Having a blog is very commonplace in today's e-commerce society. Everywhere you look, there are blogging websites, companies adding blogs to their business website, etc. Kids and adults alike are thriving in social blogging networks across the world. So what is a blog? Basically, a blog is like a public journal or newsletter, but is very informal. By definition, blogging is designed to be more conversational, and less formal or technical. While you might read a very technical articles about the "implication and use of Web 2.0 in online business," a blog title on the same subject would look more like this: "How Web 2.0 can help grow your business".
So how can a blog help your business? It's simple, really. By providing a forum where your customers and colleagues can gather and read your thoughts and/or information in a conversational manner, you're likely to draw in more readers. There are people who spend their days reading blogs, just for fun. If yours is set up properly (by using SEO and keyword placement), you can get it to be on the first page of search engine listings for relevant keyword combinations, causing more people to click on it. Ask anyone who reads news and information online, and they'll tell you they'd rather read a blog than an article any day.
Why, you ask? Well, the style of blogs makes them easier to read, because all technicalities and formalities are left out. People feel more comfortable reading a blog, because they feel like they're connecting more with people than by reading a sterile, boring article. And yes, articles can be written in an informal style, too, without being considered a blog, but people hear the word "blog" and are immediately intrigued by what it contains.
Having a blog on your website will help you to connect on a more personal level with the people who come to your website. Instead of feeling like they're at some stuffy business website, they can feel more personally appreciated and appealed to through your blog. You can use your blog for anything; whether you want to post news updates about your company or just have a chat with your readers, you can make your blog whatever you want it to be. It is likely to help your business more if you blog about informative topics that are related to your business, but there are no rules to what's right and wrong for blog material.
If you want to start a blog, but aren't sure how, you can consult with web designers and bloggers to find out what you need to do and how you can add one to your site. Although it's a little less personal, you can even hire a writer to blog for your business so that you can take care of other things. Now that you've got a better understanding of blogging, you can go out there and create your own to help you grow your business and add a more personal touch to your website.