It is an indisputable fact that the world's economy is moving more toward the online model of exchange. Amazon and Google stand as icons of companies that began as small projects, only to grow into massive successes, largely due to the successful marketing of their services. The question then arises, how can a small business take advantage of the opportunities presented by the Web in order to make a profit?
Same as it Ever Was
At its core, online marketing follows the same principles as any other means of marketing - a provider has a product or service they wish to sell, so they advertise in order to draw potential customers' attention to the information they've put together. Just like television commercials, online marketing has to be creative and informative to truly catch the attention of the discerning customer. We've all heard of popup and banner ads that do nothing but hog resources and annoy potential customers rather than attract them to the product, and that result is hardly healthy for any business.
And Now for Something Completely Different
One method that sidesteps the click-away tendency is the use of a blog to market the product. Blog is a shorthand term for web log, and refers to a serial, online journal or record intended for regular viewing. Examples of blogs include noncommercial ventures such as personal diaries posted to Livejournal, the daily record of campaign events for the more tech-savvy politicians, and 'hobby' blogs that cover an activity such as cooking or model airplanes. However, they can also include outright commercial ventures, such as a blog intended to promote a new product, consisting solely of video posts explaining the various advantages to the new product.
It's Easier Than Herding Cats
Some blogs strike a balance between these two extremes. Consider the highly successful LoLCats website. This site began solely as a hobby, posting humorous images of cats. However, due to effective word of mouth promotion among people with similar interests, the site grew quickly, spinning off additional sites and generating an extraordinary amount of advertising revenue. The site has grown so much that Time magazine reported the company was purchased for two million dollars in 2007.
Now, this result is obviously not the norm. For every cheeseburger success story, there are thousands of blogs that toil on in obscurity, accomplishing nothing at all. The differences can be many, but they can be boiled down to concerns relating to effective marketing.
Give it the Old College Try
Let's say that a user named Ron has a passion for low budget college cooking, and wishes to make money writing about it. Ron starts a small blog, using the popular WordPress blogging system, and begins posting two or three times a day. He posts recipes, money saving ideas, and 'bet you didn't know' material, building a decent sized archive. To get an audience, Ron begins visiting and participating in cooking and college related forums, mentioning his blog and its goals to his audience, gathering new users with patient, active efforts.
Eventually, Ron takes two steps toward commercial success when he monetizes the blog through an advertising revenue program (such as Google's AdSense), and by using the blog to promote his new eBook, "Collegiate Cuisine". To hook readers, he promises not only recipes he's already included on the site, but special tips on inexpensive ways to get cooking tools and a few new recipes he hasn't shared yet.
Will this model work? Perhaps. If Ron is too pushy, he might turn people off to his product before they ever come to his site. If he's too timid, his message will get lost in the tide of the Internet. If he chooses poorly in the ads he allows on his site, users won't click and the ads will generate no money. So the second key is research and careful attention. Ron and other blogging marketers have to study the market, pay attention to peoples' needs and input, and adjust their presentation accordingly.
But is There Any Money in it?
To return to the point that there is money to be made in blogging, one would be remiss not to pay attention to the successful Problogger. In the classic 'make money teaching others to make money,' tradition, this is a blog that makes its revenue by teaching users how to make money through professional blogging. Many other sites, such as FreelanceWritingGigs, swear to Problogger's integrity and efficacy and the site does provide a great deal of information. So there clearly IS money to be made in the blogging-as-marketing world.
Back to the Basics
The key to blog marketing is the same key to any business venture, appropriateness. The savvy businessman will evaluate their entire business, and do the research to determine if blogging is a vital addition to what they're trying to accomplish. Blogging allows for a wider audience than local advertising, which could lead to expanding into nearby cities, or shipping to distant locales. It is an option that should seriously be examined, and approached with the same degree of research and caution as any business venture or proposal.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Realtors and Blogs - Can Blogging Help To Position You as an Expert in Real Estate?
In today's world you will need to set yourself apart from others whether you are just starting out or if you are starting over. A great way to do this if you are in real estate is through blogging.
A blog is a web log. It is also a web site. Several years ago, when blogs were first around, most people used them as online journals or diaries. Today there are more than 7 million blogs around the world, or blogosphere, as it is affectionately called. There are many people who run their businesses entirely from a blog and others that use a blog as an addition to an offline business. Real estate is the perfect business to set up with a blog in addition to a traditional website. A real estate blog can take any form that you decide will work for you.
You may want to let your clients know more about who you are and what you do away from the world of real estate. You could make posts about your family and the community events you are involved in. It is probably a good idea to stay away from political or religious topics so that you do not alienate any part of your readership. Have links between your blog and business website so that people can see both. Add the web address of your blog to your business card.
There are many platforms available to set up your blog. The one that I have had great success with is called Typepad. This site offers many advantages over the free blogging platforms but has a small fee depending on the level of service you choose.
Blogging as a realtor will set you apart from everyone else. More than likely you will be the only person in your office to set up and maintain a blog, unless you are in a very large office. Try to post something new on your blog at least three times each week. An added bonus is that you will be more easily found in the search engines if you continue to blog regularly. You will be able to position yourself as an expert with the writing you post on your blog. Decide if you will be providing information or opinions to your readers, or a combination of both. Give your blog a distinctive name and purchase that as a domain. Make it something that is easy to remember so that people will visit your blog regularly. You can easily set up a form on your blog so that your readers can subscribe to it. Every time you make a post they will receive an email alerting them to what you have written. This will keep your name fresh in their mind.
Because blogging is still relatively new to the internet you will need to educate your clients on how to get the most from it. Encourage them to make comments and teach them how to do it. Comments make for lively interaction between you and the other readers.
Blogging is a great way for realtors to get to know their clients in a new and different way. Don't be afraid to experiment with your blog until it feels just right. Your readers will let you know what they want and which direction you should take.
A blog is a web log. It is also a web site. Several years ago, when blogs were first around, most people used them as online journals or diaries. Today there are more than 7 million blogs around the world, or blogosphere, as it is affectionately called. There are many people who run their businesses entirely from a blog and others that use a blog as an addition to an offline business. Real estate is the perfect business to set up with a blog in addition to a traditional website. A real estate blog can take any form that you decide will work for you.
You may want to let your clients know more about who you are and what you do away from the world of real estate. You could make posts about your family and the community events you are involved in. It is probably a good idea to stay away from political or religious topics so that you do not alienate any part of your readership. Have links between your blog and business website so that people can see both. Add the web address of your blog to your business card.
There are many platforms available to set up your blog. The one that I have had great success with is called Typepad. This site offers many advantages over the free blogging platforms but has a small fee depending on the level of service you choose.
Blogging as a realtor will set you apart from everyone else. More than likely you will be the only person in your office to set up and maintain a blog, unless you are in a very large office. Try to post something new on your blog at least three times each week. An added bonus is that you will be more easily found in the search engines if you continue to blog regularly. You will be able to position yourself as an expert with the writing you post on your blog. Decide if you will be providing information or opinions to your readers, or a combination of both. Give your blog a distinctive name and purchase that as a domain. Make it something that is easy to remember so that people will visit your blog regularly. You can easily set up a form on your blog so that your readers can subscribe to it. Every time you make a post they will receive an email alerting them to what you have written. This will keep your name fresh in their mind.
Because blogging is still relatively new to the internet you will need to educate your clients on how to get the most from it. Encourage them to make comments and teach them how to do it. Comments make for lively interaction between you and the other readers.
Blogging is a great way for realtors to get to know their clients in a new and different way. Don't be afraid to experiment with your blog until it feels just right. Your readers will let you know what they want and which direction you should take.
Can a Career Blog Help You?
With the hard times that so many people are going through these days, it should come as no surprise that more and more people are looking for an alternative way to make money. You have undoubtedly come across some of the many career blogs online, and by reading more, you can find out how they can help you.
How Can a Career Blog Help You?
The first kind of career blog that is good for you to peruse is one that is based on looking for a job in your particular area of expertise. For example, if you work in the health care industry, then you should be looking for blogs that write about finding jobs or getting training in that industry. You will often find that it is a great way to network with other people who do the same kind of work as you, and you might also find out that they know of job openings that could suit you.
Take Part in the Blog
Because writing a blog can take up an awful lot of a person's time, you might find that guest blogging on a career blog is both a way to get your name out there and also to introduce you to more people. There are literally thousands of new blogs created every day and most writers find that after a couple of posts they are ready to hire someone else to write them. So, offer your services as an "expert" in your field to the career blog authors and you could find yourself with a job right there.
What Can You Learn from a Career Blog?
Another reason why it is such a good idea to regularly read and search for career blogs is because you might just learn about changes in your field that affect you. Many times, people will post job openings on their blog, which will give you an inside track to a job that you might not otherwise have heard of.
What If You Don't Yet Have a Career?
One of the unique features of a career blog is that you can learn more about different careers that you might not know about. Especially if you are just coming out of school or you find yourself suddenly unemployed after many years in a dead-end job, then a blog is a great way to read about just what a job or a career is like, from people who work in that field already. In addition, you might also find that they are more than willing to give you the help you need to get started, get the training that you need, or to put you in touch with companies that are hiring.
With the high unemployment rate right now, you need to use every resource that you have available to you. By making the right contacts and learning more about a career that interests you, you should have no problem finding the help that you need to get the job that you have always wanted.
How Can a Career Blog Help You?
The first kind of career blog that is good for you to peruse is one that is based on looking for a job in your particular area of expertise. For example, if you work in the health care industry, then you should be looking for blogs that write about finding jobs or getting training in that industry. You will often find that it is a great way to network with other people who do the same kind of work as you, and you might also find out that they know of job openings that could suit you.
Take Part in the Blog
Because writing a blog can take up an awful lot of a person's time, you might find that guest blogging on a career blog is both a way to get your name out there and also to introduce you to more people. There are literally thousands of new blogs created every day and most writers find that after a couple of posts they are ready to hire someone else to write them. So, offer your services as an "expert" in your field to the career blog authors and you could find yourself with a job right there.
What Can You Learn from a Career Blog?
Another reason why it is such a good idea to regularly read and search for career blogs is because you might just learn about changes in your field that affect you. Many times, people will post job openings on their blog, which will give you an inside track to a job that you might not otherwise have heard of.
What If You Don't Yet Have a Career?
One of the unique features of a career blog is that you can learn more about different careers that you might not know about. Especially if you are just coming out of school or you find yourself suddenly unemployed after many years in a dead-end job, then a blog is a great way to read about just what a job or a career is like, from people who work in that field already. In addition, you might also find that they are more than willing to give you the help you need to get started, get the training that you need, or to put you in touch with companies that are hiring.
With the high unemployment rate right now, you need to use every resource that you have available to you. By making the right contacts and learning more about a career that interests you, you should have no problem finding the help that you need to get the job that you have always wanted.
Completely New to Blogging? Help With Getting Your Blog Up and Running!
If you do not have a clue what blogging is and all you have read is 'make money blogging', and click here to receive your free 'how to blog and earn thousands'.
Then you are like the most of us who have been there in that situation and started there. So therefore I have started out with this article in order to help give you an idea on how to get started; Explain a little bit about blogging; and put a few websites where you can get a free blog from.
So, if you have read this far...nice to meet you. My name is Paul and I am still learning every day with blogging and I have been doing it for two years...so really...No-one is a guru at blogging...we all learn every day about what we can do differently and how we can increase our readings and traffic.
So....A little bit about blogging. Blogging can be described as a personal notebook...diary...an information provider....or if your a good writer with new fresh ideas...an opportunity for a new career (in the long run...please do not ring your boss this second and quit your job). Blogs seem to be the hot topic at the moment and they are on the rise. More and more people are starting blogs and developing a community and eventually earning a living...(please don't buy a new jag on credit because you have just set up your first blog and because I mentioned the words 'earning a living' with the words blog)
Obviously to earn a living it takes time. Anyways, enough of my rambling. Here's how you can get started.
Blogger or WordPress?
Choose between to two most popular blogging platforms available. Personally I prefer WordPress as do a lot of other people. This is purely down to the fact that there's more usability and you can interact more with your readers.
Sign yourself up an account with either of them and away you go. Your choice who you choose (WordPress) as I am not biased towards either... (WordPress)
Once you have signed up and got your first blog up and running, play around with it. Get to grips with your dashboard and themes available. Do not worry about money or advertising yet as you need to get to grips with blogs and blogging first. Once you are on good terms with your blog and you can use it to its maximum capacity.
Do the honours....Put your first post up!
Congratulations on your first blog! (that's for when you have set it up, just in case you read this whole post and then go ahead and set up your blog)
If you have any issues or problems, please contact me via the Contact Page.
Thanks for your time and be sure to check back for updates on blogging, help with ideas and how to market your blog.
Spread the word!
Paul
Then you are like the most of us who have been there in that situation and started there. So therefore I have started out with this article in order to help give you an idea on how to get started; Explain a little bit about blogging; and put a few websites where you can get a free blog from.
So, if you have read this far...nice to meet you. My name is Paul and I am still learning every day with blogging and I have been doing it for two years...so really...No-one is a guru at blogging...we all learn every day about what we can do differently and how we can increase our readings and traffic.
So....A little bit about blogging. Blogging can be described as a personal notebook...diary...an information provider....or if your a good writer with new fresh ideas...an opportunity for a new career (in the long run...please do not ring your boss this second and quit your job). Blogs seem to be the hot topic at the moment and they are on the rise. More and more people are starting blogs and developing a community and eventually earning a living...(please don't buy a new jag on credit because you have just set up your first blog and because I mentioned the words 'earning a living' with the words blog)
Obviously to earn a living it takes time. Anyways, enough of my rambling. Here's how you can get started.
Blogger or WordPress?
Choose between to two most popular blogging platforms available. Personally I prefer WordPress as do a lot of other people. This is purely down to the fact that there's more usability and you can interact more with your readers.
Sign yourself up an account with either of them and away you go. Your choice who you choose (WordPress) as I am not biased towards either... (WordPress)
Once you have signed up and got your first blog up and running, play around with it. Get to grips with your dashboard and themes available. Do not worry about money or advertising yet as you need to get to grips with blogs and blogging first. Once you are on good terms with your blog and you can use it to its maximum capacity.
Do the honours....Put your first post up!
Congratulations on your first blog! (that's for when you have set it up, just in case you read this whole post and then go ahead and set up your blog)
If you have any issues or problems, please contact me via the Contact Page.
Thanks for your time and be sure to check back for updates on blogging, help with ideas and how to market your blog.
Spread the word!
Paul
Article Marketing Blog Help
Article marketing is said to be a great way to generate money online in this day and age. It is actually being used by authors to promote their books or ebooks as well as it is also being used by businessmen in marketing their products and services. But don't you know that you can also use article marketing even if you are not a certified author or businessman? You simply have to come up with good quality article contents which you need to post on your own website or weblog. As a matter of fact, one of the best ways to be a successful article marketer is by being aware on how to do the article marketing blog.
A blog is actually a web page or site which can serve as your personal journal wherein you can write anything and everything that you want. You can write your personal views and opinions about some things which can be of great help to other people. In point of fact, you can create your own blog and use it for article marketing purposes and gain extra cash eventually. You only need to make sure to arm yourself with some of the basic article marketing blog tips. The following are some blog help tips which you can consider to be successful in the realm of article marketing:
o Place your blog on a main website. This is essential in order to easily acquire more web visitors. You can actually choose a keyword or keyword phrases that would best describe your page and make your chosen keywords to be your blog's title. You also have to see to it to create a URL for your own blog site.
o Link your blog to all of your articles. This is important in order to acquire greater traffic. All you need to do is to include your blog's URL to all of your written articles. Furthermore, you should make sure not to publish your articles instantly on your blog. You only have to write on your blog some little explanations or remarks regarding your articles, its purpose, as well as its basis and link it directly to your original website.
o Do the link exchanging. Exchanging links works in a way wherein you are going to include on your blog the lists of online article directories, sites, newsletters, or even other blog sites which publish your articles. This is in fact another way on how to generate web visitors and traffics through other useful sites.
o Put a comment box on your weblog page. This is somewhat helpful in order for you to be aware on how people respond to all your written articles either on your blog site itself or to your original website. You need to accept all kinds of comments whether good or bad and consider all those comments when it comes to improving your blog, website, and articles to attain success in the realm of article marketing.
Indeed, you can use a blog in order to do article marketing and gain instant cash. You only have to keep the aforementioned article marketing blog tips in mind in order to ensure success in the long run. After all, the tips mentioned above are believed to be truly helpful and can be done without much effort at all.
A blog is actually a web page or site which can serve as your personal journal wherein you can write anything and everything that you want. You can write your personal views and opinions about some things which can be of great help to other people. In point of fact, you can create your own blog and use it for article marketing purposes and gain extra cash eventually. You only need to make sure to arm yourself with some of the basic article marketing blog tips. The following are some blog help tips which you can consider to be successful in the realm of article marketing:
o Place your blog on a main website. This is essential in order to easily acquire more web visitors. You can actually choose a keyword or keyword phrases that would best describe your page and make your chosen keywords to be your blog's title. You also have to see to it to create a URL for your own blog site.
o Link your blog to all of your articles. This is important in order to acquire greater traffic. All you need to do is to include your blog's URL to all of your written articles. Furthermore, you should make sure not to publish your articles instantly on your blog. You only have to write on your blog some little explanations or remarks regarding your articles, its purpose, as well as its basis and link it directly to your original website.
o Do the link exchanging. Exchanging links works in a way wherein you are going to include on your blog the lists of online article directories, sites, newsletters, or even other blog sites which publish your articles. This is in fact another way on how to generate web visitors and traffics through other useful sites.
o Put a comment box on your weblog page. This is somewhat helpful in order for you to be aware on how people respond to all your written articles either on your blog site itself or to your original website. You need to accept all kinds of comments whether good or bad and consider all those comments when it comes to improving your blog, website, and articles to attain success in the realm of article marketing.
Indeed, you can use a blog in order to do article marketing and gain instant cash. You only have to keep the aforementioned article marketing blog tips in mind in order to ensure success in the long run. After all, the tips mentioned above are believed to be truly helpful and can be done without much effort at all.
How a Business Blog Helps Establish Your Brand Online
There are two aspects of business that can truly work hand in hand. These important aspects of business are blogging and branding. One can play off the other and both working together can give your business the boost it needs. Most successful blogs, when you examine them are successful because of good branding on the part of the author.
The same is true when you already have a great brand -- blogging can help promote your brand. Blogging brings to your business a piece of the puzzle that so many businesses need to integrate in order to have an online presence. Without a business blog, you risk falling behind your competition and not getting to the level of business success you hope to achieve.
In today's business world, the blog has replaced the business card (well, not quite!). Blogging will help you to create additional value in your business. The businesses that combine blogging and branding together are without a doubt, the most successful. This is due to the fact that a well-branded business blog gives people something to remember and keeps them coming back for more. It also provides your readers something to get excited about and in turn they will share it with others, write about it on their own website or blog, linking back to yours and sending more fans and followers your way.
Blogging also allows for interactivity in your business with your clients. You can use it to create a community of fans and build up a subscriber base simply by aggregating your blog feed. Once you do so, however, it is important to blog consistently and constantly. You also want to be sure to stay true to yourself, your personal brand and your business brand when you blog.
Keep in mind that everything you put online must be consistent with who you are and what you want people to know about you, your business and your services. Your blog is your communication tool. It helps you to establish credibility and establish you as a thought leader in your niche community.
A blog helps you get found easily by the people searching for solutions that you provide. When someone Google's your name you want to be found and found quickly. Quite frankly in today's society if you cannot be found online, you don't exist.
The bottom line is this: a well-branded blog helps promote you and your business, helps you get found online by your prospective clients, and helps to establish your expertise and credibility.
The same is true when you already have a great brand -- blogging can help promote your brand. Blogging brings to your business a piece of the puzzle that so many businesses need to integrate in order to have an online presence. Without a business blog, you risk falling behind your competition and not getting to the level of business success you hope to achieve.
In today's business world, the blog has replaced the business card (well, not quite!). Blogging will help you to create additional value in your business. The businesses that combine blogging and branding together are without a doubt, the most successful. This is due to the fact that a well-branded business blog gives people something to remember and keeps them coming back for more. It also provides your readers something to get excited about and in turn they will share it with others, write about it on their own website or blog, linking back to yours and sending more fans and followers your way.
Blogging also allows for interactivity in your business with your clients. You can use it to create a community of fans and build up a subscriber base simply by aggregating your blog feed. Once you do so, however, it is important to blog consistently and constantly. You also want to be sure to stay true to yourself, your personal brand and your business brand when you blog.
Keep in mind that everything you put online must be consistent with who you are and what you want people to know about you, your business and your services. Your blog is your communication tool. It helps you to establish credibility and establish you as a thought leader in your niche community.
A blog helps you get found easily by the people searching for solutions that you provide. When someone Google's your name you want to be found and found quickly. Quite frankly in today's society if you cannot be found online, you don't exist.
The bottom line is this: a well-branded blog helps promote you and your business, helps you get found online by your prospective clients, and helps to establish your expertise and credibility.
How Does Blogging Help a Business? What Are The Best Practices?
In one of the Web 2.0 fairs that I visited, a group of young Social Media marketers were chatting outside the venue; about the how Blogs are passe now. It got me tuned in and offered to take them indoors for a cup of coffee - standing outside in the cold was a strain!
The discussion got intense and lasted quite a while. We concluded by agreeing that a Blog is still an integral part of any online marketing mix. In fact it has taken a all new evolved form.
So how does a blog still help?
1. For starters it reinforces the knowledge base and insight of the company, which specializes in a certain area of business. The fact that information can be twisted in favor of the company's business, makes an end user explore more before taking a decision. Only realizing to be convinced, that the business must have chose to sell or market a particular product or service based on its research and knowledge.
2. Content is still King. It hooks people who are 'exploring' for information on the Internet. The target group usually gets hooked on to reading/seeing interesting information, coming from a trusted authority on the subject. What other better way to share knowledge. Your corporate brochure (read business website) is more like a Salesman. Your blog is like a Counselor.
3. A blog helps tremendously for Search Engine Optimization (thankfully nobody questioned this being effective!). Organic top listings on Google, yahoo and other search engines are an outcome of content relevance, popularity, newness of the information and intelligent tagging. Blogs meet all these criteria. Imagine if you are offering a particular set of product or service - how often can you update your website? The answer is a Blog - it does not really disrupt your structure.
4. Consider your Blog to be your second property on the Internet. More number of sites you have the more business you are able to generate online. This is based on a simple fact that that your 'surface area' exposed to potential clients is more on the web through the second website.
5. Readers and participants of the blog form a niche community within your territory. Now why would you want this community to be nurtured on a 3rd party forum, group of blog? Think of the long run benefit of this. Social networks are no doubt good, but you don't own these communities.
Now that one can understand how useful a Blog still is, what are some of the basics that need to be kept in mind while developing one -
1. Don't boast about your company here! Remember you need to be more subtle in your expression of thoughts. This is not a Press Release section for your website where you end up highlighting the achievements of the company.
2. Preferably, use a sub domain for a blog i.e. [http://www.blog.yourdomain.com] . This will help from the SEO point of view for both the blog and your domain. Creating a blog on a 3rd Party website will not help you as much from the Organic listings viewpoint.
3. Ensure your information is Keyword rich (Density to be between 3-5%). Identify these keywords using various keyword suggestion tools which provide ideas based on past statistics. Will help get more engagements of your potential customer.
4. A faceless / nameless corporate blog is useless. Have the author of the blog post put in his/her name. Remember how you feel when you are made to interact with a voice message on the phone! Impersonal is no good.
5. Promote your blog effectively through social networks. Viral marketing take over after a while if the content is interesting.
6. Encourage people posting comments. This help you generate more content and balance viewpoints of the blog. The more participative the blog is the more effective a community it becomes.
The discussion got intense and lasted quite a while. We concluded by agreeing that a Blog is still an integral part of any online marketing mix. In fact it has taken a all new evolved form.
So how does a blog still help?
1. For starters it reinforces the knowledge base and insight of the company, which specializes in a certain area of business. The fact that information can be twisted in favor of the company's business, makes an end user explore more before taking a decision. Only realizing to be convinced, that the business must have chose to sell or market a particular product or service based on its research and knowledge.
2. Content is still King. It hooks people who are 'exploring' for information on the Internet. The target group usually gets hooked on to reading/seeing interesting information, coming from a trusted authority on the subject. What other better way to share knowledge. Your corporate brochure (read business website) is more like a Salesman. Your blog is like a Counselor.
3. A blog helps tremendously for Search Engine Optimization (thankfully nobody questioned this being effective!). Organic top listings on Google, yahoo and other search engines are an outcome of content relevance, popularity, newness of the information and intelligent tagging. Blogs meet all these criteria. Imagine if you are offering a particular set of product or service - how often can you update your website? The answer is a Blog - it does not really disrupt your structure.
4. Consider your Blog to be your second property on the Internet. More number of sites you have the more business you are able to generate online. This is based on a simple fact that that your 'surface area' exposed to potential clients is more on the web through the second website.
5. Readers and participants of the blog form a niche community within your territory. Now why would you want this community to be nurtured on a 3rd party forum, group of blog? Think of the long run benefit of this. Social networks are no doubt good, but you don't own these communities.
Now that one can understand how useful a Blog still is, what are some of the basics that need to be kept in mind while developing one -
1. Don't boast about your company here! Remember you need to be more subtle in your expression of thoughts. This is not a Press Release section for your website where you end up highlighting the achievements of the company.
2. Preferably, use a sub domain for a blog i.e. [http://www.blog.yourdomain.com] . This will help from the SEO point of view for both the blog and your domain. Creating a blog on a 3rd Party website will not help you as much from the Organic listings viewpoint.
3. Ensure your information is Keyword rich (Density to be between 3-5%). Identify these keywords using various keyword suggestion tools which provide ideas based on past statistics. Will help get more engagements of your potential customer.
4. A faceless / nameless corporate blog is useless. Have the author of the blog post put in his/her name. Remember how you feel when you are made to interact with a voice message on the phone! Impersonal is no good.
5. Promote your blog effectively through social networks. Viral marketing take over after a while if the content is interesting.
6. Encourage people posting comments. This help you generate more content and balance viewpoints of the blog. The more participative the blog is the more effective a community it becomes.
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