A blog is a frequently updated online journal or diary. It is a place to express yourself to the world. A place to share your thoughts and your passions. Blog is a short form for the word weblog. Blogs are a special type of website that usually displays date stamped entries in reverse chronological order.
Many blogs provide commentary on a certain subject, while others are personal online diaries, or online brand advertising of a particular individual or company. A typical blog combines text, images, and links to other blogs and web pages.
History of Blogging
The modern blog evolved from the online diary, where people would keep a running account of their personal lives. Most such writers called themselves diarists or journalists.
According to research, the first blog was created by Junstin Hall while he was a student and it was called Links.net. At that time they weren’t called blogs, and he just referred to it as his personal homepage. Blogger was the first blogging website launched in 1999 by Pyra labs and google bought blogger in 2003 and added its own features such as integration with picasa to enable the users to post photos.
Different types of Blogs
- Micro blogging – practice of posting small pieces of digital content in the form of text, pictures, links, short videos, or other media on the internet. Friends use it to keep in touch, business associates use it to coordinate meetings or share useful resources, and celebrities and politicians (or their publicists) micro blog about concert dates, lectures, book releases, or tour schedules.
- Personal blogs – an ongoing diary or commentary written by an individual, example, an update about a trip or family event. It is shared only among private connections.
- Collaborative blogs or group blogs – written and published by more than one author. Different authors contribute to a particular topic of interest and is targeted at a certain level of audiences. These blogs are around a single theme, example, politics.
- Corporate and organizational blogs – used internally to enhance the communication and culture in a corporation or business. It can also be used externally for marketing and branding or public relations.
Social Media and Blogging
Blogs have become an integral part of online culture. Blogs these days are now being used for business purposes as a form of social media. It is used for self expression and connecting with people who are interested in the same topics or same interests as you, creating a platform to build a relation with the readers as they comment on posts and sharing though social media with the whole world. Effective blogs require understanding of the key attributes of blogging which are voice, frequency, style, features and the passion to become a blogger.
Some of the major advantage for businesses using blogs are below:
- Develop relationships with potential and existing customers – Blogging allows you to connect with your site visitors. This can be accomplished by asking your readers questions at the end of your posts to get the conversation going or by simply allowing comments and feedback. By reviewing and responding to readers’ comments, you can create a rapport with your audience, build trust, and gain valuable insight into what your customers are looking for.
- Establish your business as an industry leader- you can build trust and clout within your industry by providing valuable, expert information in your blog posts. Over period of time, you become a “go to” resource for helpful, informative content, which can ultimately lead to higher customer conversion rates. This is especially important for small businesses looking to gain credibility to compete with larger companies.
- Create connection and relationship between people and your brand -Blog posting allows you to show a personal side of your business that perspective and current customers won’t see through outbound marketing techniques. Blogging gives others a sense of the corporate standards, vision, and personality of your company.
- Engage with readers and blog users
- Share links, images, videos and receive feedback from readers via comments
- helps to keep profile information up to date for the readers and followers to build trust and loyalty.
- Place targeted blogs based on demographics and various interests and keep track.
References
- Kaplan, A.M. & Haenlein, M. (2010). Users of the world unite! The challenges and opportunities of social media. Business Horizons, 53(1), 59-68.
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