Blogging has risen to the heights of social media and citizen journalism. Since its appearance in our communication stream, the influential power of successful bloggers has continually increased. Individuals are no longer at the mercy of corporate and government-issued, public information. It’s true that there are lots of bizarre materials floating on the web – but we now have the ability to decide for ourselves by sifting through multiple perspectives, sources, and experiences. Disgruntled employees have an outlet to vent frustrations. Individuals have a virtual soapbox to stand on and share positive and negative feedback with hundreds of thousands of readers. Even large corporations now have an opening to show a more personal side to their brand as well as gain valuable intelligence on competitors, customer thoughts, and technology trends. Big brands and mass media have been paying attention to the growing interest in blogs and it’s time that you put some thought into this arena for your business growth as well.
In a world of on demand movies or television, pirated music downloads, and Whispernet book downloads, we possess more control with our exposure to media. We even have the capability to receive subscribed information instantly as it updates via RSS feeds or notifications to our cell phone, Facebook wall, or Twitter cast. From a news reporting standpoint, the lines of demarcation between editors, writers, and readers will continue to blur as more individuals become involved in this growing form of communication. Blog mania has captured the attention of leading, mass media marketers and will continue to interest professionals looking for a competitive edge in the ever-changing advertising & editorial climate of the internet.
Advertising is still an influence, but it’s got to be that much smarter to reach prospective customers with relevant interest today. Even Yahoo and Google are actively pursuing strategies to dominate advertising commodities throughout the blogosphere. It’s time to get your own blog started. Get started by committing yourself to this task or appointing a respected employee to write a series of well-written, journal -style entries about company happenings, innovations, and case studies. Follow through with regular updates and use your blog like many other successful businesses to extend your reach to new and loyal customers. Develop an online relationship with readers by providing useful and relevant information to fit marketplace needs. Keep tabs on your competition’s online strategies as well by frequently reviewing their web sites and blogs. Follow any related, industry association blogs to stay on top of current and developing trends.
When the means of promotion shift, it’s important for businesses to follow suit or be left in the dust by bolder, competing brands. It’s simple to get started. Just dive into your own blog with ever present attention to your target audience’s feedback. Be prepared to make adjustments as you go and work smarter as you gain experience. Many web hosting providers offer blog capabilities and add-ons at no additional cost. Spend some time doing the research yourself – you’ve got nothing to lose! In the end, you’ll gain intelligence and insight that will assist you in effective promotion to improve your business’ brand and awareness throughout the web.
Sources:
Baker, Stephen and Heather Green. “Social Media Will Change Your Business.” Businessweek.com. February 20, 2008.
Belicove, Mikal E. “Start a Blog for Your Business.” Entrepreneur.com. May 2009.
Maney, Kevin. “If Pirating Grows, It May Not Be the End of the Music World.” USAToday.com. May 5, 2005.
