Choosing the right communication tools for your business can be a dilemma.   So many choices, different media types, and whether your budget is large or small, time is priceless, not to be squandered needlessly.

 Ryze is one of my favorite business networking groups.  By interacting in the various networks, you can meet other business professionals, share ideas, increase your contacts, make new friends, generate more business.

 So what can a blog do that is different from a Ryze network?

• Expands the reach of your audience.  Although Ryze is good, I’m sure none of us would turn down paying clients from non-Ryze channels.  A blog could help you reach these others.
• An active, well-written blog will increase your website’s traffic, visibility.  Search Engines love new content, do you want them to love your domain name or Ryze.   When you read and post on Ryze, it builds up Ryze’s strength and reputation.  Which is a good thing since as Ryze members we have links coming back to our own sites.    Yet don’t neglect your own domain name.   Who would you like the search engines to find when someone googles one of your keywords?  Ryze or your own domain name?
• Archive and keep old posts easily available.   There are many gems of wisdom stuffed in Ryze’s archives.   Not real easy to find in a Ryze network.
• Added control and flexibility.  Change at will, content, style, links, especially when hosted on your own account.
• Track your Marketing Efforts.  With Ryze, I can’t track traffic. Time is limited and with 100’s of blog directories, numerous online networking groups and forums, it is a very good idea to know which efforts are generating you the most business so you can use your time wisely.  Using tools such as Crazy Egg, Google analytics, and the stats provided by my webhost, I get a clear picture of how my blog was found, whose link they followed, what term was searched for, what areas of my blog draw the most attention.   Ex. I’ve found that my photos are usually one of the most often clicked on elements, and will be doing a new blog which is mainly images.   I’ve also learned that one of my pages is at the top of the search engines for something I don’t even sell, so that is a product I’ll be adding to that page.
• Read Angela Betts’ great  Win post on this subject.

Each business is different, which communication and media tools each uses will vary.  It is not a one shoe fits well.  I will continue to use blogs more to promote my business.

 Heidi Caswell

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