So about Blogging. In 1999, a man named, Peter Merholz, called them "weblogs" or "wee-blogs" then "blogs." If you sort of know or want to know more, I found this well-written article by Janis Joseph.
Easy as Falling Off a Blog by Janis Joseph
Blogs (Web logs) have come a long way. While in 1999 only a handful of people published them, today there are millions. Just as websites have become a necessary tool for modern companies, blogs are now becoming an integral part of these commercial sites.
WHAT IS A BLOG? The first bloggers were, by necessity, of the geek persuasion -- since only they had the requisite skills for producing Web pages. But user-friendly new software has made blogging easy for even the least technically inclined. Since all writing, formatting, and uploading is conducted from within your browser, producing Web content is now as easy as reading it.
What are blogs about? Any topic you can name. Many are still faithful to the original concept: an intimate, no-holds-barred online diary. Subjects range from confessions and obsessions to politics, technology, hobbies, and topics-defying-definition. But all share a personal tone of voice far removed from corporate babble. Another prominent feature is a column with a list of links to other recommended blogs on similar topics. But perhaps the most compelling feature is the high degree of interactivity that popular blogs achieve. Most encourage visitors to post their own comments. The resulting online "conversations" -- or arguments -- often rival the original post for interest.
BLOGGING FOR PROFIT. Blogs are not the sole domain of geeks or exhibitionists. They have tangible benefits for commercial companies and even non-profit organizations: Blogs boost search engine ranking; furthermore, they enhance credibility and foster a sense of personal connection, huge considerations for achieving customer interest and loyalty. Search engines reward sites with a large quantity of incoming links and lots of fresh content. This is exactly what blogs provide. Because adding content is so simple, it's done more frequently.
The personal connection provided by blogs pays many dividends. Surveys on website credibility state that visitors are favorably impressed by transparency, which they interpret as honesty and reliability. The Guidelines for Web Credibility, published by Stanford University, advise: "...show there are real people behind the site and in the organization...For example, some sites post employee bios that tell about family or hobbies." A typical blog entry leaves no doubt about the character, interests and personality of the person behind it. Even if the main section of the site is more businesslike and impersonal -- with an emphasis on transmitting either facts or a particular "image" -- the blog section is frank, casual, infinitely more friendly. This unique voice can encourage a casual site visitor to actually contact the site owners directly, a primary goal for most sites.
Joining the "blogosphere" can kick your business website into high gear -- greatly increasing your site's interest, credibility and responsiveness to your target audience.
