Why Your Business Needs a Blog

Every business, regardless of its size, needs a blog. I know what you’re thinking: “But I have a professional image to uphold. How can a blog possibly attract new customers and how can it provide them with the information they need?” The answer is simple: A blog can be one of the most decisive public relations tools in your marketing and branding tool kit. Read on and I’ll educate you on the basics of blogs.
What is a blog?
The term “blog” is slang for “web log.” Wikipedia defines a blog as “a web site where entries are written in chronological order and are commonly displayed in reverse chronological order.” The word can also be used as a verb, meaning to maintain or add content to a blog. To get a feel for the wide use of blogs, consider the following: In September 2007, blog search engine Technorati tracked more than 106 million blogs. Some notable corporations that use blogs are HP, Google, Microsoft and ImageWorks Studio.
Myths and Facts
No doubt the last thing you need is a lecture on the latest Web 2.0 strategies. However, I should correct a few common misconceptions about blogs, as well as why web design companies use them as an effective method for reaching out to their audience.
Myths
Blogs are used only by teenagers. You need to spend many hours every day to maintain a blog. You need to know HTML and have other coding skills to blog.
Facts
Blogs allow a company to control the editorial content of the web site while restricting/ blocking users’ comments. Blogs can be updated as often as you wish. But to make them more effective and valuable to your audience, update them often. Blogs require no knowledge of HTML or special coding. There are numerous blogging software packages on the market that are free. Blogs allow companies to quickly get information out to customers, unlike traditional communication methods. Blogs are an inexpensive way to effectively communicate and share information with your audience. Blogs comprise text and external links, making them search engine-friendly.
Benefits of Corporate Blogging
In January 2007, Forrester released a research study centered on “The ROI of Blogging – The ‘Why’ and ‘How’ Of External Blogging Accountability” by Charlene Li and Chloe Stromberg.
According to the study, some of the benefits of corporate blogging are: Greater brand visibility in mainstream media on the Web Word-of-mouth advertising Improved brand perception Instantaneous consumer feedback Increased sales efficiency Fewer customer service-driven PR blowups
The Outcome
Consumers are better educated today because of the vast amounts of information available on the Internet. Not only will a blog convey information to your target demographic faster and cheaper than traditional means, but when coupled with search engine benefits, brand visibility, and a value-based proposition, a blog should be an essential part of your marketing platform.
(by: Scott C. Margenau)

Looking to Start a New Franchise?

There are many reasons on why you should not start a franchise in this century. Simply, there is a better way! You do not need to put yourself in all that overhead and costs and so much stress when there is a better way. Now let me share a story about my mentor and my coach.
He was is debt a quarter million dollars. At the end of one year of him opening his franchise, which was a restaurant, he noticed he was not making any money and was still in debt a quarter million dollars! What did he do? Your about to find out.
He turned to the internet and found an online business opportunity and now makes 5 figures a month, working from home, and only 3-4 hours a day. Would you like that lifestyle? Or would you like to be working 12 hour days and having to worry about employees and inventory and all the debt your in? If your a smart person I think you will make the right decision from now on. A few more things.
Why is it so easy to make money online? You can leverage the internet and have it do the heavy lifting for you and not having to worry about employees and inventory and so much debt! The internet has come to save us all and allow us to create our own lifestyles and not struggle so much. One last thing.
I told you there was a better way! I told you do not start a franchise! Now what are you going to do?
I hope this helped and I hope you take action today and research online businesses and how well so many are doing working from home and staying with their families all day. Life is good. So let me share something with you.
I am a master marketer and business consultant on a mission to create 100 millionaires by 2012 using the internet. What are you going to do about it? Want to start working with me? (By Elie Nassour)