Blog Design

Blogs are arguably the biggest thing to hit the Internet since the growth of search engines.

A “Blog” (derived from the term “web log”) is basically just a website with three key differences:

• It’s extremely easy to add information to a blog. It’s like an online journal - you just log in, type what happened today, post it, and you’re done!
  
• You can add a simple little feature called an “RSS feed” that automatically tells a bunch of other websites that you’ve made an update to your blog every time you make a change! (More on this later.)
  
• It’s easy to have “conversations with your readers by allowing them to post their own comments or views on each post you write.

“Blogging” – the act of writing and publishing blog posts – has had a huge impact on the way information is presented, published, and consumed on the Internet. And, unlike some online developments that turn out to be just fads, blogs are most definitely here to stay.

Why blogging is important

These days, blogs have grown into a very flexible medium with many different uses. Most importantly, for our purposes, blogs have become a highly effective ministry tool.

• Reach a wider audience: If you make your blog interesting enough to your target audience, you can use it to reach far more people than a static website ever could. With so many businesses competing for the eyeballs of Internet browsers, anything that expands your reach online has to be a good thing.
  
• Generate better search engine rankings: By adding fresh keywords regularly and attracting new links from other sites, you can use blog as one to rise up the search engine rankings for very little cost
• Develop relationships with your audience through open communication: Another great benefit of a blog is that it lets you develop a rapport with your visitors through posting advice, tips and updates on your products, services, and industry, as well as addressing any particular customer concerns or queries.
• Build a community of interested followers: Communicate with your customers through a blog can be completely one-way, where you simply write regular newsy updates or post information of interest for your audience to read. Or it can be two-way, where you post a topic and then allow people to leave comments or ask questions.