Blogging is not as new as you may think, it has been around since the late 1990’s. Only now is it becoming really main stream and coming to the fore. It started out as being a means to post simple one line comments on a webpage, where surfers could give feedback on products or services. Since then, these basic sentences have now blossomed into pages of dialogue about diverse subjects ranging from personal interest to corporate issues.

But the really interesting thing is that advertisers have cottoned on to the power of blogging. As blogging evolves in its importance, it is becoming clear to anyone serious about establishing and maintaining a strong internet presence that blogging is the must have new internet marketing tool.

To help you exploit blogging as an online marketing tool, follow these five tips:

1. Blogging Is Simple, Easy and Fun.

It is one of the most straight forward ways of getting your views about hot topics, products or services aired online. You don’t need fancy qualifications to set- up a half decent blog. As long as you have an average command of English and can use a pc, you are half way there. All you need are ideas and the commitment to get writing, typing fast always helps but that improves with time.

Blogging allows you to publish your own take on life, health, wealth and relationships amongst others. It’s like having your own magazine and you’re your own editor. You can review anything from TV shows, music, fashion, food, developments in current affairs along with a multitude of products and services. The more genuine and informed you are the better your articles will be.

2. Blogging Is Believable.

Advertising is inundating people from every angle with “buy this and buy that”, so much so it makes people immune to publicity or at the very least less suggestible. The difference with blogging is that, it is about ordinary folk talking about what interests and matters to them.

Blogging is like listening to your friend and there is nothing more powerful than word of mouth which has huge power to persuade. If you get a recommendation with a balanced argument from someone you trust, you are more likely to try that product. You feel that you have insider information, a heads up if you will!

3. Blogging Is Cheap.

Most people blog for free because blogging is still a novel medium, there hasn’t been wide spread charging for it. It is still evolving organically, and it would appear that advertising is where providers are covering their costs.

The majority blog on dedicated free sites specifically designed to cater for bloggers. Other generic websites offer blogging sections for visitors to chat and share feedback, or they have an informal section where their own staff or personalities blog in a chatty style to attract fans. More serious bloggers especially businesses should consider paid blogs as you have so much more control over your content. You can advertise and can generate revenue from advertising on a paid blog.

4. Blogging Builds Reputation.

The more you educate your readers about your area of interest and the more you demonstrate you know what you are talking about, the more authority you develop. Readers become to trust you and your word. As your credibility increases you start to attract more hits, firstly because of word of mouth but also because your blog gets linked to by other blogs and websites.

If you have managed to become a real authority in an area, you could find interest from the commercial sector who want to associate their business with you. Success breeds success because you have established a good reputation, you will find that industry may want to advertise with you or you could get paid for referrals from your blog as an affiliate.

5. Blogging Grows Market Share.

You can build market share by following these steps:

• Maximise the use of email.

Use your email contacts to let them know about your blog. Send short emails or headlines to your list directing recipients to your updated blog. This way you drive more traffic to your site, or if you’re lucky you’ll get forwarded on to their friends and family.

People like to keep a good newsletter to read time and time again. The good thing about blogs are that they are in cyber space indefinitely and easy to find. So when your readers have gotten your email notification, they know they can go to your blog site and that the content is there at anytime for a browse. This allows them to delete the earlier notification and keep their inbox clutter free.

• Encourage subscriptions.

By requesting a subscription from a reader for full access to your blog site, you get the reader’s name and email address in return. Email addresses are a valuable commodity, they help you communicate directly with qualified prospects so you can promote to a targeted and responsive audience and get conversions or in lay man’s terms sales.

You should ask permission by asking your reader to opt in before signing them up to your blog subscription. Don’t pimp your list, and by that we mean, don’t sell it on, or spam your list with irrelevant information that they didn’t sign up for. You don’t want to get a name as sending junk mail or risk a post on your blog about unwanted subscriptions.

• Know Your Audience.

Ask questions! When readers subscribe to your blog, ask them to fill out a short questionnaire so you can better meet their needs in terms of how you communicate and advertise to them. Once you have their profile details and preferences, you can be sure you are not wasting your time on irrelevant topics and advertising. Don’t be frightened of conducting surveys, or asking for comments on a recent blog post or advertisement.

• Join blog-Groups.

What blog networks have is something in common. They’re generally in the same sector, field, demographic or gender. By grouping your blog with similar bloggers in a network blog, you reassure the reader that you are a credible trustworthy source because a community of bloggers have accredited you simply by being in the same network.

It is also easier for readers to find resources in a single location rather than having to search endlessly online. It adds value to them by saving them time. Remember the bigger the group the better.

• Add RSS Feeds.

This technology is growing in prevalence daily on the net. RSS feeds have the ability to make your site look professional. They also keep your site fresh looking. RSS feeds also generate interest in your blog which is the end game for any blogger.

So to conclude, don’t get left behind in the online space. Blogging is creating a new internet culture for individuals, it is also the next must have marketing tool for businesses. Embrace it or be left behind.

Blogging is as easy as I have said above and you can set yourself up with a blog in no time at all.