Blogging is a weblog or online journal where people write their daily (or at least frequent) adventures, sentiments, or whatever other ideas they want to express online. What started out as more of a personal commentary about one's own life events and beliefs, has taken the internet by storm and is now used for both personal and business agendas alike.

With the steady progression of online businesses, blogs have become an inexpensive, yet very effective method of advertising. Business blogs are basically created to advertise the services or products of a certain web site or online business in order to increase online sales. Here are 5 reasons why blogging should be included in your arsenal of internet marketing tools.

* Blogging is pretty straightforward and non-technical. It's like having a virtual piece of paper where you can make it known to the world (or at least to your readers) your ideas, experiences, products and services. With no particular writing format to follow, bloggers have the freedom to express themselves creatively and use what ever individualistic writing style they feel comfortable with. This opens the door for just about anyone who has access to a computer to tap out a few words and exploit a blog for all its benefits.

* Blogging is authentic and personal. Real people share their real-life experiences, unscathed by paid advertising. Reading blogs about products or services has a much more personal appeal. Reading a blog can be like talking to person first hand about their experiences.

* Blogging is free. Blogging sites offer free services with minimal restrictions. Within 10 minutes after registering for an account, you can easily be up and blogging. Any opportunity for free web time is definitely a bonus, especially for businesses that are just starting up. Paid blog sites are not bound by the same restrictions and have the potential to generate more income for your seriously growing business.

* Blogging builds credibility. Consistently posting quality content will gain you notoriety as an expert and can position you and your company as a leader in the field. Readers who benefit from what you post will not only continue to return, but can increase your readership by providing links to your blog.

* Blogging builds relationships. As a forum where your main objective is not to sell, you can establish a more personal relationship between you and your customers. Blogs give your readers an option to leave comments and a way for you to measure the value of what you are offering. Feedback can be used to determnine the needs and wants of your customers.

A major difference between a blog and a conventional website is that a website needs to be promoted in order for it to bee seen. Blogs on the other hand, have the power to announce itself and can keep doing so with every posted update. These are just a few of the many benefits blogging can bring to your business. Give your business a boost by effectively using blogging as an internet marketing tool.