reynoldswriting.com Blog

What is a blog, anyway? There’s no set answer. In the good old days, a “weblog” consisted of little more than online diary posts occasionally sprinkled with recommended links that the blogger had stumbled across that week. These days, a blog can be:

-An informative article
-A rant
-A review
-A debate topic
-A request for info or help
-A news item or alert
-A humorous interlude
-A meditation
-A lecture

…or just about anything else that fits the needs and personality of the blogger.

A business blog, of course, has its own requirements. The tone of the blog has to match the tone of the company’s overall brand or message. A dark-humor piece about death, for instance, might not work too well on a funeral home’s website. (An extreme example, but you get the idea.) A business blog that includes helpful information related to its field can help the business or its owner build a reputation as an industry expert while converting tire-kickers into customers and fans.

How long should a blog post run? Speaking as an expert in the field — I have no idea. I hear all kinds of things from various sources that have their own opinions. My answer is, “Long enough and no longer,” depending on your subject matter and your audience. The posts I write as part of my Blogger’s 4-pack product tend to run about 300 words each, give or take, which strikes me as a nice compromise between an easy-to-read blurb and a full-blown article. Darren Rowse of Problogger recommends a broad range of 250 to 1000 words for SEO purposes while pointing out out that no one really knows anything. Your mileage may vary.

Does a blog always have to include articles? Not at all. Blog posts can take the form of video clips, photo galleries, podcasts, or any other media that can be uploaded and accessed by the reader. And there’s nothing wrong with the old tried-and-true recommended links. I tend to write articles because, well, I’m a writer. A videographer might choose to post videos. A painter might choose to post image files. Whatever gets you more web traffic and boosts your reputation, do it. Or hire me to do it. Either way, happy blogging!