| Blogs are the hottest thing going these days when it | | | | categories for easy finding. One clever person we |
| comes to marketing on the Internet. A blog is a way | | | | know spent a day posting all her ezine articles to her |
| of delivering your messages and article to clients. | | | | blog, so that it would appear she has been blogging |
| They are a like personal web sites, easy to create | | | | for a much longer time. Also, readers of her blog |
| and far less expensive than traditional web sites. | | | | may not have had the opportunity to read all of her |
| Just when you thought you were mastering the | | | | other ezine articles. |
| tasks of ezines and newsletters, along comes | | | | 6. You can use your blog to become a trusted |
| blogging, and you have to ask yourself: | | | | expert in your field by filtering content on the web |
| - Do I really need a blog? | | | | for your subscribers. Readers don't have time to surf |
| - Isn't an email ezine or newsletter doing the same | | | | and to collect information, but you can do it for |
| thing? | | | | them, thereby establishing yourself as a good |
| - Should I do both? | | | | resource. |
| - Are these two marketing tools going to eat up all | | | | 7. You can set up links for ads, products, and for |
| my time, energy and money? | | | | your affiliate programs in the blog side columns so |
| - What's the best way to spend my resources here | | | | you don't have to include them in the body of your |
| so that I can get clients and results out of my | | | | article. In an ezine, you have to be careful about |
| marketing efforts? | | | | promotional stuff in the article because it annoys |
| Here are ten reasons why you should pay attention | | | | people and causes them to unsubscribe. A blog is a |
| to this new blogging revolution and do both and ezine | | | | non-intrusive way to do this, and an ezine can link to |
| and a blog. | | | | the blog where more information can be found. |
| 1. Because a blog is web based, it is published | | | | 8. Readers can comment on your blog postings, |
| instantaneously every time you post. This allows you | | | | which creates rapport and with readers. You can ask |
| to be spontaneous and current with issues that | | | | questions, stimulate responses by being controversial, |
| affect your readers/clients. Blog posts are short, | | | | and survey readers. It is a great way to keep your |
| ezines can be longer. One can complement the other. | | | | finger on the pulse of what readers want. |
| 2. Because blog posts are spontaneous, they tend to | | | | 9. You don't have to mess with a web site, or pay a |
| be more informal, friendly, and conversational. Blog | | | | web designer to update your web site every time |
| posts show your personality. Ezines show your | | | | you have a new article or teleclass, or program or |
| knowledge. Your readers/clients need to know who | | | | product. Blogs are user-friendly, and with a few |
| you are before they will invest in your services. | | | | instructions or tutorials, you can learn to use it |
| Providing both an ezine and a blog allows your | | | | yourself. It is less expensive than setting up your |
| readers to get to know you. | | | | ezine in HTML. |
| 3. You can set up a subscription form on your blog | | | | 10. Bottom line is this: using a blog and an ezine will |
| and your subscribers will get a short notice in their | | | | help attract more visitors to your website, who |
| inboxes each time you post something new. This is a | | | | become subscribers and who may eventually become |
| great way around the spam filter problem which | | | | clients. |
| blocks so many ezines and legitimate messages from | | | | Think of the World Wide Web as a big fishing pond. |
| professionals. | | | | The more fishing lines in the pond, the more fish you |
| 4. Blogs link to other blogs and web sites, which helps | | | | are going to catch! |
| you create a viral marketing system, increasing your | | | | You have a web site, yet it is static like an online |
| exposure to search engines. Search engines love | | | | brochure. |
| blogs because they are text based and key word | | | | You have an ezine, which you grow through |
| rich. Your rankings go up when you publish a blog and | | | | subscription links everywhere. |
| use linking and posting on a frequent basis. You can | | | | And now, you should have a blog, where you can |
| also link to your own web site(s). | | | | attract more readers to get to know you, where |
| 5. You have instant access to all your published | | | | they can interact with you, and maybe take your |
| articles on your blog. A blog automatically creates | | | | bait! |
| archives of previous posts. You see them in a | | | | Happy fishing! |
| side-bar for easy access. You put them into | | | | |