To blog or not to blog...

[Mikejf]

I'm looking to start a blog and other than not know what to write I'm unsure if I should have a page on my website dedicated to a blog of if I should use an external blog site such as blogspot and link into that from my site and vice versa.

Are there pros and cons?

Thanks

[Peter Bowen]

Hi Mike,

I'm told that having the blog on your site is better. I guess a more important question is "Do you have anything interesting to say?"

Cheers

Pete

[Mikejf]

Yea I know Pete. I hear blogs are good for a business but its just finding things to say.

[fisicx]

If you don't know what to write then you don't need a blog. It's only going to be good for buisness if you write stuff people weant to read.

But to answer your question, put it on your own site. Use the famous 5 minute wordpress install and you have a blog ready to go.

[SFD]

I was going to say the same. Blogging can be quite difficult to do, coming up with fresh, interesting content.

Blogs that haven't been updated for a while don't give a good impression either.

[Ali-v-8]

about the op
2 options
1) blogger and link back
2) sub domain blog and link back

[edmondscommerce]

tbh i've had better success using a blog on the same domain in a subfolder

as for what to write. I tend to use mine to note down solutions to problems I face, interesting bits of news related to my industry and anything else that I come up with.

I treat mine as more of a personal note pad that others can browse. There's a few esoteric problems I've posted solutions to that are actually getting a fair bit of traffic.

The power of the niche!

example (http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=curl+safe_mode+open_basedir+follow+on+loc ation&btnG=Search&meta=) another (http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=amazon+amtu+on+linux)

[Tommo]

I like what they have done here
http://fantasticfireworks.co.uk/

They use blogger or blogspot which hangs the page terribly, and doesn't always work, but I like the content and how it's presented, if they used something in house like wordpress on a sub dir, would be much much better.


So yeh, if done properly it can work. If I didn't know of FF and just read their blog I'd feel quite confident in doing business with them.

[brownie]

I like what they have done here
http://fantasticfireworks.co.uk/

Could be an issue at my end however I gave up waiting for the page to load.

[Tommo]

Not a problem your end, blogger or whatever service they use ruins their site, load times if it ever loads are terrible.

Although when it does come up, content is good imho.

[webhostuk]

create a blog.xyz.com subdomain on your main domain will be much better.

[emmadean]

They say that blog adds potential success to a business. You can hire someone to blog about your business.

Why don't you just make a subdomain for your blog instead of creating a blogspot account.

[SEO Positive]

Adding a blog to your site will potentially help your SEO, however if you start a blog, then treat it like a dog (not just for xmas) as out of date blogs make a site look tired and old. People then think that all the other content is tired and old, and will leave. So if you do it, be sure that you can stick to it.

[dots and spots Jeff]

I think I'm convinced of the advantages of having my blog in my domain, but how do I move it from blogger into my domain?

This is my website:

http://www.dotsandspots.biz/

which currently has a link to my blog:

http://www.dotsandspotsdesign.blogspot.com/

Presumably, If I wanted to have my blog in my domain I'd need to create a new page, something like:

www.dotsandspots.biz/blog.html (http://www.dotsandspots.biz/blog.html) ?

and then somehow move the blogspot to this new address. Do I simply just go to blogspot>settings>publish>custom domain> and then put in my domain name (say) www.dotsandspots.biz/blog.html (http://www.dotsandspots.biz/blog.html) or do I need to worry about CNAMEs and ANAMEs?

Basically - is moving my blog simple and easy!

Thanks

Jeff

[TheAlbear]

Along with the question of what to blog about what you need to make sure of is that you create a schedule and stick to it. so update 1 a week if you can or even once a month. But you need to make it work or your will just be another empty blog which is never read and that will be detrimental you your website.

[Mikejf]

Thanks for all the comments.

I think I will go with a sub-somain eg. www.blog.mjfcadsolutions.co.uk (http://www.blog.mjfcadsolutions.co.uk)

Would "blog" be the best name for it or is there an SEO better name?

Thanks

[eventdomain]

A company's own blog is a powerful marketing tool. There's nothing better than to instantly write about what you are doing, have achieved and what you offer.

Simples

[crossdaz]

I'm looking to start a blog and other than not know what to write I'm unsure if I should have a page on my website dedicated to a blog of if I should use an external blog site such as blogspot and link into that from my site and vice versa.


I'd say general good practice is to have yoursite.co.uk/blog although you then have the hassle of getting your wordpress installation to look like your site.

An external blog is simpler but then you have to get links to that and you can't really link back to your main site too often without raising issues - so again, option one is better.

In termsof content you could write about changes to legislation, the issues regarding building control and regs, the various issue involving sustainability and the green codes, modifying your house to be more energy efficient and so on. All stuff you should know about and putting it in a readable way (maybe with a case study here and there) would probably attract some links over time.

You could also invite people to write guest posts - they can include a link to their site in return for providing useful content.