To blog or not to blog, that is the question. It really isnt a question at all. If you have a business you should, no make that, have to blog.

Blog, shorthand for weblog, began as an online diary where bloggers would chronicle, for all interested, the mundane doings of their day. There is some reader interest in this journaling, but only to the extent it makes you feel better about your lot in life.

Business owners quickly learned a better use for blogs. There is a hungry cyber audience looking for advice and you sure can advise in your online writing. Write enough, engage readers, and you become an expert. Imagine customers asking you to solve their problem, and oh, by the way, sell them what they need.

The big search engines like blogs a lot. Most bloggers see their website ranking and fortunes rise. There are thoughts as to why this is so, but suffice it to say it has to do with content. The more relevant information you provide, the higher you rank.

When you build a blog, look for a free template. They are professional looking and easy to use. There are lots of them found online. Googles Blogger is one of the top choices. To get popular, follow the same rules you do with your website. Pen lots of meaningful content, link to other like blogs or websites, and make the weblog easy to navigate.

What should you write about? Information for which your customers are hungry. What is that? Think about the questions you get from customers every day. Still not sure. Build a box on your blog where readers can pose queries.

Start building a blog. It is a critical marketing move. You should, no make that have to start now.