Alphablogs

Take a moment to think about this: Who are your most important business contacts? And how do you interact with them?

With those contacts, most of us business people don’t exclusively talk business, especially not with our best clients, our most important suppliers, or our highly trusted advisors such as long-time accountants or bankers. There is always a personal touch.

It’s the same with blogging. Even though you might have a business blog, you still want to let people into your life at least a little bit. Is there a cranky old cat who is the centre of your household? Are you a passionate Canucks fan? Do you restore old antique furniture as a hobby? Let people know about it!

And you know what, it makes blogging so much easier. When you can’t think of yet another angle from which to talk about your mortgage brokering business, or when you just feel totally uninspired talking about home insurance – well, then it’s time to share a funny picture of your pet, or tell about that fiasco you had with trying to repair your dishwasher (which, now that you think of it, was actually quite comical). Who knows, as you start writing about it (or telling one of our blog scribes about it), you may even think of a way to tie it into your business.

So come on, get comfortable, let your hair down – and let your readers see the real you.

“A blog – that’s just people talking about random events in their lives”.

Sometimes, that’s true. But blogs are so much more:

• an easy, quick and inexpensive way to create a web site – your presence on the internet
• an inexpensive, quick and easy way to supplement an already existing web site
• a communication tool that opens a two-way, interactive channel between you and your customers
• a quick and easy means for storing and sharing information, be it words, images, audio, or video
• a way to learn more about customer interest
• an effective and trackable means to drive traffic to your business

Let me tell you a little bit about the first one.

Setting up your first web entry on blog platforms such as Blogger or Wordpress is just about as easy and quick as setting up an email address and writing your first email. And if you don’t need your own domain name, it will cost you nothing.

You may have heard of no-cost web sites at places such as Free Websites , Tripod or Angelfire. However, using a blogging system still makes much more sense. Why?

One, because free blogging software often does not have advertising. Free website hosting always comes with advertising. Often, it will advertise your competition.

Two, even the best web site builders (and some of them are quite good – I like Tripod) are much clumsier to navigate than a site like Blogger. My not very internet-savvy 10-year old just started a site on Blogger; that would have never been possible with a web site.

Now you’re probably wondering how you can use your blog as a web site.

It’s quite simple.

First of all, a blog is a web site. Its “back end” technology and, how should I say, “web philosophy” is a little different than old-fashioned, so-called static websites but that doesn’t really need to concern you. (We at alphablogs don’t worry about that, either).

Second, you can simply treat every “page” of your web site as a blog entry. One might be an “About” entry, another one could feature client testimonials, another could feature your services.  And another “page” could hold all your blog posts.

Our alphablog site is a good example of this.

Now we’re not saying that using blogs as web sites is the perfect solution for everyone. However, it’s a great, inexpensive and flexible solution for most small businesses or many other businesses that are not focused on e-commerce (i.e. businesses that sell mostly via the web).

Focusing on the needs of small business and independent entrepreneurs, we have been working to create Alphablogs, as a division of Alpha Glyph Publications Ltd.

We know blogging and we can help you get started and keep your blog going. We also help your blog find its audience, ultimately reaching many more clients and contacts through application of the latest web technology.

When you wish to reach an audience with your message, the blog is the ideal way to contact your clients, both current clients and clients-to-be. With the capability of indepth info (as much as you wish to generate) and the potential for many-to-many contacts that web 2.0 offers you will find yourself in the new universe of 21st century communications. Your blog posting can also be converted to a newsletter which your clients may subscribe to for up to the minute info.

Enter the realm of transparent communications, which the new web offers. It’s much more than just a blog, but can truly replace the old idea of the website completely. You will find that there can be continual updates on your info, and you can make those updates yourself. No need for high setup fees: for under $500 you will have a website ready to go with all the high functionality you will need to be confident in the 21st century marketplace.

We will patiently guide you into the workings of this new communications environment and will give you the tools to do as much of it yourself as you want to handle. Or we can set it all up and run it for you. Get yourself an alphablog, and find out what we are talking about.

Add video or audio to your site easily and inexpensively. Prepare your own information or we can put it together for you. And we help you get hits for your postings. Each blog posting is like a tiny website in itself, and is viewed independently by search engines like google. What this means to you is that you have the potential to reach many more clients through micro-targeted content. It also means that you don’t have to be one-track-minded in your messaging, but can branch out to the subtleties and overtones that are the intangibles that make your business tick, and that make your approach to your business unique.

Ultimately it is up to you. Your vision of your work and field of endeavour can be personally and professionally reflected through an alphablog site. Need a website? We can set that up for you. Need a blog? Naturally – it is our first love! Need a video blog or audio podcast? We can get that started for you and keep it going. Comprehensive sites use many capabilities which we also provide, including writing, editing, research, SEO for blogs, photos and images, links, comments, and community development (if needed).

We are really excited by the potential and possibility of this new aspect of publishing, and will be officially launching alphablogs soon. Meanwhile, for more information, you can reach us through the Alpha Glyph contact info.

Check here for some examples of work to date.