What I've been doing for the last day

[prog]

I launched the Appleseed Blog. Yes, another blog from me. But really, running a technology business's website without a blog attached is a poor idea these days.

It look so long because getting Mason and Movable Type to play together was a little rough, but (with daerr's assistance) I got it going, and ended up learning a lot about all technologies involved. So I call it a win, even though none of it's billable time.

Anyway, I'm going to use it both to make public updates about Appleseed as well as occasionally pontificate on Appleseed-relevant technology. And, yes, the neglected jmac.org blog is still running as a separate thing. I still need to hack a way to crosspost consistently between that and this LJ, since I've discovered that I can't just give this up.

Comments

[radtea.livejournal.com]

What do you see as the win for a blog on a tech business's website? Does it help attract new business, or does it primarily help people who've come to your site for other reasons get more insight into and therefore comfort with the business?

I've thought of doing something bloggy on my company website for a while now, but almost all of my business comes from my network. Although I guess that could be cause and effect at work! I'm trying to extend my reach out of the local market at the moment, and have some time on my hands due to a client getting cut loose by their bank, so maybe I'll give it a go.

[prog.livejournal.com]

There's a few good things a blog can bring to a small business site, in theory.

* If the blog manages to have merit on its own, then it can be a great attractor of new business, and vector of ones' business name (and URL). (Arguably, looked at this way, a blog becomes yet another thing you have to market. But if your writing is interesting and useful, folks will come, and stay.)

* It adds dynamism to a small site that would otherwise be a static brochure that's unlikely to get repeat visits.

* It reminds customers both current and potential that you know what the hell you're talking about, and that you have a personal interest and even a desire to educate in the field you profess billable expertise in.

* Once people start leaving public feedback, *poof* you're a Web 2.0 company, engaging your customer base in active conversation. This is the woo-woo hot-shit reason you're allowed to be a little cynical about, but it's not a big deal without reason.

I struggled for a while about whether a blog was worth having for a business as small as mine, where (so long as I'm the only full-time talent) I'm unlikely to have more than a couple active contracts at a time. I think that the success of the Gameshelf blog has shown me how setting up a blog can definitely bring a lot of vitality to any major project. I figure it's worth a try.

[radtea.livejournal.com]

Ok, you've convinced me. I'll give it a whirl. Thanks!