On an anonymous Monday morning, I woke up to find my business partner had posted a Facebook status that rather interested me. In it, she informed me (and her Facebook friends) that a post I’d written about marketing tricks had been linked to by a New York Times blogger. We had received a pingback, which is an alert that another website has linked to ours.

I was shocked. Mostly because I’d had no previous indication that anyone from the New York Times, blogger or otherwise, had every read a thing I’d written, let alone thought it worthy of linking to. I oscillated between humble pride and nervousness. Nervous because I had no idea who else might be reading what I’m writing. Potential clients who haven’t decided who the right consultant for them is? An ex-boyfriend? My dad? Bill Gates?

I had no idea and that thought made me temporarily anxious.

Then, it passed and I realized again what an incredibly powerful thing this really is. Through our computers and by following links, we can reach anyone and connect with them. We can demonstrate our expertise to everyone, in “ink”.

That’s the terrifying and wonderful thing about the Internet: you don’t know who is reading. You don’t know when a prospective client might decide you’re the person for them. You don’t know when a faithful reader will refer their best friend to you because they’ve learned to trust you over the years. You just never know.

Still think you don’t need a business blog?