Blogging is More Than Lunacy

Blogging isn’t the lunacy many proclaim. There is some lunacy, but there's more to blogging than lunacy.

Many use blogging to journal thoughts, photos or sound bytes. But that's just a few ways to use blog sites. There's more.

Smart business people are beginning to use blogging to increase their findability, position themselves as an expert in their field and to engage in conversations with their customers.

While those that are using blogging for business are finding success, some professions still have their defenses up on the subject. Maybe it's fear.

Hearken back to yesteryear, when the complaint against television was that it would kill radio. It didn’t. But radio did find different – if not better – ways to be used. The outcry against blogging is similar in some professions.

The archive, architecture and frequency of a blogging is changing the professional worlds of web development, marketing, copywriting, and public relations.

Web Development
Here are the distinct differences between a static web site and a blog site:
1.    Timestamped, Archived Content
3.    Ability for the Reader to Engage
4.    Syndicated Content (or RSS Feeds)

Search Engines have a responsibility to deliver fresh, relevant content to their user or face losing them to competitors. Because blogs are updated frequently, provide depth with archived pages, and are have a categorized architecture – search engines are attracted to blogs.

RSS feeds is another reason web development is changing. Because users can receive content without the ads and design – web development is changing.

Marketing and Copywriting
Today’s customer craves a meaningful relationship. While they may switch loyalties and practice diversity – it’s in search of a business that practices meaningful outreach and treats the customer like royalty.

Since blogs allow the reader to receive the content however they choose – and since blogs allow for a form of open dialogue – the company that blogs will be talking with their customers, rather than at them.

Don’t Just Publish – Participate
Blogging isn‘t just about publishing your message, but also about participating in a larger discussion with other bloggers – namely your customers and prospects.

Like any other conversation, blogging has two roles: Listening and Talking. There are tools such as Google’s Blog Search and Technorati that allow you to search the blogosphere by keyword or web address. By subscribing to the RSS feeds of these results, you begin practicing “Search Once and Subscribe.”

Blogging is more than just quilts and cats, pictures and poetry. They are that and more. While some say it's lunacy - there are lunatics driving cars on our roads...but I'll bet you still drive a car.

Photo on Flickr by Sue Richards

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[Andy Brudtkuhl]

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