What's all the buzz about blogs? And where do Weblogs fit in the marketing mix?
If you've been wondering this lately -- wondering if you're missing out -- you might be interested in a recent conversation held by Drs. Ralph F. Wilson, editor-in-chief of Web Marketing Today, and Amanda Wattlington, a Web marketer and founder of searchingforprofit.com.
In the video interview, posted recently on YouTube, Wattlington asserts that blogs "have earned their place at the table," adding that the interactive form of a Web site has "shown itself to be a valuable piece of the marketing communications mix."
Benefits, Wattlington says, include allowing customers to interact with and see a more informal face of the brand. That's aside from providing links -- thus, traffic -- to your business site.
Stepping back from the video for a moment, I see that other industry experts concur. Pattie Simone, writing for Woman Entrepreneur, describes it a little differently. "Think of a blog as 'blue jeans marketing': Where your website wears formal attire, your blog allows for casual conversation and news dissemination."
"Done well," she continues, "a blog is another platform for interaction. It's a laid-back, online vehicle where you can showcase your expertise ... [and] a blog is extremely affordable."
So consider adding a blog to your arsenal of marketing materials. It's one more way to connect with your audience where they are: online.*
About the author. Brenda Friedrich is a communications specialist based in Des Moines, Iowa. For a complete listing of her services, visit her Web site, BrendaFriedrich.com.
