What’s a blog and why does it seems that everyone has one ?

The word blog derives from an abbreviation of web-log. The interactivity of forums and bulletin boards is combined in them , the sensitivity to current events of a news service and the personality of talk radio.

Over the past few years several free blog services like WordPress and Blogger have both fueled and been fueled by the explosion in the number and popularity of blogs.

A blog is a website that has a combination of four special characteristics:

• Frequently updated
• Based upon a single page
• Linked to other sites and blogs
• Written in a personal voice

Since the majority of blogs are free and very easy to use, they can be created by anyone and on any possible topic. Generally blogs can be divided up into three groups :

• Diaries – blogs created to display the daily experiences of their creator
• Links — blogs made up of collections of links to other sites, usually unified by some interest or aesthetic sense
• Forums — blogs that are centers of discussion on certain themes

Blogs are cash cheap but time expensive. Starting a blog, especially for business is a commitment. Be prepared to spend as much time as is necessary to create interesting sincere posts and answering comments.

The good thing is that blogs are one of the most effective ways to sell your service or product. Not only do they considerably improve your page ranking with search engines, but they also give a human face to your business.

Most of business blogs have these three purposes:

• To establish the author as a thought leader
• To drive web traffic to a homepage
• To enlarge PageRank on Google

How should I write for a blog?

Blogs are not meant to give facts. There are many accurate sources of information on the Internet , but blogs are not exactly one of them. Instead, blogs are about community. People use them to see what other people think and to take part in conversations.

Do

• Say “I”
• Give suggestions and opinions
• Talk about personal experiences
• Ask open-ended questions (rhetorical and otherwise)
• Link to sources that support your ideas

Don’t

• Try to teach
• Try to sell
• Give answers
• Be too serious
• Try to keep the reader from leaving the blog

Blogging is the easiest and most enjoyable way to build your reputation and business. Start an on-line conversation and watch your friends and customers come to you.

Read more about Atomic Blogger, It’s crispy new..

Blogging Basics.

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