Comments on: What Is the Big Deal About Blogging Anyway?

By: Top news

Top news — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 20:05:37 +0000

Its the connectivity with your readers and those who keep communicating with you through your blog. People have a different identity in blogger world, just like pen name. I know some blogger who don’t use their real name in blogging world, but they are more famous here that they have started using same names in offline world also. Just people know them by that name more than their real name.

By: Loretta D.

Loretta D. — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 19:19:59 +0000

Good point! I wish I could get the attendees of our tai chi convention to blog WITH each other. The tai chi community is all “islands unto themselves” and is sadly not as connected as I believe it should be.

By: Sweetrock

Sweetrock — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 08:42:09 +0000

Its true..
the relationship with ur readers.. that keeps you blogging

By: mack collier

mack collier — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 20:51:04 +0000

Nettie wish you could have made it! One of the highlights for me was getting to meet Director Tom, a genuinely nice guy!

By: Nettie Hartsock

Nettie Hartsock — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 20:12:46 +0000

Mack,
Great post! I missed meeting a fellow Alabamian (you) at the Blog Social – hope I can make it out there next year and hope all is well in Alabama too.
Nettie H.

By: Debbie Hemley

Debbie Hemley — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 21:19:53 +0000

Great post!
I agree completely with your point that the return on your relationships is where the magic happens. And exactly why blogging has become so compelling, and why it is in fact–a very big deal.
Thanks for this piece.
–Debbie Hemley
http://www.impressionsthroughmedia.com

By: mack collier

mack collier — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 20:15:29 +0000

“Mack and CK, I agree that blogging brings us closer from afar. Alan has a point, however, in that so many others aren’t familiar with its connective abilities.”
And that’s why I think it falls onto those of us that ‘get it’ to make the point to companies why these connections are so vital. Yes companies want to know the business ramifications of blogging, and rightly so. But the impact of creating and nurturing relationships with others via blogging is even more powerful, IMO.
It’s not about the tools, it’s about the conversations that these tools help facilitate.

By: Elaine Fogel

Elaine Fogel — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 20:04:20 +0000

Wow, now I feel like a wimp for missing the social in NYC after learning that Arun came from across the globe! Oh well. Business duties called.
Mack and CK, I agree that blogging brings us closer from afar. Alan has a point, however, in that so many others aren’t familiar with its connective abilities. I guess it’ll come in due time. By then, who knows what we’ll all be into!

By: Paul Chaney

Paul Chaney — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 19:55:36 +0000

I’ve got so many stories about the business and personal benefits that blogging has accrued for me I won’t even begin to tell you. I will say this though, the dearest friends I have in this world are people I’ve met through blogging. It has not only enriched my life, but changed it in so many ways, both professionally and personally.
I love the photo. That says it all indeed.

By: mack collier

mack collier — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 17:40:33 +0000

Ramona I certainly didn’t get it at first. I remember seeing other bloggers linking to other sites and thinking they were crazy. After all, they were just sending traffic AWAY from their blog!
We all learn the more time we spend in this space. I continue to be stunned at how ‘good’ bloggers truly are. Or maybe I’m just hanging out with the right crowd

By: Ramona Childers

Ramona Childers — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 14:56:25 +0000

I am just starting out in the wonderful world of blog and I can already see what you mean by relationships. Nobody I know understands really what I’m doing yet, but I know that as I start posting they will get to know me, and understand the draw of this much better.

By: Abhi

Abhi — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 02:25:14 +0000

Great post! Blogging is the most creative investment a marketing team can make. Not 100% of marketing investment turns in sales, however the buzz created by blogging about a brand is unmeasurable. Only in blogosphere, news travels faster than light!

By: Levon Guiragossian

Levon Guiragossian — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 17:30:28 +0000

I remember during the last recession (seems like we have one every other year in this country) companies slashing their marketing departments because they said it was not a necessity. It seems like blogging departments could potentially become the next casualty to this mindset as we enter the next recession.
This mentality just leads to more of a recession. Think about it, if no one is triggering derived demand, no one is buying.
If everyone took a long term view on things there would never be recessions because planning and development would be instituted to alleviate any shortfalls in the future. Greed goes hand-in-hand with short term gain.

By: Blog Marketing Journal

Blog Marketing Journal — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 16:41:11 +0000

Great article! Blogging gives those who may not have had a voice (without a blog) the chance to speak their mind on subjects and have the opportunity to be influential. It’s simply great!

By: CK

CK — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 16:28:07 +0000

All those perfectly posed headshots and I come to find that my favorite photo is one where my hair is flying, I’m in-between laughing and crying and I have camera redeye. As it should be . Fact is, Arun went through so, so much to come from Oman to NYC–and did so after but a few weeks of his mother’s passing. Truly unbelievable (as is evidenced by the reaction on my face).
Alan has a very good point. It is difficult, if not near impossible, for those not yet in the conversation to understand its myriad business benefits. But in listening to customers (and competitors’ customers) and even collaborating with customers only reduces a company’s risk, increases its chances of WOM, and, yes, increases revenues.
It’s a very “human” strategy and that can be hard to grasp after many spreadsheets and matrices (hey, I do my share of those, too). But customers freely communicating, sharing, expressing and opining isn’t going away–the good news is that businesses can absolutely benefit. The learning curve is challenging, but as my clients have found, quite enjoyable.
PS: So great to see you at the event, too .

By: mack collier

mack collier — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 15:44:15 +0000

You’re right Alan, we are still pretty much the 1 percenters. That’s why I think it’s important to let companies know NOW that while the metrics and measurements have to be in place, so does the communication, which leads to the connections and relationships.
THAT is where blogging and social media has its greatest promise. It’s not about the tools, it’s about the conversations that they help facilitate.

By: Alan

Alan — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 15:35:31 +0000

Most excellent summation of the emotional and social benefits of blogging.
Only caveat though is that we often forget what a small circle we operate in. I mean most people not heavily into the digital end of marketing and media (and many who are!) still think that a blog is some sort of personal online diary where we’re writing stuff like “I miss my teddy bear Ralphie.”
The fact that is can be a valuable *business* tool is a story that still needs to get out there.
Soon though. Soon.