Blog Future, More Predictions

I just received this prediction from Allen Taylor via email. We were discussing the virtues of blogging for sales and marketing vs blogging for relationships and community (Allen just published a good article on this topic, "The Virtues of Guerilla Blogging," worth the read):

"I do agree with your statement: There is room for both and I wouldn't ditch the tried and true method, but I've found that it isn't for everyone. Some blogs are just meant to be marketing vehicles and they're better off being treated as such.

"I realize my POV is quite divergent and will meet with resistance. I don't know anyone else who is advocating it. Nevertheless, I believe blogging will reach a plateau in the next couple of years and people will move on to the "next great thing" - probably local search models, mobile search and video marketing.

"When blogging "revives" itself, it will take on more of a structure of what I am talking about. It will become a tool for SEM and, really, who will care if it gets read then? Video blogging will likely take its place."

Let's hear from you: What do you predict we will see happening with business blogs in 2007? While you are at it, tell us how you are going to be using your blog for business.

Comments

[Patsi M. Krakoff]

I just spotted Debbie Weil's prediction over on her WordBiz ezine: "2007 will be the year of the multimedia blogosphere. If you don't have video, podcasts, photos, screenshots and other visuals on your blog, well then you're soooo 2006. Not to worry. Adding a YouTube video to your blog is as easy as copy and paste."

True, true. Have you looked into this yet? It's easier than you might think...

[Kristie Tamsevicius]

As a web developer for several authors, speakers, and entrepreneurs, right now I am recommending that a lot of my clients who send out HTML newsletters switch to blogs instead for the following reasons.

1) HTML newsletters are getting tougher to get delivered.

2) Blogs save money. It will allow you to post your news yourself and still have it look professional.

Right now it costs money for each newsletter you have to have your webmaster format. Let's say that's 15 minutes at $95/hr for 12 monthly newsletters. That's a newsletter formatting cost of $285/year.

Plus, you are probably paying $15-$20/mo for a newsletter service.

3) Having a blog will help your search engine rankings. Because you can post daily even when you find other industry news, your blog would ping the search engines to tell them you have new content. Having new content on a daily basis would really boost your rankings with search engines.

4) It would position you as an industry expert and get you more exposure for the work you do. The would build your credibility and get you more media exposure.

5) It might get you more traffic and visibility than publishing it as a newsletter. People could google and find your blog posts. All the sudden a bunch of new people know about you that might not have found you thru the website.

6) Plus, you could add a subscribe feature from FeedBlitz that would allow people who aren't traditional blog readers to know every time there is a new post on your blog by getting an email sent to their inbox.

7) Inboxes are getting clogged. I find myself unsubscribing from all newsletters and subscribing to RSS blog feeds instead. That way I get the news I want when I want it. There's no stress to read it now because it's in your inbox like with a newsletter.

8) Blogs allow you to "touch" your audience more frequently.

9) Blogs are 2 way conversation. Let's your audience be a part of the message and experience.

For business owners who feel the cost of an HTML newsletter is prohibitive, I think it might be worthwhile to consider using a blog instead.

However, if can manage the cost and hassle, I feel it's better to have a newsletter, a website, and a blog. That way you can contact people in the way they prefer to be contacted.