Blogging – Growing through conversation.

H-mails have always been about sharing information.

From now on, you have the option to respond with your comments or thoughts to any subject we discuss in H-mails. When you click through for more information, the H-mail becomes a BLOG on the current topic, giving you the opportunity to comment if you like. This way H-mails become a two-way conversation. And you can let us know if a subject is interesting or relevant to you and your work.The first subject of our new H-mail/blog is—blogging. What is it? How is it used and why? What value is a blog to your business and your workday? Is it a resource or a distraction? A mind-numbing cyber-habit, or a mind-expanding, information-gathering tool?Let’s start with the basics.  According to Wikipedia, “A blog (a contraction of the term “Web log“) is a Web site, usually maintained by an individual, with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video.”Blogging evolved as a hybrid of the moderated newsgroup, that began in the early days of the World Wide Web, and the online diary. As the technology advanced, online diaries gained the capability to accept comments from readers, and so the Web log or blog was up and running.One of main uses of blogs is as a place where people who share a similar interest can exchange ideas, opinions or information online. Some blogs are hosted by a single person or business. Others are open forums where ongoing conversation threads from numerous persons appear on a particular subject. A typical blog may combine copy or text with images and links to other blogs, Web sites or other sources of information on the current topic.For a more extensive background on types and uses of blogs, go to Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blog

As a businessperson, how can a blog benefit you?

1. Express your expertise.
Blogs allow you to articulate your knowledge, viewpoint, and expertise on issues and areas of business that help differentiate you and your business and generate inquiries and customers.

2. To increase Web traffic.
Blogs create a more significant presence on major search engines like Google and Yahoo. The subject content within a blog is rich in terms and phrases that search engine “spiders” recognize and tag, making it easier for persons searching for that content to find.  By cross-linking your blog to your Web site, you increase traffic to both.

3. Define your company voice.
A blog is the perfect opportunity to create an authentic “voice” for your brand and create a more human and unique identity.

4. Build trust.
Blogs enable you to build more personal, long-lasting relationships with your customers and build trust.

5. Create an additional touch point with customers.
Blogs provide an additional opportunity for your customer to experience and remember your brand in a non-sales environment. It allows you to evolve and shape your brand in real-time.

6. Collect feedback from your customers.
Blogging allows your customers a means to voice positive or negative comments about your business or brand. All comments are valuable if used as a way to improve your service and sales.

7. Expert source for media inquiries.
The media relies on blogs regularly for story background material. Journalists will contact you for additional information on topics covered in your blog.  You become an expert and quotable source for news.This is just a small portion of the many benefits of blogging. It creates a unique environment of openness for expression and sharing with your customers that can reveal your humanity and create a stronger brand position than is possible in other media.

Question: What is your experience with blogging? Have you used it for your business? And if not, why?  We’d like to know what you think.