Want to advertise online without spending a fortune? Get a blog.

If you're an Internet marketer, you need a blog, because:

* a blog helps your site to rank higher in the search engines; and

* a blog expands your customer base.

Blogs are often called social marketing tools, because they let you interact with your readers via comments and permalinks (see the glossary below.)

What's a blog? Get up to speed here:

* http://www.blogger.com/tour_start.g

* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blogs

Let's look at five ways a blog helps you to market your business.

One: A blog helps your site to rank higher in the search engines

In 2003, when Google bought Pyra Labs, the company which developed Blogger, the reaction was Huh? At the time, blogs were seen by most as online journals, primarily maintained by the demented and teenage girls.

How times change. In 2005, companies small and large are using blogs to promote their businesses. This is because Google and the other search engines love blogs because of their constantly updated content.

Blog often, and you'll get more visitors and a good search engine ranking.

Two: A blog expands your customer base