This short video interviews John Marshall of MarketMotive (former CEO of ClickTracks) and explains how small businesses can make the most of their analytics software. He recommends you answer 2-3 business questions you’ve crafted in just a half an hour using your analytics program. He recommends 3 different web analytics tracking programs. And he also offers resources for help deciphering your analytics reports.

These days it seems everybody and their mom has a blog. Rock stars, politicians, and 13 year old millionaires have blogs. Does your company need one? We’ll discuss what blogs can do, the benefits, and the risks.

What on earth is a blog anyway?

For those who don’t know, “blog” is a term that combines the words “Web” and “log.” So it logs (or lists) entries (often called “posts”) containing text, graphics, or video content created by somebody. Learn about blog types and history here.

You are reading Mindspring Design’s Blog right now. Take a minute and look around! Many blogs follow this format. You are reading a post. You can read other posts by searching the categories and other links in the sidebar. At the end of each post, or entry, you can view or add your own comments.

Why would somebody blog?

• It helps you get found by search engines.
• Posting regularly adds valuable, searchable information to your website.
• A blog helps you to reach a wider audience.
• It’s beneficial as a marketing tool for brand awareness and education.
• You can use a blog to open up a dialogue with your readers/consumers and get valuable feedback.
• Using a blog to design your whole website gives you an easy content management system.
• Think of some more benefits? Let me know!

How do I get a blog?

There are many free online tools you can use to start your own blog. Blogger and WordPress are both free and popular. Blogger can be hosted on their website, WordPress is hosted on your own server. I am using WordPress for this website, for example. I downloaded their free blogging software and easily installed it onto my own server. (You will need access to a database to do this yourself.  The WordPress website offers lots of help though. And several hosting providers, like Superb.net, offer a blog for free with set-up already done for you.)

Are there risks involved in a company blog?

• Offensive content
• Legal issues — giving out sensitive company information
• Copyright infringement
• Angry, dissatisfied posts by customers (you do have control over this through an admin panel; you could potentially turn this into a positive by addressing the issue and improving your product or service)
• Any I missed? Let me know.

My personal experience with blogging has been positive. I appreciate any and all comments. I find that I must keep up with what small-businesses are interested in, and the graphics industry. And the added website content helps to attract more people to my site.

Some of the latest WordPress Templates:

I recently searched through 100 businesses in Burlington County, NJ, and 30 of them had no website. While these 30 companies were mentioned on the web in various directory listings, they have yet to establish their own unique online presence.

Does your company have a website? If not, does it need a website? The answer is YES! Whether you’ve just started as a sole-proprietor, or you’ve got dozens of employees, you need a website. Even if your product or service isn’t meant to be sold online, you can still profit from having a website. Why?

A well-designed website can:

• provide information about your company
• give details about your products or services
• attract new clients
• educate consumers
• create an online forum for communication and learning
• be an online marketplace
• reach a wider regional or international market
• be a portal
• entertain
• create awareness
• provide testimonials
• offer discounts and specials
• receive, process and organize information
• take online appointments
• give a first impression
• convey your company’s personality and core values
• give you an edge over your competition

Can you think of any more? Leave a comment if you can think of more benefits to having a website. And spread the word with all the small business owners you meet! If you just started your business, it’s high time you began marketing your small business now.

Earlier Post in the Starting a Small Business Series