Only three types of businesses should be concerned about starting a corporate blog - Marketing for small businesses

I recently had a discussion with a client about the finer points of Clicksharp elements of the marketing of a comprehensive internet marketing campaign, citing the blog as the most powerful of all social media. (Sorry, Youtube and Facebook - I suppose in this day and age, the words have more power to change the world of video and ... Pokemon.)

His answer: ". Why blogging goes I think of blogs as 2006"

Ouch. Not even 2007. So I did a little 'digging on recent statistics, and found that last November, Technorati has estimated the number of active blogs to 15.5 million (in the active sense that bloggers have published over the last 90 days). This was published in Business Week with a vigorous look: "Although social media is going strong, a particular form of it, blogging, we just would not be for everyone."

Then last week, I came across an article in the Shifting Careers column for The New York Times, which deals with issues relevant to small businesses. Marci Alboher calls blogging "low-cost, high return marketing tool" and then adds: "But while blogs may be useful to many smaller businesses, even blogging experts do not recommend it for the majority."

Time to set the record straight. If blogging is not for everyone, then who is?

* Those who sell a product whose purchase can be a process of intensive research. Sell ​​exotic wines, sensitive health services, mutual funds or dark? You will probably find that once you have your passion and write with confidence about what you know, customers will start finding more and more often.

* Anyone who sells an image or a "cachet". Because cost more than a Honda Acura? Why are you happy to pay more for a glass of Grey Goose with a glass of Smirnoff? Because with these brands is a history-class or pragmatism or value. But while Diageo may spend tens of millions Smirnoff marketing, chances are you need a vehicle a little 'less to tell a story.

* Any person who Relationship Marketing. In your line of work, does not depend heavily on selling humanizing you, your business and / or your product? Remember that consumers have more options than ever, and tend to buy from people they trust. Your blog provides a way to come out in more than a merchant medium wielding a sales pitch.

We all take Riva Richmond Wall Street Journal article on blogging in the heart: "Small businesses can benefit most: Blogs offer little-known small businesses name recognition of, and ways to increase traffic beyond what would get if they were simply offering goods and services for sale. "

The playing field has leveled in 2008, thanks to all the cost effective marketing tools available. In these emerging channels, your larger competitors can not always outspend you like they have in the past. For some 'juice marketing in addition, try to recall their products alone together, and hire a SEO consultant to help you rank well in search engines.

What happens when you Google your own brand, and see your site come first? Who knows. But it will not be your problem .......