The more I learn about business blogs, the more evangelistic I become about them. Here's a chapter on the subject from a book entitled We Blog. You can download it as a PDF. It's about 35 pages (including the comments section).

I want to thank Marsha who commented on a previous post with a great idea. . .

"How about starting out by promoting business blogs instead of traditional web sites as a way for a small mom-and-pop businesses to develop a web presence with minimal cost?"

That's what I'm doing with this blog, letting it serve as my website, for the time being at least.

That suggestion brought to mind something I've been considering anyway - developing blogs for businesses with an existing web presence. Certainly that's an exploitable niche market. However, it's also an easy and inexpensive way for mom-and-pop operations to establish a web presence.

Thanks again, Marsha.

I think I've done enough thinking out loud for now. It's time to kick this baby into gear. Starting tomorrow I'm going to begin posting more stuff you can use if you're wanting to take your business online, or start an online business. I promise it will be worth your time. Visit often.

I ran across this site last night browsing for business blogs. Loosetooth.com is a great example of a small business blog. The blogger, Brandy Agerbeck, runs an online shop selling everything from art, to jewelry, to hand crafted rubber stamps. You want to learn how to sell products online? Brandy could probably teach us all some lessons.

Here's a great article on some key questions to ask about business blogging. You will certainly want to bookmark this website too.

There's a lot of buzz lately about using blogs in business. While blogging used to be underground - abiding in the realm of teens and techies - the genre has come mainstream. It has reached critical mass, and corporate America is beginning to embrace blogging as the "next big thing."

How can having a blog help you as a small business person? In a variety of ways.

Click to read more ...

I spent a lot of time thinking about this today, and I'm narrowing my focus. I think I'm going to let this blog become my business, so to speak. I'm going to list ideas, thoughts, opinions, and strategies for marketing small business on the web. I'm going to really focus on small businesses that have a product to sell, like jewelry, pottery, art, cars, etc., and show these people how to do business online.

I'm going to try to drive some revenue through Google Adsense ads, Amazon book lists, and PayPal donations. I'm also going to start a blog featuring conservative pundits, just to see how that goes.

Here's an idea. Since "Caltruism" is based on the philosophy of helping people get what they want, and they in turn help me get what I want, what about offering to help people answer questions they have. Doing online research, helping to "scratch their itch." In return, I ask for a donation of any amount. I already have a PayPal account to process the donation. Hmm. . .certainly worth thinking about.

I'm playing with the idea of letting the blog be the business, rather than focusing my efforts on pounding the pavement to find clients.

Click to read more ...

This is a manifesto of sorts. It's a way of looking at business as both altruism and capitalism.

Click to read more ...