Having a blog and forum for your company can either make or break you. It all depends on whether you have one, and how you make use of this site to drive traffic to and from your main site. No matter how much you want to avoid them but blogging and forums are in your future and you simply cannot ignore them.
Forums
A forum can be defined as an Internet medium where ideas and viewpoints on specific topics can be discussed openly. Are they important? Well, the correct answer is ‘Yes’. It’s an online site where people have the ability to post messages and get replies almost immediately. Another term for forums is message or bulletin boards.
It’s the particular place where most often you could ask a question that you might not be able to find an answer to anywhere else on the web. In expert opinion, it actually helps one to find the correct information relating specifically to your particular problem. It gives you a personal opinion, as it allows you to chat one-on-one with an expert, for free.
From a business point of view, it could actually generate a large amount of traffic for your site. Forums are often seen as a large opportunity for businesses to speak to clients and gain a large amount of traffic at the same time.
The signature link at the end of each of your posts allows for backlinks to occur resulting in an increase in traffic. One of the most important factors to being part of an internet forum is the fact that you are able to get free exposure for your website.
Blogging
Blogging is slightly different from a forum. It can be defined as a sight that gets constantly updated with posts, whether it be images, video links, links to other sites that might offer valuable information or valid posts that might have to do with your particular type of niche.
These updates are usually by either a group of people or an individual representing the company and normally take place weekly, or for the more avid bloggers – daily, and are intended to be seen by the public eye.
For bloggers, the number one rule you need to remember is to try and offer a valid, honest, and trustworthy opinion. Attempt to help out your readers as this is the main point – providing valuable informative content for your clients. If you are uncertain as to what to blog about, feel free to check out the blog search site provided by Google.
Remember to stay cool while baring it all but remember DON’T steal. Update frequently and be interactive, this is yet another important factor; it will bring more traffic to your site.
Blogging is a brilliant way in which your company could get quality backlinks for your website. Because you are blogging on behalf of the company if your blog posts are good and you sound like an expert in your field – the possibility that you could get business from the reader is good.
Do a little research yourself and once you have an idea about what and where you want to leave your mark – do it, voice your opinion, and let your thoughts be heard.
