Blogs started out as a kind of personal journal.
However, the uses for blogs has expanded to include all kinds of writing - including uses for Internet Marketing.

1. Simple - blogging is easy for everybody.
   Any piece of writing can easily be uploaded into a blog post.
   No special skills are required - an average adult (and kids!) can read, type, and click a mouse.
   It is the equivalent of having a piece of virtual paper to jot down ideas, experiences, drawings.
   Or you can video a demonstration or conversation.
   This allows us to easily describe a product in a way that compels the reader to try the product.
   
2. Authentic - it is best when in the blog authors' own words.
   Canned descriptions that are just copy-pasted are not as compelling as a true story of how the product was effective for the author.
   Product specifications are sometimes needed to fully describe a product to the reader - but the sizzle that sells most products comes from the story of the benefits that the product delivers.
   And a personal story makes your pitch (and site) unique.
   
3. Free - it costs nothing to blog.
   In a lot of cases, the blog is even hosted for free by sites like Blogger.
   com or WordPress.
   com.
   When you are starting out with a product, one of these free blog sites can keep your internet marketing costs low while you prove out the product demand.
   Once the product begins to show some legs, moving up to a paid site with your own domain name can increase the profits.
   
4. Credibility - relating your continued experiences with the product.
   A blog gives this timeline of experiences in a way that other internet marketing methods do not.
   Pay-per-click ads and sales letter web pages give a single impression to the reader.
   Blogs allow the reader to look through your history with the product and can see a variety of benefits obtained with its continued use.
   The blog also allows you to personalize yourself so that the reader relates to you and takes your recommendation of the product as the recommendation of a friend rather than a sterile sales pitch.
   
5. Market Building - sharing the spotlight between you and a host of products.
   The blog should have a focus that draws the reader back.
   This focus could be you or it could be a particular marketing niche.
   Regardless, this focus can be used to build your market.
   Here are some ways to do that:

- Email.
Send an email message to your list announcing new content on your blog.
Include a link to your blog in your signature for all outgoing email.
- Subscription.
Let readers subscribe to your website.
You can entice them to do so by providing extra information to subscribers.
- Survey.
Ask your readers for information.
This information could be about their experiences with the products you have recommended.
Or about benefits they are looking to satisfy - which can lead you to new products to recommend.
- Network.
Spend some time watching other blogs / forums that are related to your niche.
Answer questions or add comments and link back to your own blog.
- RSS.
This can be a great way to keep your blog more up to date.
- Social Media.
Make sure that each article on your blog is bookmarked with places like Digg and StumbledUpon.
Mention your new content on Twitter or Facebook.
Blogs are a required element in your Internet Marketing toolbox!