The term BLOG comes from the two words Web and Log. It is a discussion or an informational web page compiled of multiple entries or posts that are usually displayed in reverse chronological order. Most BLOGS are interactive in the sense that they allow readers to post comments.
Many of my clients visibly cringe when I suggest that they include a blog on their website. The idea of writing a weekly article seems a daunting task to many business owners. However, the rewards that can be reaped by sharing valuable information are priceless.
Put the image of a lengthy dissertation to rest and instead, think about a BLOG as the opportunity to share blurbs of information about a topic on which you are an authority. Certainly, anyone in business can up with an informative paragraph or two about a product that they sell. It is a matter of disciplining yourself to regularly embrace the platform.
Here is how I have worked blogging into my hectic schedule. I belong to a local BNI chapter where each member must present a 60-second commercial to the group about their business on a weekly basis. I use this opportunity to simultaneously develop a weekly blog post on the same topic.
How successful is my BLOG? After taking a close look at my website analytics I learned that the day of the week when my website has the highest number of hits is on the day of my blog post. I decided to look at the analytics data for my website after speaking to a friend. She built her website using SharePoint and therefore uses SharePoint analytics to view the number of people who have visited her site, how many times these people have visited her site, and a list of files that have received the most views.
Above all, data analytics is a fantastic tool for businesses to gain insights into their websites. While it may be difficult to specifically measure the benefits of sharing information, I embrace the philosophy of givers gain. If I am providing readers with information about a product that they want to know more about then my BLOG is a success.
