| Unless you've been under a rock for the last year, | | | | them to tell you exactly what they do and don't like |
| you've | | | | about |
| heard the term "blog" once or twice.To most people, a | | | | your services, products, and virtually any other aspect |
| "blog" simply represents a glorified | | | | of |
| online "diary" where geeks, computer nerds, and lonely | | | | the market.This lightning fast communication makes it |
| teenagers record their thoughts in | | | | possible for |
| cyber-space.However, many people don't realize that | | | | small companies to literally snatch huge market share |
| "blogs" are quietly | | | | away |
| revolutionizing the way companies and customers | | | | from more traditional companies.Blogging also has a |
| interact | | | | distinct advantage over traditional |
| about everything from existing products to new ideas | | | | email newsletters in that subscribers can get udpates |
| and | | | | without having to receive an email message. Through |
| improvements in customer service.In short, "blog" style | | | | the |
| communication has come of age and | | | | power of RSS (real simple syndication), subscribers |
| anyone with an online business better sit up and take | | | | get |
| notice fast!In the beginning, "blogs" were basically an | | | | notified of updated content though an rss news |
| online diary to | | | | reader.Bottom Line: publishing a blog with an RSS feed |
| record your thoughts; but "blogs" have now evolved | | | | that your |
| into | | | | readers can subscribe to means your content |
| dynamic websites that non-technical people can | | | | NEVER gets |
| update | | | | blocked by a SPAM filter.Blog software basically |
| immediately without html editors or ftp programs.Blogs | | | | comes in 2 flavors: hosted and |
| allow their authors to make instant website updates | | | | stand-alone. Hosted blogging solutions make it |
| through a computer anywhere in the world with a | | | | extremely |
| Web browser | | | | easy to get set up with a blog, often in just a couple |
| and Internet connection.Blogs also allow readers to | | | | of |
| respond to the author's posts, | | | | minutes.If you know how to type, you can create a |
| provide additional information, links, expanded opinions, | | | | blog. Log on to |
| and more.In short, an active "blog" creates an | | | | and you can set up a blog free of charge and |
| interactive community | | | | start posting in just a few (owned by search giant, |
| with the author as the hub and the readers as the | | | | Google) will even host |
| spokes of | | | | your blog on their servers.Typepad.com, which |
| the wheel that keep the whole cycle turning | | | | charges as little as $4.95 per month, is |
| round.Unlike traditional "static" web pages where | | | | also an excellent hosted service offering additional |
| content rarely | | | | features that enable you to quickly get your own blog |
| (if ever) changes, an active blog evolves in a state of | | | | up |
| constant and never-ending renewal.With blogs, smart | | | | and running.The alternative is stand-alone blogging |
| online businesses re-discovered a | | | | software installed |
| principal that small "mom and pop" stores understood | | | | on your own website.A very popular solution is |
| for | | | | Moveable Type, available from |
| years: know your customers and stay in close tune | | | | moveabletype.org, which provides a very versatile |
| with | | | | and |
| their wants, needs, and desires.Large companies | | | | powerful suite of tools for creating a full-featured blog |
| throw billions of dollars down a black hole | | | | to rival that of any size company in the world.This is |
| every year to literally "guess" what people want to | | | | the solution I've chosen for my blog at blogging solution |
| buy. | | | | you choose, if you plan to |
| Most call it the "Marketing Department."On the flipside, | | | | successfully conduct any form of business online, |
| smart online businesses understand that | | | | understand that a "blog" must form an integral part of |
| blogs allow you to avoid guessing what's on your | | | | your |
| customers' | | | | overall plan for customer communication and |
| minds and provide an active and up-to-the-minute | | | | interaction. |
| means for | | | | |