If your are marketing on the internet, or have any other kind of online business, then there are so many good reasons to start a blog that it almost seems a formality to list them out here.  But, having said that I will anyway.  Just in case I come up with a reason you haven’t thought of yet.

One of the main reason why you should start blogging, is that it builds your ‘web-presence’, and there are many good byproducts of that.  Blogging is an excellent opportunity for gaining exposure and generating income.

Blogs are cheap.  For self-hosted blogs, (the best for business purposes), the cost is your domain name registration, and your hosting account.  Everything else about your blog is free.

Blogs help to build relationships with your customers, and potential customers.  They allow you to educate them, about both your product or service, and the market that you are in.  If you provide them with knowledge, and can be a resource for them, they’ll keep returning to your blog again and again.

Blogs facilitate communication between yourself and your visitors.  A normal website does not do this.  Visitors can leave comments, and ask questions very simply.

A blog provides an additional marketing avenue.  And a different way of marketing.

A blog is easy.

• Easy to use.
• Easy to set up.
• Easy to configure.
• Easy to enhance the blogs capabilities.

The bottom line then could be, blogs give you more exposure, gives your products and/or services more exposure, allows you to provide more value to your customers, and increases your communications with your customers.

What’s not to like about that?

Next up: Part 2, Self-Hosting or Not

Related posts:

1. Your First Blog – Self-Hosting or Not
2. Your First Blog – Part 7 The Rest of the Story
3. Your First Blog – Part 4 Getting Started With Content
4. Your First Blog – Part 3 Marketing Your Blog
5. Your First Blog – Part 5 Keeping Up