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