The real difference between a social blog and business blog
A blog is a blog. But a business blog is more than that. Though the technology used in a business and social blog are the same, the purposes they serve are different. What is the real difference between them? A social blog does not generate any income which is the primary purpose of a business blog.
A business blog would be selling products or services or both and actively promoting and advertising the blog. Let’s take an example. A dog food manufacturer may use a blog to inform and educate people about his product, which is dog food. On his blog, he has articles and write-up, which cover the subject of dog food in detail. He may even cover the topic of dogs as pets to make his blog interesting. He would add useful Links to other sites providing information on the same subject, and finally, a clever link to his own product site, channeling the viewers. The focus throughout is on the product and finding ways and means to entice buyers.
On the other hand a social site may not have any goal other than to create an informal group of like minded people, for example a dog lover. His blog may be similar in all respects to a business site. He may have interesting articles on pet dogs. He may even discuss the various food categories for dogs. But he stops short of directing viewers to purchase a certain product or brand. The links a social blog provides could be to other like-minded blogs and web sites.
A business site may provide monetary incentives to people if they visit a particular site. It may offer discounts on purchase of specific products. Other than a credit card verification and payment gateway, a blog could very well be a full fledged web-site with graphics and fancy templates. On the other hand a social blog would be devoid of financial incentives. If it does, it would be a business blog.
The blogging industry or shall we say community is a potent tool for communication. For a social blog, the purpose is to educate and entertain. It is primarily a gathering or meeting of minds. A business blog has to be subtle and designed in such a way as to attract people to it. It cannot be a blatant, on your face selling. A blog by its very nature is personal and casual. Rather than a organization without a face, a blogger is a flesh and blood human being who shares his thoughts and views with others. A business blog has to cleverly promote itself; otherwise it would be thrown out of the blogger community.