Do NOT underestimate the power of Blogging
Posted by Manuela Barreto @ October 10th, 2008 in New Media Tips
Rumors say blogging is the new black and I doubt it not.
According to Technorati, nearly one million blog posts are created everyday collectively and this leads them to declare blogs are soon to become the new source of news and entertainment.
The Blogosphere, the meeting point for all blogs in the Internet, is becoming more and more massive and due to the simple reason that they on the Internet, they are all interconnected and represent one huge social network.
Take a look at the evolution of blogs and the size of the blogosphere today:
Numbers speak for themselves. Blogs have hit the mainstream and they are slowly becoming a part of our lives. Several important facts the Technorati study revealed include:
*More than eight in 10 bloggers post product or brand reviews, and almost nine in 10 blog about brands they feel strongly about.
*One in three bloggers has been approached to be a brand advocate. Of those, more than six in 10 were offered payments of some kind.
-And for all brands out there!-
* Among bloggers, other blogs are the most influential form of brand messaging. Twice as many bloggers look to other blogs compared with TV, print, or outdoor advertising.
* Four in five bloggers post brand or product reviews, with 37% posting them frequently. Some 90% of bloggers say they post about the brands, music, movies and books they feel strongly about.
* Company information or gossip and everyday retail experiences are discussed by the majority of bloggers.
I would say some of the key factors brands should take into deep consideration regarding blogs is that they are a great contribution for traffic-building for websites, they spread the word easily, they are influential -37% of bloggers have been quoted in traditional media based on a blog post supports this idea- and lastly, they are easily searchable. Blog posts are usually cited by other bloggers, listed on sites like Technorati, Digg, Sphinn, Reddit and they are also linked to other posts, all this making them more visible.
In the end, blogs are connecting people, brands, communities and of course bloggers. If I were a brand, I would not only try to get my name out there in the Blogosphere, but I would also consider creating a corporate blog. A well-run blog which uses the right tools for search, display, affiliate advertising and networking can take brands very, very far.
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Comments
The Lovable Rogue
October 10th, 2008
One of the greatest benefits of the blog is its ability to create a conversation with the customer. By encouraging transparent blogging within the organisation, the company reflects a human side that is otherwise difficult to convey. This is only possible when the blogger is genuinely enthusiastic about posting material. If applied effectively, the organisation can achieve a two-way connection with the customer from which both parties can benefit; the customer can raise points which might not otherwise reach the organisation, whilst the company gains an accessible source of market research.
Additional benefits can be brought by bloggers into an organisation. Most notably, by creating a strong network of fellow bloggers and followers, the potential employee has a wealth of personal value which can then be used to the firm’s benefit. This network represents a source from which organisational solutions can be moulded. As social media becomes more prominent, it is possible that such networks may even become an aspect of the recruitment and selection process.
m.barreto
October 14th, 2008
Hi Chris,
thanks so much for your insight. And yes, blogs are becoming and will become a great instrument for the future of communication in particular for corporations. It serves as a perfect link between the employer and the employee as well as brands and consumers. There’s definitely quite a lot of room for growth for this powerful feature.
Fortune 500 begin to adopt social media , 77Lab
November 20th, 2008
[...] blogging can be advantageous for a business’s communication strategy for various [...]