A blog is a great communication tool for almost every business. A business blog is different from a diary and helps build your business. If you have a website and you are planning to add a blog, there are some technical and setup options to consider.

• Before You Start: You have a website and you are considering starting a business blog.
• Learning level: 1 | Social Media Basics
• Article last updated: Thursday, September 22, 2011

Blogging Software

Most blogs run on special blogging software from companies like WordPress, Blogger, TypePad, Tumblr, Posterous, or Moveable Type. Blogging software has features developed specifically for blogging, including:

• List of blog posts in chronological order (as you write them).
• Archive blog posts so you have a permanent historical record of your blog.
• Category archives allow you to put each blog post into one or more subjects (categories) for easy recall and organization.
• Tags allow you to identify key points and subjects covered in each blog posts, and connect blog posts that include related information.
• Sidebars allow you to list supplementary information such as most popular posts, recent comments, recommended web links, and blog categories for easy access by blog readers.

It’s a smart idea to use blogging software. Why pay a developer to reinvent the wheel when you can just use blogging software?

Join Separate Blogs And Websites

Because blogs use different software, most likely your blog will be separate from your company website. Here are some things you can do to make the physical separation less obvious to your site and blog visitors.

• Visual branding. Select colors and fonts from your website for your blog, and include the same graphics and your logo. By repeating these important elements, your blog can have a similar look to your website.
• Menu and links. Create a new menu option on your website that links directly to the front page of your blog. Add a link on your blog that links directly to the front page of your website. This allows visitors to navigate seamlessly between these two separate components. Make sure your visitors can jump back and forth without having to search for a link to the other component.
• Cross links. Within your blog posts, provide a link for easy access to specific pages within your website.
• Blog name. Give your blog a unique name that relates to your website, your company name, or your product or service brand names. This creates a logical link between the components.

Technically speaking, many businesses place their blog in a separate folder from their website where they host their website . There are two easy ways to do this.

• Put your blog in a folder under your website: www.yourwebsite.com/blog
• Put your blog in a subdomain at your website: blog.yourwebsite.com

Combined Blogs And Websites

It is possible to combine your blog and your website. However, this requires some technical knowledge beyond what most small business people possess. Creating a combined blog and website is a larger project than just starting a blog.

While it is nice to have a seamless look and feel (and connection) between your blog and your website, don’t let this technical challenge keep you from starting your blog today, and gaining the benefits from a blog immediately. You can change the setup of your blog and website at a later date.

Get started on your blog this week, and the next time you revamp your website, consider blending the two together using blogging software like WordPress which can do both websites and blogs.

Your turn: Did you add a blog separate from your website? What did you learn from this experience? Share your tips and insights with the community in the comments.

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