Why Should Businesses Blog?

Good article discussing why businesses should blog. I personally believe a thoughtful, well written blog can be an asset to the business, providing insight into the workings of the company and the vision of its founders.

A blog is a window into your business's people, culture and values. You want your customers to connect to your brand in a way that encourages community, trust, and, of course, repeat sales. In today's crowded marketplace, you should embrace any opportunity to win consumer loyalty.

On a more technical level, a blog is a form of online diary, often focused on a particular topic or theme. For your small business, your blog could cover company culture, industry trends, or even items you find interesting. A blog can also serve as a crisis communications tool, providing your customers with your opinion or defense—instantly.

One of the best ways to increase your readership is to link to other blogs. This enables you to build a community of like-minded people who could be potential customers quickly. You could, for example, use the Web site Technorati to find similar businesses or industry blogs. This site will also show you how many blogs are linking to a particular entry—another way of measuring popularity. But make sure you have something intelligent to say when commenting on other blogs. By contributing thoughtfully, you can create respect for yourself and encourage a community to form around you.

Business Blogging