There are many ways that blogs can be used professionally in this world. Businesses can choose to create a blog for many reasons, such as to share company announcements like events and products, to help provide customer support, start discussions, and to give their business a more personal aspect.
Companies like to give themselves a personal side so customers feel more comfortable while communicating and associating with them. A way to accomplish this is by having employees give their thoughts about different products and services of the company. It doesn't have to be a formal written prose or a formal video blog (vlog); it can be very casual but still professional. This helps the customers to connect to the employees - and the business - in a less formal and more personal way.
Providing customer support and discussion is a great way for a company to help its customers with questions in a casual, easy-to-use format. As with the personal aspect that comes along with it, it helps customers feel a little more connected to the company.
Professional blogs are also a really great way for businesses to make announcements. As was said in the textbook, it is a great email replacement. Because of all of the spam filters and email overloads people receive in today's society, blogs help reduce email traffic and allow users to check on their own time the announcements from a company. These announcements may include new locations, new products, new ideas, giveaways, competitions, or any other general company announcements.
These professional blogs have changed the world of public relations for companies. From a typical prose blog to a vlog to a microblogging platform such as Twitter, they have found a way to connect with a consumer on a very personal level. Instead of monthly newsletters, companies can interact with their customers at any time and in any medium they choose.
