While the Internet is relatively new, blogging is newer still, having begun in the late 90's. Originally, it wasn't much more than a means of allowing visitors to a website to comment or express an opinion. Original blog comments were short; sometimes not more than one sentence. Today, blog comments, or posts, can encompass a wide range of subjects and can be of considerable length.

Internet marketers are always on the lookout for a new advertising vehicle. The blog has caught their eye and is rapidly becoming one of the 21st century?s online advertising wonders!

Should you use blogging to promote your internet business? Like anything else, the final answer will depend on a lot of things, but here are 5 reasons why you may want to use blogging as an internet marketing tool.

1. It's simple. Even people without websites are selling things on the internet. The most common system is to set up a blog, a simple thing to do, on a subject with which you are familiar. Then, you join one or more affiliate programs for products or services related to the subject of your blog. Finally, you place your affiliate links on your blog and regularly add content to the site. If you have chosen a subject with which you are familiar and enjoy, this can actually be fun, and many people are making a nice income online just from this tactic alone.

2. It's real. Remember that part about creating a blog on a subject you were familiar with and enjoyed? That's one of the keys to a successful blog. Others with the same interests will come by your blog over and over again to see what you have added. With all the advertising on the internet, they are used to some advertising being around. With so many non-blog sites, however, it seems like many of today's magazines...tons of advertising and little content of value. A well-run blog can provide lots of content and make money for the blogger with just a few ads.

By the way, rather than add more and more advertising to their blogs, many who are blogging for business just create new blogs. This allows them to keep content fresh and of high quality while simultaneously giving them the opportunity to show more ads.

3. It's free. As my high school Latin teacher used to say, "You can't beat that with a stick!" Most sites which allow bloggers to set up shop do not charge. Many have an impressive array of tools, templates, and features. In fact, many sites such as myspace.com and directmatches.com include a free blog as a part of their services. This actually serves to attract customers to their services. There are paid blog sites, and it may be of value to use one of these sites if you are serious about blogging for business.

4. It builds respectability. Once again, writing about familiar subjects and demonstrating your genuine interest in the topic creates an aura of respectability to your blog. Additionally, you may begin to become recognized as an "expert" on the subject and may get regular return visitors. Placing an advertisement on your blog can be seen more as advice than advertising. A really good blog, by the way, may even begin to generate advertising revenue on its own.

5. It increases market share. You cannot compete with Ford or General Motors. However, if you are providing valid, valuable information on your chosen topic and updating your blog regularly, there is a good chance that you will begin to build a loyal following. One common result of this is that somebody who visited your blog and liked it refers it to someone else.

There are many means of increasing your blog's value and reach. Most of these are pretty much the same as what you would do to increase the popularity or search engine rank of any other website. However, with blogs, simply providing well presented, regularly updated, valuable content will probably do more than anything else to enhance your blog's standing.

Find a topic you know about and enjoy, sign up for a free blog, find affiliate programs related to your blog (or simply link to your own business), provide valuable content, update regularly, and stick with it.

While you can see the value of blogging to enhance your internet marketing efforts, your blog may wind up being the only internet business you ever really need.