Just in case you are not sure what a blog is, let me help introduce you. A blog is the same as a group of platforms or programs all rolled into one area. A blog can be used to read articles of interest, or can be like a website where you can find important information on the topic of your choice. A blog can be similar to an online book where you can read about people, places, or things that are of interest to you and not have to worry about reading about things that are not of interest. A blog can also be a hub for ideas, information, or anything else related to the person or companies that author the blog. So a blog is a centre point, much like a website that can act independently as a separate blog or as a mix of website/blog. Either way, it is a great tool when you find ones you like. The nice thing is, there is a blog on almost every subject and with the invention of the internet you can now search for almost anything on a blog. Some people tend to ask the question; why look at blogs? Remember the old days when you would stand at the magazine rack trying to figure out which magazine you should buy because you only had enough money for one? Now you don’t have to. The cool thing is that many people who are just as smart, have just as much knowledge, and have the same interests as you, contribute to those blogs so you get a different voice for many subjects and you are able to comment and begin a conversation with your favourite authors. Even better than the voice is the price, most blogs are free and you can follow as many as you wish. They will all stream directly into your email and you can read them at your leisure.

There is no secret that many companies are using the blog for promotional purposes. The search engines that find and categorize information that we read on the web keep changing the way topics are found to increase usage of the web. As of the last couple of years, content is the item that is driving searches on the internet, therefore companies have jumped on the bandwagon of supplying information so that they will rate higher on the internet search ratings. You now find companies offering information to attract clients to their websites, that’s good for you and me, as we get good information at a great rate. The better the information offered the more people visit the website or blog.

So how does that work for you? If you enjoy reading on different topics or about certain companies, then blogs may be good for you. If your company has a blog, they probably host information that may be useful for you, the services you offer, or products you handle. You may find that you can visit the blog and learn more about your company, the culture of the company, and possibly other team members that are providing content for the blog. Many people complain they don’t learn enough about their businesses or careers and reading the blog is a first step to knowing who you work for. There can be a wealth of information on blogs and it can be the next best way to find out about opportunities and people you thought you knew. Check out your company blog and see if it can help you in your career; it is only a click away.

About the Author

Bruce Outridge has been in the transportation industry for over 30 years and is the author of the books; Driven to Drive and Running by the Mile. Challenger Motor Freight Inc. is one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies (platinum member) and is looking for quality team members. To learn more about opportunities with Challenger visit their website at www.challenger.com