Business Blogs Trump Social Networking Sites as New Business Drivers

Sally Falkow reports in Blogs are Better Business Drivers Than Social Networking Sites that a recent study “Harnessing the Power of Blogs,” (sponsored research by BuzzLogic and conducted by JupiterResearch, a Forrester Research company) found that blogs can have more impact on purchase decisions than social networks. The study went on to conclude that while social networks help people connect, but blogs create a conversation and become a trusted resource that influences purchase decisions. They also said that blog readership has jumped 300 percent in the last four years.

This is consistent with the recent Gartner study that concluded, “Blogs have grown from a novelty to a mainstream platform for content distribution. Therefore, it is time to align IT and business forces to develop a blogging strategy for corporate and public-facing opportunities. Enterprises must define clear strategic objectives for blogging, and support them with policies to encourage executives and employees to maintain regular entries and to identify and discourage harmful blogging practices… Increasingly, any public-facing media company or enterprise must have a blogging strategy.”

All of this is welcome news to business bloggers and confirms what I have been seeing informally in conversations with my clients and others. A blog allows you to go beyond the sound bytes in Twitter and Facebook status fields. They allow for the development of a complete thought and then the ongoing elaboration of that thought through subsequent posts. Comments are also not limited in their length and allow for the exchange of ideas, moving beyond simply being pointers to more comprehensive content. They become destinations in their own right. At the same time Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn status can be useful pointers to your blog content and others. I often find useful links to blogs through both Twitter and Facebook. These tools complement each other when used in manner that is consistent with their features.

Comments

[Paul Chaney]

I've often said blogs are your social media headquarters. It's good to know Forrester agrees.

[Bill Ives]

Paul Thanks for your comment. I like your blog - http://www.conversationalmediamarketing.com/ and added it to my list. Bill

[Account Deleted]

It warms my heart to read this!

However I don't know how long Blogs will trump Twitter & Facebook

The mob mentality will take over

Old media Vs. New Media

Who will win?

Can't believe I just called Blogs old media...

ZuD

[Bill Ives]

ZuD I think blogs are different than twitter and facebook. They compliment each other. I compare twitter to slots and blogs to poker. Pick your action. We still use the telephone and it was new over 100 years ago. I can understand about your comment about not believing blogs are old media. I started mine in 2004 when it was sort of new. But I remember when I saw LISA (the Mac precursor) six months before it was released i 1982 and before that used punch cards to process stats in the 70s. Thanks for your comment. Bill

[Kxlsyd]

Couldn't agree with you more. Blogs are "steak" and Twitter/Facebook et al., are "sizzle".

In this vein, perhaps you'd enjoy some of the articles here:
http://globalitandbusinessnews.blogspot.com/

[Bill Ives]

Liked your blog and added it to my list. Thanks. Bill

[Steve Orris]

Interesting. I'm doing the Facebook and Twitter thing. My blog does say a lot more about me and my business than I ever could in the other formats. I like Facebook but it will never replace my blog. http://steveorris.com

[bill Ives]

Steve

Thanks for your comment and a great blog. Bill

[mortgage loan]

Hi,
I think personal Blog is limited to your interest.but social network vast like sea.you can get every thing which you want

[SEO]

Great Post! Social networking can help a business gain contacts, clients, and increased public awareness.

[Wisteria]

im afraid that its normally out with the old and in with the new. maybe if somebody could create a new google and promote blogging with it blogzoerz would be saved :( everybody go to wisteria and get started on your mini googles!

[Affordable Website Design]

Nice post.Social networks support a lot to your blog.I also use Orkut to get people response.Can any explain how to use the face book.Thanks

[amber masson]

hay
there u know what its an awesome thing to share different ideas and gossips with other who donot even know you.any ways how to use a face boob its really simple just make your log in there and its such a best site i have ever used it. that it ask you before nay action you want to perform or any wants to comment on your wall its so simple and the best site

[Company Formation]

Blogging is now the king of business promotion. In fact search engines even like sites which have a blog of their own and maintain it with fresh content, it gives out a more of a personal feel than social media sites such as Twitter/Facebook. It is proven by research that websites with blogs have a higher conversion rate than the ones that do not.

[Tax Attorney]

Social networking sites have some good impact on online business now, if we just talk about Facebook,which is one of leading networking site there are more than 158 million users. This shows that they are now big source of business.

[SEO]

the internet markeeting for the bussnes is very important and clsssified
very nice thank u very much

[Web Design]

I really agree with the facts that you have shared on this post. An interesting topic like this really enhances reader's mind to have more effective decisions over a certain issue.

[Promotional Products]

This was an interesting article to read. I do believe blogging, Twitter and Facebook are all exceptional ways to social media link. I am a small business owner and we regularly utilize these tools to our advantage and see almost immediate results, as far as revenue. Also I've found promotional products also help boost your clientele. Everyone loves freebies and it's even better when they are directly linked to your company. To promote your business in this manner will also give your company the positive exposure it needs to expand.

[Ktunnel]

Very much right that blogs can have more impact on purchase decisions than social networks, but need good content, and attractive material to attract visitors. Good post really.

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