To set up your no cost consultation, email Eric@EricWalkerMarketing.com or visit EricWalkerMarketing.