Do Blogs Matter?
A couple of weeks ago, my colleagues and I in the Campaigns class had a discussion board thread going about the value of blogs.
Do blogs really matter? Do they change the world?
Or, are they a soapbox for a person with an opinion?
The answer, I think, is “yes” to both questions.
It all may have started with opinionated people publishing their journals, musings, and rants online, but the movement quickly went mainstream, with a long tail extending into the offline world.
Technorati, a “recognized authority on what’s happening on the World Live Web, right now,” is at this very minute tracking 112.8 million blogs and more than 250 million pieces of tagged social media.
What’s more, Technorati reports that more than 175,000 new blogs are appearing every day. Bloggers are prolific, making more than 1.6 million posts per day, or more than 18 updates a second.
I stand before you a mere fleck of dust in the universe.
So I thought I’d use my soapbox (thanks to WVU IMC for a few more weeks) to point you in the direction of marketing experts and gurus that I’ve enjoyed discovering in the blogosphere. Check ‘em out:
The Church of the Customer
Hosted by Ben McConnell and Jackie Huba, writers, speakers, and consultants based in Austin, Texas
The Society for Word of Mouth
SWOM: For those who seek word-of-mouth enlightenment
Seth’s Blog
Seth Godin—no need to say more
Brand Autopsy
Hosted by John Moore, and offering thought-provoking discussion on all things marketing related
What’s Next Blog.com
Hosted by BL Ochman, an Internet strategist and social media consultant
Publishing 2.0
Editor & Publisher: Scott Karp, addressing how technology is transforming media
Of course, these favorites are just a small sampling. Let’s build the list with more of your favorite marketing-related blogs.
P.S. Just for Fun
And a couple of blogs for your downtime:
Boing Boing
A directory of wonderful things
Mental Floss
Where knowledge junkies get their fix
Articles
Virginia,
Blogs certainly have hit the mainstream. The thing I wonder is this: with over 112 million blogs, are all of them actually getting read? Thanks for the marketing blog links. I am familiar with a few of them. If only I had more time to read them. Two more weeks!
Todd
Good point, Todd. (I think you’re one of the few people who read mine! Ha!). And I do appreciate the feedback!
It seems to me that blogs have to be well targeted to an involved community, and they have to deliver fresh news and perspectives that you can’t find just anywhere. It’s been an interesting experience to write a blog for a few weeks, but I’m not sure I could do this long term. Though, maybe, I would get better at it.
V.
Hi Virginia,
I’m a recently admitted new student to IMC and will be starting my first course this August! I just wanted to leave a note and let you know that I’ve found your writing to be be very insightful :) I really enjoyed reading your experience with IMC and am now convinced that the interactive nature of this program is going to make this experience incredible!
Thank you for taking the time from your very hectic schedule to detail your time at Campaigns this summer! i wish you the best of luck :)
Hello Vidya:
Congrats on your acceptance into WVU’s IMC program. It’s going to be a fun ride. I’m glad you’ve tapped into the blog, as it does provide the student perspective and another forum for interaction. The 610 intro class will quickly immerse you in all things IMC and it definitely sets the stage for what is to come in Campaigns. Speaking of which…I should stop procrastinating and get back to work.
Best of luck to you in the program.
V.
I like to look at blogs about Japan. It helps keep the creative juices flowing since their trends are so far ahead and different than what we experience in the Western world.
Japan Marketing News
Trends in Japan
Two blogs I have subscribed to for this purpose.
Others I enjoy for fun: The Superficial (mindless celebrity gossip) and tons of blogs about LOST. Yes I am addicted to that show!
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