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A blog can be a good
tool for business

FREE-THINKING and free-speaking bloggers can boost your small business, or sink it. It's true whether you're online, offline, or a true click-and-mortar 21st century business owner.

Bloggers can help to put your business on top of a word-of-mouth pedestal, or torpedo your greatest efforts and sink you to the bottom of the sea.

Being active in the blogosphere -- both with posting and research -- will become more important for the success of your business.

Until now, the vast majority of business owners have been simply ignoring blogs -- really simple syndication -- and everything that comes with them. After all, it's kind of tough to take a movement seriously when a casual glance makes it seem it look like it's mostly parents bragging about their kids, kids talking about their dates, or conservatives holding the mainstream media in check.

But whatever the topic, the discussion of business isn't usually too far behind -- from bad experiences with a product to good customer service somewhere. Suddenly anyone with even a moderate amount of Internet know-how is an instant publisher voicing his or her opinions, valid or not.

Taking the time to monitor what others are saying about you and your company is important. By regularly monitoring the Net and watching for your name, or the name of your company, you can nip some costly problems in the bud. You can simply Google your terms, or use one of the blog-specific search engines like Technorati or Feedster.

This is not something for most small business owners to be overly concerned with. It's more something to be aware of. As powerful as blogging can be, most bloggers have their posts disappear into the virtual void never to be seen again. Good and bad, positive and negative -- it takes more than simple blog and some words to make a big impact. For the proactive small business owner, the best defense is definitely a good offense. Have something to say in your own business blog.

When you maintain your own business blog, keep your updates pertinent and regular, and know how to promote your blog effectively -- you'll be building the trust and rapport that will make it tough for the casual critic to sink your ship. It's easier to get started than you think. To learn more about business blogging and how it can become a major support arm for your business visit, www.advancedbusinessblogging.com.

Remember that blogging is just a communication tool. It's the people you need to focus on, not the technology. It's the people whom you educate, edify and serve that will determine your success. Your business blog is just a way to make it happen faster.

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