A Business Bloggers Survival Guide

Everything You Need To Know To Start Blogging

During the 1990s blogs began to take shape, and by 1999 they were becoming mainstream. Suddenly it seemed that everyone had a blog and a rise of 'amateurs' began stepping on the toes of traditional journalists and 'professional' content producers. Only when traditional media began to take notice did blogs become a topic for water cooler discussions and after work drinks.

Weblogs were a spin-off of forums and allowed people with a generally good handle of websites to create their own daily journal. The term 'blog' was coined in 1999 when the phenomena became common knowledge to most people who surfed the web. In general, blogs started out as way to share ones personal perspective or document an event. Today blogs are about anything and everything.Many businesses have opted to build their website as a blog instead of the typical stand-alone website.

The question shouldn't be whether or not a blog is right for your business- the more important question is what will your business blog about? And who will do the blogging?

One of the best things about online blogging is that it's extremely easy to set up. The software is easily (and freely) attainable from lots of different platform providers, including: Google, Tumblr, Live Journal or Wordpress and it literally takes a click of a button to get started. Also, Twitter is a way to micro-blog (a post restricted to 140 characters or less).

Online blogging is even easier if you are passionate about what you are blogging about. Having passion about the topic is critical, as it is about the only thing that will make you get out of bed those few minutes earlier to upload a new post. Passion is also contagious. It doesn't matter if your online blogging is on nuts and bolts, because if you are passionate about it, it will come across in your work and your readers, whether they share your passion or not, will begin raving about nuts and bolts as well!

Online blogging for business is useful as it can humanize the brand and the company. Now that doesn't mean that you give your brand a blog (though there have been instances where company mascot blogs have been quite the hit). It means that your company's head honcho should consider taking up online blogging as a hobby. Not only will the company be so much more approachable for it, the head honcho may discover a new personal passion.

Guest Blogging - Make It Count

To get the most out of your online blogging activities, expand your horizons and incorporate guest blogging. Guest blogging can refer to commenting on other's blogs, or inviting as known blogger or influential writer to publish a post on your blog. Many times businesses sponsor a blogger by buying avertising space on a widely read blog that suits the brand or category of the business. If done properly, it is a highly effective way of attracting readers and traffic to your own blog and website.

The first thing to remember is that whatever you comment on, make sure you are better at it. Then, throw everything you've got into your comment - do not skimp on the ideas, opinions or evidence. Strong opinions with strong evidence make a strong impression.
Always give adequate information about yourself, such as your name and your business. Never hide behind an alias as this suggests a lack of confidence or that you have something to conceal.
Finally, give readers a call to action cue. Provide them with a link back to your spruced up blog or website.

By getting guest blogging right, you make it count in three ways:

Firstly, you are getting your name out there and building your credibility and reputation in your industry and amongst your consumers.
Secondly, you are optimizing your site through the creation of meaningful back-links to your blog and website.
Thirdly, you are increasing traffic from unique sources that you may never have tapped otherwise. It really doesn't get much better than that.

Think you'll need a bit of help with online blogging? Go ahead and contact us. You can register for a free online analysis report.

Learn more about social media terms in the FAQs and check out our list of influential bloggers.