How To use a Blog effectivly for Business?

Please help me with this, I have a blog...I haven't updated it in way too long I know that...But what do you do on your blog that has helped our business. If you can direct me to any outstanding photography blogs for wedding photography so I can see the idea on page. I am just not sure what I should be writing about or what pictures to choose etc. I guess the last question is a blog necessary?

http://www.jasminestar​blog.com/ - she's the best blogger ever.

The blog IS necessary. I love the saying "Blog for yourself, not for everyone else".

I have looked at hers before but thank you for the reminder. Sometimes I don't know what to blog about but i guess that little saying may help me! Thanks

Anyone else have any experience with blogs they want to share?

you must post and post often, every day, if possible (at least a few times a week)
even if its just a photo with the exif data
ppl like to be informed
so, tutorials or explainations about lighting, post processing, etc. are a great way to get ppl to read
freebies like textures, actions, etc.

tell a story with pictures in a photojournalistic type way (drama b&w's go well)
even if its just photos of a walk you took in the city or drinks you had with friends

just a few random thoughts in my head

I have a difficult time writing for a blog. I can easily talk and carry on a one on one discussion but when I'm trying to write a one way communication piece for a variety of people, I find it very difficult. Instead of relying on writing, my blog is mainly a "rolling portfolio". It's mostly filled with photos and very few words.

Post as often as possible but only if you have something half decent to share or say.
Chase Jarvis' blog is awesome in my opinion, he doesn't post daily (but regularly) and
his posts are always really solid. Zack Arias is another I like, he doesn't post as often
but his posts are solid, those blogs end up being favourited (by me at least) and revisted.
Both those guys aren't wedding photographers but it's just an example of good blog running.

I find most blogs utterly boring and completely a waste of time. There are only a few that are well worth the time to read, most are talking about themselves too darn much, sharing nothing new, talking about how they learned this and that when they should already know this stuff as a professional, etc. Blogs are totally ego driven and self centered when you should be worrying about clients wants and what they want to know....least 99% of them that I see.

MJPhotos24 wrote in post #11739281
Blogs are totally ego driven and self centered when you should be worrying about clients wants and what they want to know....least 99% of them that I see.

I disagree but ego driven or not they are a good business tool.

MJPhotos24 wrote in post #11739281
I find most blogs utterly boring and completely a waste of time. There are only a few that are well worth the time to read, most are talking about themselves too darn much, sharing nothing new, talking about how they learned this and that when they should already know this stuff as a professional, etc. Blogs are totally ego driven and self centered when you should be worrying about clients wants and what they want to know....least 99% of them that I see.

this is utterly false

MJPhotos24 wrote in post #11739281
I find most blogs utterly boring and completely a waste of time. There are only a few that are well worth the time to read, most are talking about themselves too darn much, sharing nothing new, talking about how they learned this and that when they should already know this stuff as a professional, etc. Blogs are totally ego driven and self centered when you should be worrying about clients wants and what they want to know....least 99% of them that I see.

Couldnt agree with you more

CallumPhoto wrote in post #11739337
I disagree but ego driven or not they are a good business tool.

I should have said self serving more so than ego driven really. People don't write them to pump up their ego usually, some do, but for the most part it's just to talk about themselves and that's it. I've read hundreds of blogs and I can say maybe 10 have been good. These are ones that are trying to teach, ones that are from people of interest, ones that have more of a purpose other than just having a blog. TOO MANY people have a blog just to have one, they write non-sense that nobody really cares about for the SEO. It's necessary to have a blog now, everyone does, but think about it quick. It seems like everyone has a camera now, does that make them a good photographer - hell no. Just because everyone has a blog does not mean it makes them a good blogger.

It's great if it works, but how know how much their blog has brought them business?

mikekelley wrote in post #11739414
this is utterly false

Now explain, expand the conversation instead of just saying it's false and that's it.

Gary_Evans wrote in post #11740857
Couldnt agree with you more

I agree with Gary agreeing.

Blogs are the same as everything... there's good ones and there's bad ones.

CallumPhoto wrote in post #11740917
Blogs are the same as everything... there's good ones and there's bad ones.

...with a vast majority however leaning in one direction.

Blogs are very useful tools.

For SEO. When I photograph a wedding at a new venue I blog about it. Google picks up the post within 30 mins. Searching for weddings at that venue will then show my post. A lot of clients find me that way. The blog also generates a lot of traffic.

For business. Clients like to see that you're working regularly. Also some clients have a passing interest in photography and feel reassured when they read the technical aspects of your work.

I used to blog a lot about technical matters, attempting to convey ideas clearly and concisely for others. I get less time to do that now so I mostly tend to blog about my weddings. I always include EXIF data for all my shots and try and explain why I did what I did.

I try and steer clear of talking about myself.

I killed my blog as soon as I realized I'm a terrible blogger. It was doing more harm than good.