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Many business owners and writers who promote their businesses or books online wonder whether a blog makes sense. After all in this Web 2.0 age you already have a website that gets traffic, you produce a well-read e-zine and make connections in social media networks. Why would you still need a blog?

In Technorati's State of the Blogosphere Report (2008), (www.technorati.com), the overwhelming consensus is that blogging is a global phenomenon which has hit mainstream:

• 26.4 million people in the United States have started a blog while globally that number tops 184 million people
• 60.3 million people read blogs in the U.S. while 346 million people read them worldwide
• 77% of all active Internet users read blogs

No doubt, blogging is here to stay. It's an ever-evolving medium that offers tremendous opportunities for the blogger such as:

Raising search engine rankings. The more you blog the higher your rankings on Google and other search engines.

Increasing online visibility. You are part of a community that thrives on linking and connecting. The idea is similar to viral marketing. Your post could be featured on other sites.

Low costs yet high-impact results. Creating a blog is free or is at a minimal cost. But the opportunity to effect your bottomline is significant.

Reaching a global audience in less time. No longer are you relegated to promoting your books one-to-one but promoting one-to-many.