Is “blogging” too “trendy” for the average Web site owner?
I’ve heard it time after time from people, “So, what is this blogging you’re talking about?” After which I launch in my standard response that “A blog is sort of like a journal you keep online that anyone can read and comment on.” Half the time I can see their eyes glaze over with a disinterested stare. Many people feel that blogging is reserved for the technically savvy. While doing research for many of our clients it has become apparent that most markets, especially niche markets, have very few (if any) bloggers who have established themselves as the online authority for the topic. These are spaces that they could move into and dominate. But “blogging” sounds too technical, too difficult, and too time consuming.
Using another term instead of blogging could be the answer to getting more people interested. For instance, you could refer to it as a “News” page if you see that a client’s industry is constantly changing and growing. They could post news about their company, industry, or how their industry is affecting the greater community. Another option is a “Question and Answer” page. If a business owner receives a large amount of questions from their customers they could use the blog as a way of displaying those questions and answers. This could be useful if the industry is complex and customers have a lot of common questions. Finally, simply referring to it as “Information Sharing” is more understandable than “blogging.” Using the blog to share an interesting article or to show off pictures of customers using their product is a simple way to keep the site fresh. Something similar to a tumble log might be all they need to keep the viewer’s interest.
Just about anyone in the SEO/SEM industry can describe why blogging is so beneficial to a Web site, but getting the average Web site owner past the initial confusion and hesitation can be difficult. Using common terminology and modifying the standard use of a blog can get more people interested in blogging. And by taking the individual Web site’s needs into consideration when starting a blog, and not forcing it into the standard blogging mold, it will benefit that site and it’s visitors even more.
