Dawud Miracle, of Healthy WebDesign, is all about helping small business owners use the web to plan, develop, execute and grow their business.

 "So yeah, I design the website. But I also help my clients get clear in their objectives and their target market. I help them position themselves in their niche and then show them how to use their websites to find clients and grow their business. That’s what this blog is all about (or at least that what it’s developing into).

"Every client I have will eventually ask me if they should have a blog. My answer is always the same - “yes!” Then we talk about how blogging fits into their overall business plan. Some go forward and begin blogging. Other’s don’t.Personally, however, I think every small business and independent service professional should be blogging. They should be blogging with a clear purpose and specific goals in mind. They should take a little time to learn their way around the blogosphere. They should comment on other blogs and learn about feeds and feed readers. And they should learn how to use their blogs to network with other bloggers.

"But the most important reason small business owners should be blogging is to help them refine how they write and speak about their business to their audience.

"The fact is most small business and independent service professionals struggle with creating a clear message about their business. They struggle with who they’re speaking too and how to speak in a way that builds relationship and encourages action. They very often are out of touch with their audience’s real needs. And this makes it hard to reach their audience and get them to respond.

"By blogging, small business owners can speak about what they offer in a relaxed, conversational way - as though they’re sitting down for tea with a perspective client. They can enter into discussions about their business with the opportunity to share what they know. They can build trust and grow relationships without the pressure of closing a deal. And they can give the visitors a chance to buy when they’re ready instead of making them feel pushed.

"So, blogging can really help small business professionals learn to craft their marketing message in ways that will truly meet their audience’s needs, answer their concerns and share with them the benefits they gain from working together.

"And the great thing about using a blog this way is that you can measure how well you’re doing through feedback (comments), feed subscriptions and traffic patterns.

"In three sessions, I can help a beginning or a seasoned blogger understand how to use the blogosphere more effectively to grow interest in their business. Often in three sessions, my new blogging clients have enough of an understanding about blogging that they can create some momentum on their blogs - which can directly effect their business".