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A recent study “Harnessing the Power of Blogs,” (sponsored research by BuzzLogic and conducted by JupiterResearch, a Forrester Research company) found that blogs can have more impact on purchase decisions than social networks.
Social networks help people connect, but blogs create a conversation and become a trusted resource that influences purchase decisions says the study. Blog readership has jumped 300 percent in the last four years and they’re paying attention not only to the content of the blog, but also to ads on the blog. A quarter of readers say they trust ads on a blog, compared to 19 percent who trust ads on social networking sites.
Why do blogs play such a big role? Bloggers establish themselves as an authority on a topic, particularly in niche areas, and create a relationship with the consumer.
50 percent of frequent blog readers say they have taken an action after reading a blog.
Of those actions: 17 percent have read product reviews online; 16 percent have sought out more information on a product or service; and 16 percent have visited a manufacturer or retailer Web site.
What’s your blog strategy?
- Are you blogging – so that you become on the the influencers?
- Reaching out to influential bloggers in your space and reching their audiences?
- Getting bloggers to post about your company or products? Putting ads on topo blogsin your space?
- All of the above?
