Blog Use - Pros and Cons

A blog is a type of website, usually maintained by an individual with frequent entries of commentary, description and discussions on any kind of topic.

A blog can be private, as in most cases, or it can be for business purposes. We will be discussing the role blogs can play in a buisness environment. Blogs can either be used internally to enhance the communication and culture in a corporation or externally for marketing, branding or public relations purposes in which case they are called corporate blogs. All most all companies, private or public, use blogs as they increase overall communiction in between employees, senior management as well as with customers. For example, IBM has hundreds of blogs dedicated to their managment styles, their software products, communication and so on.

http://www.ibm.com/blogs/zz/en/

This website provides a direct link to IBM's blogs, providing an example of blog use in an organizational context.

ADVANTAGES of blogs in organizations.

1. Corporate blogging helps companies to expand their scope world wide as it increases the potential of the company by increasing and improving on its communication structure.


2. Corporate blogs bring a kind of personal touch as well as authenticity to the clients who wish to make any business dealings with the company.


3. It gives a professianl way of presenting a company to the clients or the CEO, investors, or employees.


4. Corporate blogging adds up to save the cost of the company in publicizing as compared to paperwork publicizing.

DISADVANTAGES of blogs in organizations.

1. Corporate blogs should be professionally written as poorly written blogs can be mileading for the public. They may start doubting on the authenticity of the company.



2. Information on blogs can be misunderstood or ill judged by public or by the clients and investors. This can be hazardous to the company.
   

Sources:

http://econx.blogspot.com/2008/05/9.html

(this website discusses the impact of organizations using blogs to communicate with their customers, employees and clients).

http://www.inc.com/magazine/20051101/handson-technology.html

(this website discusses the use of blogs in different industries)