Corporate Blogs and Search Visability

Should companies start a blog in order to increase their search engine ranking and visibility? I still get asked that question from time to time. If that would be the only goal for starting a blog, then no.

The reason to start a blog is to utilize the strength a blog gives you – free and open communication with your customers. Blogs are generally search friendly by design, but that alone shouldn't a factor in the to-blog-or-not-to-blog discussion.

Let's answer the question about why blogs generally rank better search engines. Most bloggers use pre-built blog software that are, in nearly every case, already properly optimized from the ground up. They implement the "best practices" of the search industry that quickly allow search engine spiders to index all the content.

If you are looking to start a blog as a solution to better search rankings, then spend the time learning the elements of a blog that make it search friendly. Then take those lessons and apply them to your corporate site.