Alright, here we go. After repeated reminders from my boss and “Writing a Blog is no big deal” statements from my colleagues, I am finally Blogging! But, what is it that I am supposed to blog on??

Well, that is the question that lingers in on just about anyone’s mind, worse some of them never get the answer. Whilst some folks only decide to blog because they hear someone making a fortune through blogging, there are also some who get *inspired* to write a blog after they come across a wonderful blog from their favorite celebrity. And probably that is the very reason they do not know what topic to write on, since it is not the love of writing that is drawing them to blogging, it is something which has absolutely nothing to do with writing. Let us have a look at why people wanting to blog don’t blog:

• No Love for Writing Really

As pointed out above, blogging is all about wanting to express yourself through words. Money can be one of the motivations, not THE motivation.

• Lack of Confidence

Not being sure if what we write is up to the ‘standards’ is the primary reason why people stay away from blogging. People read other blogs and start comparing the quality of writing on those blogs with their own writing capabilities and that is where the doubts start creeping in. This is what must have prompted Mark Twain to say, “All you need is ignorance and confidence and the success is sure”

• Expecting Too Much Too Soon

Web is full of stories of people churning out heaps of money by just blogging. So when some new writers on the block do not see the riches pouring in with just a smattering of blogs, they quit writing.

• Who has Time?

In this hustle and bustle of our daily lives, squeezing out some time for blogging makes up for one challenging task, unless you are a professional writer. You need an uncluttered mind to write blogs, and that is the only thing one never has a luxury of. Writing a blog requires time and an internet connection and while latter can be easily acquired, you cannot buy time!

There must be further more reasons for you not writing a blog even after registering yourself with number of websites. It’s time you give up those reasons and give in to the gratification you get from writing. I for one, surrender!

When it comes to the wondrous World Wide Web, there is a myriad of possibilities available for you. From passing time browsing through photos of strangers on Facebook to talking with your far away girlfriend, from spreading public awareness to advertising your products, there’s something for each and everyone for us (employed or unemployed).

An internet practice that has gained significant popularity in the past few years is affiliate marketing. It is like conventional marketing but in a more convenient way. Companies continuously look for ways to promote their products and services in a cost effective way, something that would keep the common man interested. Affiliate marketing does just that. These companies’ websites reward their affiliates (or visitors or members or customers, you get the drift) for every new visitor they bring to the website. This reward can be in the form of cash or gifts. The affiliates have to come up with their own marketing skills to promote the website/product.

Nowadays, affiliate marketing is fast becoming a means to get easy cash. Though it is an uncomplicated means to earn money, one does need to make a bit of effort before their bank account can get fatter.  Websites also require you to invest in some money before you can begin earning. When you start off, you’d be required to write for the affiliate links in order to promote them. This can include blogging, writing reviews, participating for forums, and the likes.

Once you learn the nitty-gritty associated with affiliate marketing, it can be a smooth sail. Be open to new ideas and constantly innovate your marketing strategies to earn attention and promotion.

I’m sure the first thought that popped into the head of most of you who are reading this is, what in the world is ghost blogging? I am quite certain that most of you who are reading this are aware of the term, ghost writing, so, when you write a blog with knowledge that it will be credited to another person, that is called ghost blogging.

Ghost blogging is generally frowned upon by the internet ethics police, who believe that getting someone else to write a blog for you is akin to getting your dirty work done by someone else. Of course, the members of the internet ethics police are the same people who download pirated stuff on their PC’s and claim that it’s part of their freedom. So that’s that.

Ghost blogging is done by content writers for monetary gains. These writers are honest and ethical people who are loaning out their skills, talents, to those who do not have the time or the skill to write. It’s a part of their job, they know that they won’t be credited, and we should respect their decision instead of criticising them for it.

Keep in mind that most of the blogs which are written are done for corporate clients, who have specific needs and interests. The clients supply the writers with specific details and guide the writers on how they would like the blog to turn out, and in the end, it’s the clients who read the final draft and have the power to accept or reject it. So it isn’t like they are not a part of the blogging process at all.
I personally feel that the best way to end this would be to quote Michael Corleone from the movie The Godfather, “It’s not personal Sonny. It’s strictly business.”

Looking back a few years, there was no word such as “Blog” but today blogs have carved a niche for themselves in the internet domain. Just to give an idea as to what exactly a blog means, refer to the diary that one used to maintain in nineties. Now, look at your blog, which is just like a diary, but one that is maintained online, with a plethora of added features. Earlier it was not that easy to have access to internet, but today, with so many innovations lined up, internet is found in everybody’s pocket. Easy access has made individuals known in the online world. Blog, also known as a web log, is a platform where one can share thoughts, actions, opinions and reactions.

Instantly, you must have noticed that, be it a personal site or a corporate site, all have made a new addition of “blog” on their home page. The influence and importance of blogs has seen a tremendous, rather exponential, growth in the last four years. Blogs have become promotional tools that provide you with recognition, not to mention enhancing the communication channel.

Anyone can start blogging, but not everyone knows the right track that is to be followed while doing so. The basic approach while writing a blog should be to make other respond to your opinions or to make people identify with your ideology. There are certain golden rules that a blogger should always remember and understand the importance behind them. How to go about writing a blog?  Blogging needs to be in sync with your opinion, what you want to say and the manner in which you want to say it. Sometimes, provocative things said on blogs make people comment and participate to support or disabuse opinions. If you want people to come back to your blog post for more information or follow-ups, it is important to make your writing interesting. An appropriate tone along with consistency in your writing style is the key ingredient here. People love to read blogs because they contain opinions and reactions that come from public and not from any professional’s mind that is probably well-trained to write content. It is a place where you will find public expressions on topics people are passionate about, that they wish to express. It becomes a necessity that defines the nature of a blog, to speak what’s on your mind related to a particular subject or a situation.

Be honest and openly express yourself while blogging. The basic idea behind a blog should be to entertain readers and directly strike their thinking so that they participate in it.  Keep a blog personal; let the writings define you, your thinking that makes you different from rest of the world.

Blog writing started as a platform for self expression. People used it to pen their thoughts and opinions, but it has evolved itself by becoming a means to market and promote products and services for business organizations. It is one of the most recent additions of the online content marketing tools. In this century, internet has become one the topmost powerful tools to reach out to the masses anywhere in the world. People use it to promote their business and provide facts to the information-hungry internet goers.

Blogs as a source only work if they are constantly updated with relevant content that the readers will be interested in reading. Blogs are visited by readers to know information about the most recent developments in the products and services range. There are basically two kinds of blogs which includes personal blogs and corporate blogs. Companies who offer blogs on the website generally hire a professional blog writer, who can write content creatively. In the absence of content on the blog, the reader will be bored and the blog will lose all its appeal.

If properly maintained, a blog can become a great source for the company to generate awareness and interest. It can also assist the company in branding and advertising its new and old products and services.

There are various benefits that a company can reap with the help of blogging. It helps the company promote its brand name and increase website traffic to a great extent. As we blog, the company interacts with its customers and gathers their feedback. This serves as great medium for the company to reach out to its customers.  It works in favour of the company as it can now improve and at the same time understand customer expectations.

Blogging sites also help the company through regular feedback on their products and others in the market through their customers. If the company wishes to conduct an online market survey, a blog will help the company here as well. Blogs cannot just be written by professional blog writers but also people in the organisation which improves the communication inside the company.