1) Increases SEO
If you desire for search engines to include you in their list of favored websites, you must provide a good amount of content, especially content that is updated regularly.

2) Increases credibility
When you take the time to create content that shows knowledge of your industry, potential clients or customers will gain the impression of your authenticity and the credibility of your business.

3) Increase traffic
Blog posts are generally short and thus can be shared easily through social media tools. This frequent occurrence of your site’s content provides an SEO boost to your e-commerce website, which generates more traffic.

4) Free
If you already have an e-commerce website, the addition of a blog can be cost- free. Most blogging platforms are free for you to host on your own servers. It’s a good idea to employ a website designer to streamline the look of your site and blog, especially if you do not have basic HTML or php knowledge.

1) Limited or no time/ resources
Notice pro item number 2 above. This same reasoning applies in reverse form. If you cannot invest the time to maintain a blog, your business will appear defunct or out of touch. Either impression is obviously not one you want to convey to potential clients. How much is enough? Posting once a week, or even once a month, is generally acceptable. If you cannot commit to at least this frequency, it is best to wait on a blog until you have the necessary time or resources.

2) Nothing to Say
Do you want the traffic and increased SEO, but lack the ideas for content? If so, it’s best to hold off on the addition of a blog to your site. Potential clients are not looking to read your memoir in blog form. Rather, your blog should include valuable information about your company or industry. Still don’t have any idea leads? Check out your competitor’s sites or other blogs in the industry.

The good news is that even if you lack the time or ideas, there are professional writers who will take on your blog for as little as $10 a post. Price generally depends on the technicality of your desired content and the experience level of the blogger.

Blogs can require a significant investment of both time and resources for some businesses to keep up-to-date and maintain.

Take the following quick quiz, answering only yes or no.

1. Do you want your business website to help you reach out to current and potential clients?
2. Do you want to be established as a subject-matter expert in your field?
3. Do you seek free publicity through search engine results?
4. Do you want to bring more web traffic to your website?

If you answered yes to many of these questions, the answer to the title question should be clear.

1. The customer connection
A blog is a great way to connect with your clients or customers while keeping them updated on your business and current trends in your field. For example, when your business launches a new product or begins a new feature, a blog post will communicate to your customers the answers to any questions they may have. Writing a blog can also provide a personal connection if some of the posts contain stories from within your company. Are there promotions or success stories to publish? This personal touch can help customers understand your company better.

2. The team talks
A blog is especially helpful in the case of a large company. In this case, a blog can be a vehicle for keeping your staff updated. Training schedules and internal company news can be released through an internal blog post. Enabling comments on your blog also opens a forum for discussion that can get confusing if email is used for communication. Rather than “reply to all,” your staff can simply comment on the blog and their thoughts are displayed in an easy to read format for the group. Remember though, it’s important to ensure separation of the internal blog posts and the external, or public, posts.

3. From traffic to transactions
If your public blog includes topics of interest within your field, those visiting your blog are likely to visit your ‘product page’ or your ‘about us’ page. Corporate blogs created as links from your business site can contribute to increased web traffic. This increased web traffic is likely to increase sales probability. Therefore, a relatively cheap (free if you do it yourself) blog can have a direct impact on sales.

4. Quality Content = Credible Company
The way most people will reach your site is through a search engine. Therefore, if you can increase your search engine ranking, your business will receive more web traffic. Using your blog to offer industry tips and solutions to your potential customers will help create a reputation for your business as a quality source of information, thus increasing your credibility.

5. The social spectrum
As you work to get your business name known, it’s understood that social media has a place in advertising. A blog is a valuable tool that you can use in conjunction with your social media campaign. You will be blogging about the topics of interest to your followers, or circle of friends, thus initiating a conversation with current and potential clients. Others will find you just by keeping up with what their “friends” are talking about. Your job is to make sure their talking about your business! Your company blog is the vehicle to make this happen.

Read more at chrome.blogspot.com.

Version 3.0 of WordPress is in the beta release stage. It is scheduled for final release in May 2010. Below is the list of some of the enhancements and fixes which WordPress 3 will bring.

• New menu management feature
• Improved custom post types
• Improved custom taxonomies including hierarchical (category-style) support
• New theme “Twenty Ten” is the only theme in the WordPress distribution, and is now designated the ‘fallback’ theme
• Improved child theme support; child theme use is highly encouraged and as described in the Child Themes article, very simple to accomplish
• The Default (Kubrick), and Classic themes, are no longer included in the WordPress distribution, but are available in the Theme repository
• Bulk theme update ability
• Standalone WordPress and WPMU code merged
• Configure a Network (multisite/WPMU)
• Allow Tab indenting, Shift-Tab (outdenting), and multi-line tabbing, in plugin/theme editors
• Improved revision comparison user interface
• Allow for removing all tags in quick edit

You can read more at wordpress.org/…

Try live blogging with Google Buzz and read more about Google Buzz at www.google.com/buzz