What is a Blog? ...... and what can a blog do for my site?

The term is weblog (shortened to blog) It is a web-based program (or tool) that allows the publication of articles in periodic order. Blog programs or blog tools have evolved significantly over the past few years. Current blogging programs/tools do far more than simply publish textual content. Extras such as: built-in search tool, article comments, images, and stylish web site and content structure. Creating a blog could be the most an exciting and provocative way for you to communicate about your business with new developments in the industry , new products or services. It is a great way to introduce new things while the web site is being updated. Also blogs are great places to get back links A visitor likes your blog or web site links to it you have a back link, search engines see the back link you get a boost in your PR (page ranking).

Selecting a Blog tool

WordPress
WordPress started in 2003 and is a great-looking and well-structured personal blog system. Since then it has grown to be the largest self-hosted blogging tool in the world, used on millions of sites and seen by tens of millions of people every day, and its free.

Textpattern
Textpattern is an elegant and easy-to-use weblog program with a browser-based interface in over 40 languages, excellent support and full range of features that publishers, designers and developers may find attractive, and it is also free.

Other select blogging sources

SEOMOZ
A very detailed list of 21 tactics to increase blog traffic. Subjects covered include, Choose the Right Blog Software (or Custom Build), Host Your Blog Directly on Your Domain, Write Title Tags with Two Audiences in Mind, Participate at Related Forums & Blogs, Tag Your Content, Launch Without Comments (and Add Them Later), Don't Jump on the Bandwagon, Link Intelligently, Invite Guest Bloggers, Eschew Advertising (Until You're Popular), Go Beyond Text in Your Posts, Cover Topics that Need Attention, Pay Attention to Your Analytics, Use a Human Voice, Archive Effectively, Implement Smart URLs, Reveal as Much as Possible, Only One Post in Twenty Can Be Linkbait, Make Effective Use of High Traffic Days, Create Expectations and Fulfill Them, Build a Brand.
TopRank
SEO blog offers search engine news, resources and tools for search marketing professionals and industry media.

Search Engine Roundtable
This is one of the more unique blogs out there. There are search engine conferences that go on every couple months and they write about each session. It's like being at the conference and listening to the speakers.

Search Engine Journal
Search Engine Journal, established in 2003, is a 7 year old publication of Alpha Brand Media, which specializes in a community approach to the reporting of search engine news & the sharing of Search Engine Marketing knowledge & tactics.