Business Web Sites vs. Business Blogs

You may think that since your business has a Web site, you’re set—it’s Web presence, right?

There’s a problem with this thinking. While yes, Web sites do establish some presence for your business, many business Web sites are often static and lack fresh content. That’s where blogs come in. In his article, “Business Blog Value Exceeds a Website,” Martin Zwilling weighs the value of a business blog against that of a Web site. His verdict is that since blogging gives you the power to frequently add new, relevant content to your Web presence, it’s vital for a business in today’s “Web 2.0″ world. The more content you have associated with your business, the higher your business will show up in search rankings—and that’s exactly what you’re trying to achieve.

Checking out Zwilling’s article at http://blog.startupprofessionals.com/2009/03/business-blog-value-exceeds-website.html. You’ll find more reasons as to why you should consider blogging, as well as helpful advice and tips on starting and maintaining a blog for your business.

Join a Business Directory, Gain Followers

Is your business on Twitter^TM? If so, there’s a great new service out there that can help your business get more followers. Twibs is a directory that lists all of the businesses on Twitter^TM. Once you’re signed up, you can add links to your email address and Web site so that customers have even more ways to find your business. Each business’s page also shows your Twitter^TM activity, so visitors to your Twibs page can see the current conversations you’re engaged in. Joining Twibs is easy, and best of all, this great service is completely free.

Go Viral with Microblogging

If you use Twitter^TM for either business or personal use, there are a few things you can do to maximize the reach of your “tweets.” Your Twitter^TM account and other microbloggins sites are great viral-marketing tools that can quickly spread awareness of your business, its products, and its services. You can also work towards establishing yourself as an expert in your business by posting links to articles and studies that are relevant to your industry. Over at Coppyblogger.com, Dan Zarrella wrote a great article on using Twitter^TM to help your business go viral. Check out “5 Steps to Going Viral on Twitter” to get some tips on how to easily spread word of your small business by microblogging.

How to Succeed as a Small Business Owner

This MSNBC® video offers many excellent tips on how to survive and excel as a small business owner: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/28604347#28604347. The speaker stresses the importance of having a strong Web presence, and points out that home-based businesses often have a lower failure rate than brick-and-mortar businesses.

How to Use the Internet to Benefit Your Business

Network Solutions® has teamed up with ooVoo®, a popular online video chat and conference network, to present:

Solutions Stars Video Conference
October 29, 2008
1 p.m., EST to approximately 3:30 p.m., EST

This video conference will educate small business owners on how to effectively use the Internet to improve their business performance and boost their business’s overall visibility. The conference will include the following topics:

• Building Web Presence
• The Social Opportunity
• Start with Listening
• Strategy Drives Outreach
• You Need Social Networks
• To Blog or Not to Blog
• Visibility Through Search
• Rising Above the Noise
• Time Demands

Participants can choose to watch the entire conference or view only the videos that interest them.

For additional information about this free event, please go to: http://www.solutionsstarsvideo.com/