'Make the most of blogs for SEO'

3rd July 2008

Companies should focus on a recent tip given by Google engineer Matt Cutts to USA Today over the role that blogs can play in effective search engine optimisation.

This is according to Sage Lewis of Search Engine Watch, who said that there a number of ways in which businesses can capitalise on the blogging phenomenon to improve the image of their firms.

He advised companies to host their blogs under the same domain name as their main corporate websites to avoid problems should the business need to switch to new blogging tools.

Getting involved in commenting by encouraging responses to their blogs and posting on others can also do wonders for a companys' reputation, Mr Lewis said.

"Comments give you more content on your site that you didn't have to create yourself," he remarked.

"Plus, you position yourself as a company that is dedicated to listening to its customers. You also get feedback in ways that were never before possible."

Global business spending on Web 2.0 platforms such as blogs may increase to $4.6 billion (£2.3 billion) in the next five years, according to Forrester Research.