Blogging

Blogging

Similar To Article Marketing, But With A Twist

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Welcome to the wonderful world of frequent, chronological publications of
personal thoughts and Web links. Blogs are often a mixture of what is
happening in a person’s life and what is happening on the Net. The Reality
TV of the Internet. There doesn’t seem to be much that isn’t tackled as a
topic for a blog, so why not jump in with both feet and blog about your
business/product/service. What a tremendous vehicle for product and other
pictures, links and articles you’ve written.

But First Some History

Blogs have been around since early 1997, but really
took off in popularity when automated publishing
systems were introduced. For instance: Blogger at
blogger.com. Try to stick to the term blog, rather
than the other alternative which is weblog because it
means a server’s log files. By 1999 there were 23 in
existence, but not for long. Blogs and blogging spread like wildfire. Of course
software designers came up with even more ways for people to publish their
own blogs quickly and easily.
The history is important because it directly relates to what you can do with
your blog. Original weblogs were link-driven. Today’s blogs are also link
driven and that's your key to the success of your blog. Seek out unusual
links, interesting links, teaching links, and learning links for your blog, and
add your own review or commentary to them.
Add extra facts not found in an article, show your own expertise in the area
you market in or invite others to submit their observations. No matter what
way you choose to do it, you will win! Get to the point fast as there isn’t lots
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of room to write a novel. Don't do the essay route either because people
don’t have time to read lengthy articles online or anywhere else for that
matter. What you’re really doing for potential team prospects and customers
is pre-screening or filtering quality sites that would be of interest. What you
want to achieve is a public not an audience for your blog. An audience is
passive. A public participates, and that is what you want to accomplish with
your blog, because ultimately, you want leads.
Try exploring this idea with your blog as well. The HOW
you want to write it. Make it a mixture of links,
commentary and personal notes, or a record of your own
thoughts about something you observed or tried in your
marketing business. Whatever style you choose, make it distinctive to YOU
and written in your own voice, letting your personality shine through. One of
the principle tenets of relationship marketing is getting to know your
prospects, and in return letting them get to know YOU.

Kinds Of Blogs

Vlog – comprised of videos
Linklog – comprised of links
Sketchblog – a portfolio of sketches
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Photoblog – pictures
Tumblelogs – shorter posts, mixed media
Moblog – written by a mobile phone or PDA
Blawgs – by genre (political, travel, fashion etc)
Private blogs – usually the most popular
Business blogs – for businesses
Corporate blogs – used internally for a business (marketing, branding, PR).