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You’ve probably noticed blogging has taken off like  wildfire. Blogs are everywhere – in fact statistics from Technorati – the blog tracking site, stated there are about 175,000 new blogs built every day.  In fact, on July 31, 2006, Technorati tracked its 50 millionth blog. (Isn’t that amazing?)  And of course, not all of these are business blogs. People are blogging about  just about anything you can think of – from the daily routine of their cat, to technology reviews, to politics.  Some blogs are very popular, and build a large and loyal following that lasts and grows.  Other are like sparklers – they blaze for a little while and then fizzle out.

But the important point is, thanks to technology, it’s almost push-button easy to create a blog that can help you build your business.  In fact, these days many business owners – from the bootstrapping entrepreneur all the way up to Fortune 500 companies – are using blogs instead of the traditional html Websites of the past as their main Website.

You can even use a blog to transact business – you can sell your products or services on it, and use it to stay in touch with your customers and help to build your brand. Another advantage of having a blog – even if you’re a home based business – you don’t have to look like one. The right blog template can give you a very professional, polished look to your business, and thanks to available technology, blogs are easy to use in your business.

If you’re just getting started, one of the most important things you can do is develop the right mindset about business blogging. If you’re going to build a business blog, you need to spend a little time thinking about your strategy and what you want a blog to do for you.  Your business blog should not only be a reflection of your business, but it should be a way to help you build your business.

Having the right mindset  it in your business often has more to do with your ultimate success than the technology, tool, or resource itself.

Start by deciding what you want a blog to do for your business.  Here are some questions to ask:

• Will you use a blog as your main Website or just as a way to communicate with your target audience?
• What is the main purpose of your blog?
• What do you want people who read your blog to do when they read it?

Another good idea is to sit down and create a plan for your blog – before you set it up.  Create an editorial calendar – and decide what you’re going to write about and how often. Choose topics related to what your audience needs or wants.

And then think about what image you want your business to have.  Make sure your blog is a reflection of that image – it can be warm and friendly, or cool and professional.  Things like colors, fonts and even the graphics or pictures you use – are going to make an impression on your readers.  It’s very important you choose the right one that matches your business.

In my next article, we’ll talk about the different blogging programs and how to choose the right one for you.