Welcome!
When I started my career right out of college, I worked for a non-profit and pounded out drafts of the association's newsletter on an IBM Selectric -- a top of the line model that had (be still my heart!) self-correcting tape. My boss would mark up the copy with a red pencil -- and then I had to retype it!
The corrected pages were then mailed to a woman who owned one of those huge typesetting machines. She would typeset the copy, cut the columns of type, and place them and the newsletter art on "boards" for us to review -- and because she hand-typed all my copy into the machine, we had to correct her mistakes, too. The computer and desktop software have eliminated the need for typesetting, and I don't remember when I last saw a board. Typos, unfortunately, still plague me. :-) How has technology changed your job? If you have a good story to tell, send it to me (just hit "reply" to this email). With your permission, I'll use it in a future newsletter issue.
Regards,
Is a Blog Right for *Your* Company?Remember when the Internet first became part of the business world -- and everyone talked about how the Web would render printed material obsolete? (Rather, I think it's increased my paper load, hahahaha.) I feel the same way about blogs -- which have been hailed as the next best thing since well, the Internet. Business blogs do have a number of benefits. However, like any tool in the marketer's toolbox, a blog isn't right for *every* company, nor is it the *only* way to communicate with customers and prospects. If you've been wondering if a blog is right for your company, then you'll want to attend my March 11 teleclass: Is a Blog Right for You? A B2B Small Business Workshop with B2B blogging expert Ted Demopoulos. Ted and I will strip away the hype to give you practical information to help you determine whether a blog is right for you. Register today!
Why You May Not Need a Blog, Just a Better WebsiteBy Dianna Huff One of the discussions around blogging -- and whether or not to start a blog -- is that blogging is great for search engine optimization (SEO). Many bloggers have found that their blog posts rank well in the search engines for specific keywords. This is primarily because blogs are updated frequently with keyword-rich content and because blogs link to one another. And, too, Google "finds" blog posts faster than it does static Web content. I usually receive a Google Alert that the search engine has found my most current blog post about an hour after I've posted it -- as compared to the days and sometimes weeks it takes Google to find my updated Web content. But, when clients ask if they should start a blog for SEO purposes, I don't say "yes" immediately. Instead, I tell them to take a look at their Website first. Is the content outdated -- and I mean, *really* outdated? Does the content consist only of "Products/Services," "About Us," "Contact Us," and "Home"? And, when was the last time a white paper, case study or report was added? The point being, if you're having trouble keeping your Website up-to-date, you may not be ready for the time and content commitment a blog entails. Companies pondering the blog question may not need a blog, just a better Website. And by "better" Website, I mean one that is chock-a-block full of content. Why? Because the more content you have that is developed for people (not search engines), the more links you build from other sites linking to your content. The more links you have, the more Google and other search engines view your site as an "authoritative" site -- and reward you accordingly. But more importantly, the more content you have, the better you're able to convince prospects they should do business with you. (In case you don't know, prospects are now pre-qualifying your company and its products/services based on your site and its content versus you pre-qualifying them.) Instead of giving you tips on the types of content you should include on a Website, I've listed links to three companies that understand the value of providing content-rich Websites. Each site listed does the following:
Boston Print Buyers: I've admired Margie Dana's go-go spirit for years, and I absolutely love her site, which reflects her upbeat personality. The first time you visit the site, you know immediately that it "caters to those who purchase or influence the purchase of print & other media." In addition to archived issues of her newsletters, you'll find her Print Buyers forum, notices of current and future events (all geared toward print buyers), articles, and a page listing archived press releases, audio files, and interviews. White Paper Source: White Paper Source is a really great site that positions Michael Stelzner as the industry expert on a niche topic -- white papers. The site includes articles, a forum, information about teleclasses, and Michael's newsletter. Michael also does reviews of white paper syndication sites and offers a free guide on how to write a white paper. Wellesley Hills Group: I like this site because it's a good example of a small company that does a great job showcasing its thought-leadership with regard to helping service companies grow their businesses. In addition to information about its consulting services, the site includes articles, e-books, two newsletters, research reports, white papers, and marketing and sales resources. As you'll learn in the teleclass I'm hosting with Ted Demopoulos, blogging is indeed a great marketing tool, which is why I have one. However, before you invest time and money in a blog (and then abandon six months later), consider updating your Website first with really great content. And, to get even more bang for your buck, optimize all that new content so that people can find it in the search engines! Additional articles on this topic:
What can Dianna Huff do for you?My goal is to make your job easier -- and to help you succeed with your marketing projects and campaigns.
If you answered yes, then give me a call at 603-382-8093 or send e-mail to info@dhcommunications.com. I can help you. Or, take a look at my B2B marketing communications copywriting and SEO services to see how you can put my award-winning expertise to work for you.
Contact DH CommunicationsTelephone:
603-382-8093 Keep up with the latest MarCom news at The MarCom Writer Blog.
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August 2008 will mark my 10th year in business (woo hoo!) -- a decade that has ushered in huge changes in how I work and consume information. To celebrate my milestone, I'd love to feature stories about how technology has changed your job and how you market your business. 
Copyright 2008, DH Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.