Tuesday, November 13, 2007
The word “blog” is colloquial for “weblog” which is basically just a glorified public online journal. It typically consist of a daily publication called a “post” with the ability to link pictures and other websites. A blog also has multiple categories and a place to leave comments. It also time stamps each post. More than just a trendy personal journal, blogs are among the most popular ways for businesses to market and get quality feedback.
Why has blogging become so popular and why should you consider starting a blog? First, blogs are rich in content, making search engines hungry to find and list them. Google, for example, is one of the best search engines for crawling websites strictly for quality content. (Incidentally, if you are searching for a service contractor in your area, chances are you will find the best search results using Google.) Second, most search engines now seem to be giving blogs top priority over sites without a blog installed. Why? Because blogs are updated on a regular basis with new content, and people want to see the latest information. Search engines do not favor websites that never update their home page. This is one of the key reasons professionals should consider creating and managing a company blog to avoid getting bumped down lower on the page of search results. If you are going to create a blog, you need to be committed to maintaining it. Posting just once a month or every six weeks does not communicate that your website is new and exciting.
I created my blog for two reasons: 1) To get better search engine results, 2) To create the feeling that my company is active and still in business. Determination keeps the task of blog updating from becoming tedious. I try to update my blog at least once a week. I was skeptical about having enough new topics to keep a blog going for the painting industry, so I also incorporate material relevant to home improvement.
Because professionalism is of paramount importance, business bloggers should commit some time to making the blog and website match the rest of their business branding. A professional web designer should understand your corporate image and branding campaign. He should also be adept at using the latest technology, web languages, and blog software. My web designer is excellent. He always informs me of updates and better software for my websites.
The online world is still new and getting better every day. For those of us in the Residential Forum, our goal is to build a business that is every bit as professional as it appears. Blogging, done right, is just another piece of the business puzzle that will help us all be the best in our service areas.
(David Chism is part owner of a residential painting company in San Diego with his father, Mike Chism. To view his painting blog click here)
Thank-you for this clear and concise explanation of blogs. I believe the article can even be understood by the over 40 crowd. Since I am perpetually 38, I understood it completely. And I am encouraged to try blogging. But you should go ahead and tell us who your web designer is. Why keep it a secret!