I don't get it. What is "Bring the Blog"?
We're like the Associated Press for blogs. Just like the New York Times uses wire services to complement their home-grown articles, we give you outside content to make your blog better and more effective.
You keep saying "Blog". It's even in your name. What is it?
A blog is like a journal or running commentary, published on the Internet.
How is a blog different from a Web site?
It's not. A blog is a Web site. It's a Web site that is updated every day.
Is "blog" a verb, or a noun?
Actually, it's both. A person can blog to their blog, if that makes sense to you. Many people use the terms interchangeably, and in several forms just to make it extra confusing.
I understand that Bring the Blog adds new content to my blog every day. How often should I add my own content to my blog?
There is no "right" answer to that question You should post to your blog whenever you feel inspired. For some folks, that's every day. For some, it's never! It's entirely up to you.
I already have a blog with TypePad, WordPress or Blogger and I want to incorporate Bring the Blog's daily content. Can I do that?
Sure! As a Bring the Blog member, you have the right to take our content anywhere you like. We even wrote a small piece of code that posts your Bring the Blog content to your "outside" blog automagically.
Who are the Bring the Blog writers?
For each industry, we hand-select a prominent blogger that is knowledgeable of the industry, has a strong command of the Engligh language, and truly enjoys writing. And then we pay them handsomely.
What should I write about when I blog?
You should write about whatever is on your mind. Some people blog about business and nothing else. Some people only blog about their personal life. It's up to you, really, and there are no boundaries.
Is using Bring the Blog the same thing as having a "Ghost Writer" for my blog?
Yes, it is -- with two major differences. First, your "ghost writer" is an expert in your industry and not just a regurgitator of the AP newswire. Secondly, Bring the Blog is yours at a fraction of the cost of "ghost writers" who typicaly charge $400-$800 per month.
What if my readers see my blog on Bring the Blog, and then see another blog on Bring the Blog with the same content? Won't they think that's bad?
There are many people in your field and only a handful of them blog. Even fewer use Bring the Blog. Therefore, is unlikely that one person will see two Web sites with the same information. That said, you can change the look-and-feel of the content and even add your own original content to "mix it up" a bit. We've never had a complaint about it.
Will my blog help me show up on Google, Yahoo!, and other search engines?
Yes, absolutely. Google and the other search engines like it when a Web site's content is updated a lot. With Bring the Blog, your blog is updated daily -- that will do wonders for your Search Engine Optimization strategy. You can then improve your chances of getting good search engine placement by writing your own content from time to time and including other key terms such as your name, or your industry.
Can I run Google AdWords on my blog?
No.
My boss doesn't want me to blog for liability reasons. I know this isn't a question.
Your boss may have "heard" things or "read" things, but there is no reason to worry. Blogging is no more of a liability than any other marketing channel your company uses. That "nervousness" is one of the reasons why every blog we publish is heavily disclaimed (courtesy of our high-priced lawyers).
Can I be held legally responsible for something I write about about another person on my blog?
Just like you would never bad mouth somebody unfairly in a newspaper, you should never do that on the Internet. Using common sense will protect you.
Can I be held legally responsible for advice that I give to another person on my blog?
Giving personalized advice on a blog is a tricky thing because there are many readers and each is unique. For that reason, Bring the Blog attaches a disclaimer to every blog that attempts to protects the author from lawsuits based on advice, but use common sense.
I've heard that blogs get spammed just like email. How does Bring the Blog protect my blog from spam?
Blogs get something called "comment spam" when bots and other programs post hundreds of spam messages at a time on a single blog. So far, our spam protection software has caught every piece of spam (knock on wood!). As a second option, we give all members the ability to disable commenting so spam is not even a consideration.
What do I do if my industry is not on the list?
First, you email us. Then, we'll see how much interest we can find in your industry. If there is enough interest and we add a new industry, we will send you some swag to thank you.