Blogging is Business NOW

Once the domains of anything-goes commentary, blogging apps have evolved into powerful business tools.
Today's blogging systems range from simple applications that provide pre-formatted Web pages to sophisticated systems designed for multiple contributors and users (including a full range of contributing, editing, and viewing permissions). Which is best for your business? The answer depends on how much control you want to exercise over the content of your business blog.
Most general-purpose blogs used by consumers are meant for unfettered access by anyone who cares to read them. Business blogs are focused, instead, on enabling internal communications, in many cases supplementing intranets as vehicles for quickly communicating information within work groups. For example, while general-purpose blog applications allow users to freely post entries or comments, blogging systems that are more specifically designed for business use allow more control over individual users' access rights.
In addition, personal and general-purpose blogs are generally created using hosted applications, which can be set up quickly and economically, and without the overhead of installing software on a server and maintaining user accounts and data. However, for more controlled environments where the security of the data content is a critical, an organization may decide to install blog software on its own servers.

For people daunted by the idea of creating a Web site and who like the idea of getting online feedback on their musings or who could use a credible self-marketing tool, a blog may be well worth the effort

What is a blog?

It’s an online diary or journal on a narrow topic of your choosing. As the spirit moves you, you post your musings, often augmented by references to Web pages or other blogs. You can invite readers to post their reactions. Why should you have a blog? If you’re employed, it’s an easy, slightly cool way to make your opinions known to colleagues, within and outside your place of employment. Not only does that feel fulfiling, it enhances your reputation. If you’re not employed, a blog will give prospective employers a look at the real you. (Be careful, which side of the real you that you reveal.) If you own your own business, a blog is a credible vehicle for promoting yourself. It’s especially likely to bear fruit if your target audience is young, male and technosavvy. That’s the group that tends to search the blogosphere for on-target stuff to read. Of course, you can also create a blog for a recreational purpose. For example, you may have a passion for getting publicity for community theaters. That’s a good topic for a blog — narrow and of compelling interest to a niche of people. How do you set up a blog?

You can make blog on any topic - environmental products, rubber products, cosmetic products, computer accessories, biotech products india,

Even a technoplebe can get a blog up and running in 10 minutes. Just go to blogger.com. By the way, it’s free. How do you get people to visit your blog? As long as your topic is narrow, your blog probably will automatically attract at least a few visitors because blogger website sends your blog’s keywords to search engines. More important, if you regularly write quality content, it will attract search engines because of the content itself and because others will link to you. To drive more traffic to your blog: Submit your site’s information to major blog search engines and readers like Technorati, Bloglines, Pubsub and Feedburner:
• Mention other blogs in your posts and you’ll drive more traffic to your blog.

• Most obvious, but perhaps most valuable, invite your co-workers, customers, colleagues at other employers or potential employers to visit your blog. Add your blog to your business card or resume.

• Visit the blogs of other people and leave your comment with a link to your blog. They will inevitably visit your blog as a courtesy/curiosity.


Dos and don’ts of blogging

• Do confine your blog to a very specific topic.Unless you’re a celebrity,people are unlikely to want to visit a blog that’s diffused. Also, an unfocused blog is unlikely to appear on the critical first page of search engine results.

• Do keep your posts brief but clear. Write in the first person and let your personality come out.

• Don’t be foolish in what you publish. Yes, a blog is the place to offer your opinions,but a career-related blog is not a tellall. Before posting something, ask yourself,“Would I mind if all of my colleagues and strangers read it?” If you want to say riskier things, do it on a separate, anonymous blog.

• Do post to your blog at least a few times a week. If the content isn’t fresh, people won’t keep visiting, nor will your blog be as likely to appear in search engine results.

• Don’t get carried away.Because a blog is informal doesn’t mean you needn’t worry about making libelous statements or those revealing your employer’s trade secrets.Stay with statements that are very unlikely to get you sued. Similarly, your non-anonymous blog is not the place to bad-mouth your employer, unless you’re willing to risk being fired for it.