eBiz Tomorrow by Chris Salazar

Jeremiah has talked a lot about what community marketing is, since it is a rather hot topic.  With all the community marketing talk, I've been wondering how does a company reach out to bloggers?  Or should they?

There's really been an overwhelming response that blogging is in fact not a fad and it does impact businesses.  This is our foundation, but now we need to figure out HOW we (as a company) reach out to bloggers and embrace this change.

Kevin Briody, community marketing manager at Windows Live has some interesting thoughts as he tries to break down the five ways to communicate with bloggers:

1. Listen and Learn
2. Support, energize, get involved in and help build the community
3. Connect bloggers and the community back to the product teams
4. Help the community connect with each other
5. Get the hell out of the way

I believe Kevin is really on the right track and he will do a great job at Windows Live. I especially like his first tip to "Listen and Learn."  I previously talked a little about this in how to become a successful blogger but I believe it deserves more attention.  That's really where it should start!

I look forward to learning more about Kevin and his works at Microsoft Live.  Wow, him and Scoble are really doing their thing!

Take a look here at Robert Scoble's dinner with the Microsoft Live folks

A new VoIP company is on the rise to compete with Sype, who just introduced conferencing calling. 

Basically with "JaJah" you can call long distance for a cheap price.  YES JUST LIKE SKYPE!  However, what's the difference between JaJah and Skype?

• No download
• No headset needed
• No installation
• You can use your regular phone

Seems like a great idea to me.  But, I still have some questions for you:

1. How will telephone services respond (i.e. SBC)?
2. Will we see any buy outs between Gizmo, Skype and JaJah?
3. Will they collectively try to take down the traditional telephone services?
4. How will Skype and Gizmo respond?

If you have answers to my questions, let me know.

Rebecca Blood, author of "The Weblog Handbook," is a prominent blogger and has a lot to say about "how to" blog.  But, in her recent book, she answers the question "Why a Weblog?"

Yet, I am still curious why the MySpace generation has not yet adapted to a business blog.  I would think it would make it easier to transition to the corporate world (at least it has for me). 

Here's my GOAL:  I want to help all interns and new college grads adapt to the corporate world using blogs as a way to network and start thinking business.  I believe it has helped me tremendously, so I want to spread the word!

I know what you are thinking, out of all things, WHY A WEBLOG?  Using Rebecca's book, here's why:

Weblogs build better writers.  Rebecca notes there is no special formula for writing well, but writing.  I strongly believe that blogging has helped strengthen my writing skills, which reflects well at my university and in my internship.  This is the FIRST reason why interns/new college grads should have a blog.

Weblogs build self-awareness.  Absolutely! My blog has helped me understand who I am, and how I think.  Although this may sound weird, this is very important for future planning.  With this knowledge, I have been able to carve out my career path as I see it now, through my blog.  All interns/new grads feel lost and have no clue what career to follow, but a blog can help.

Weblogs build critical thinkers.  All throughout school, we are "forced" to become critical thinkers.  However, the difference here is I am analyzing something that I am passionate about–the Web.  At the same time, I am enhancing my ability to analyze situations and create conclusions.  Everyone needs this skill and blogs allow us interns to strengthen this skill.

Weblogs build reputations.  The content that I write in my blog reflects who I am and therefore I am creating my own reputation and my own brand.  My blog is my own personal brand that will eventually build my reputation. Building a strong reputation is key to succeeding in business and blogs initiate this process.  

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Rebecca's book has helped me realize how much blogging has contributed to my success as an intern and I am confident it will help me once I dive into the corporate world. 

Clearly, all will benefit from blogging, especially the MySpace generation as they step foot into a corporate environment.

Now I ask you the question:  "Why a Weblog?"  or "Why do you blog?"

I recently wrote about how to become a successful intern, since I am an INROADS intern, but Robyn Tippins thought it would be a good idea to write about being a successful blogger.

I will give this my best shot, but these are characteristics that I currently working towards since they seem to be prominent in most successful bloggers.

How To Become A Successful Blogger

• Think PASSION, not numbers
  • Some bloggers start off or eventually participate in the popularity/number contest–AKA your technorati rank
  • Numbers and Ranks are a distraction, instead write about your passion
  • Blogs written with passion are much more powerful, resourceful, and interesting
• Join the CONVERSATION
  • Shel Israel, author of Naked Conversations, said we should join the conversation by listening FIRST–excellent advice!
  • Listen to what others have to say, start writing your own thoughts, comment on other blogs, and invite them to talk with you
  • Be a good listener and a good contributor
• Exhibit THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
  • Keep your posts unique and resourceful
  • Add value to what has already been said and introduce new ideas and questions
  • Make your posts thought provoking, not just a summary of what’s going on
• Create TRUST
  • Shel Israel said blogging should be like:
    • “Two neighbors leaning on a fence talking about their interests”
  • Create trust by creating an informal and open global conversation
  • Invite others to agree and disagree with you
• Enable comments
  • Comments are an important feature of blogs, enable them and help keep the conversation going
  • Positive and negative feedback are both good, don’t worry
  • The best thoughts, perhaps some you did not think of, come from comments
• Become the starting and ending point for all conversations
  • You want the conversation to start and end with you
  • First, keep up to date with global trends, news, and innovations and provide your honest opinions
  • Be enthusiastic and raise eyebrows
• Network with other bloggers
  • Build relationships, do not just sit back and hope things will happen
  • Venture out in the blogosphere, meet new people, and build friendships
  • Commend bloggers for a job well done and help them become thought leaders as well

This is an on-going list that I will continue to update with YOUR COMMENTS! I would really like your feedback for making this list the resource for all bloggers!

YOUR COMMENTS ARE NEEDED!

This seems to be a hot topic as of late and I can definately see why. The battle is simply between those who think blogging is only for the elite and blogging is for everyone to engage in the conversation.

Some strongly believe that the elite bloggers who have all the right things to say make the blogosphere go round. In fact, the claim is that the blogosphere is losing key components of the online conversation because "we are not building some kind of governance into blogging. We're losing standards and rules. We're losing form. We're losing the opportunity to adopt widespread opinions."

What a bold move to say that we need to implement governance into blogging. Then what's the point of blogging? I thought blogging was about writing down one's thoughts (like a diary) to engage in an online conversation. Yet, others are telling the world that need a government body to monitor blogs…WHY, so we can articially control the content around the blogosphere? Sorry, but that ruins the point of a blog…looks like PR firms dont get it.

I am glad others agree with me, including Mike Sacks, who believes that everyone should have the right to blog and PR is: engaging in conversation with a target audience.

Take a look at Robert Scoble and Shel Israel, authors of Naked Conversations. The conversations that make the blogosphere go round should be UNFILTERED. We don't need a government body telling us what content we can and cannot post. THE BLOGOSPHERE IS ONE BIG CONVERSATION!

:sigh: Anyone else with me, Robert, Shel and a select few?

I don't know about you, but when I hear someone talk about how much money corporations are making, I tend to think of the agressive, fast talker agency that is trying desparately to get $$ from you. They conceivable make a product/service sound the BEST, when sometimes thats not the case.

Do not get me wrong, all businesses are not like this, but this is where I see it going. BUT, blogs have a chance to put these businesses in check and force them back to their roots–the CUSTOMER!

Blogs are not bringing anything different than what we already know. We started off wanting to please the customer, but we have drifted away from this goal as increasing profits seems to be first priority.

Here's why I think Blogs are a REALITY CHECK for corporations:

1. Blogs force companies to focus on their customers
   • Customers have POWER! …BUYING POWER that is
   • If you focus on the customer, profits will come
2. Informal Blogs create "trust"
   • Customers want to feel safe with companies
   • Establishing trust enhances relationships
   • Relationships will bring business
3. Blogs force companies to consider them as the "NEW PR"
   • the NEW PR = Public Relations
   • I do not like to think of blogs as PR, but in a way they are because you are creating a conversation with other people and/or customers
4. Blogs help companies communicate with customers at THEIR level
   • This is important!
   • Communicating with customers at their level creates a strong relationship (personal and business)
5. Blogs tell your customers: "I CARE!"
   • Show that you care for your customers, not just want their money
   • Allowing customers to talk openly about your products/services is KEY…even if you receive negative feedback

A corporation must focus on fulfilling the needs of their customer. This has been a focus for the corporate world since the beginning of time and blogs offer a way to reach your customer!

Want to increase your profits? Well, tisten to your customer! Allow them to communicate with you! Show them you care!

Here's a list of others who are talking about PR and blogging:

• PR stands for Relating to the Public - Jeremiah Owyang
• 7 Tips on Pitching Bloggers - Rohit Bhargava
• Thinking out loud: Is the PR blogosphere fragmenting? - C Basturea
• Are PR companies tempted to make false promises on "new media" communications? - Silicon Valley Watcher

What are YOUR thoughts about PR and blogging?