“Whats a Blog?”
How often are you asked, “what’s a blog?”
Most who ask me this, have never seen a blog in their life. For some reason, I get asked this a lot. My response varies person to person.
Recently, someone asked me, “why should I start blogging?” Invariably this person was asking me to describe the potential advantages of having a blog.
I went on, in my typical sales speech, about how blogging can be used as one of the most powerful marketing tools available.
This is usually a strong statement to someone who has never even seen one!
Not discouraged in the slightest by their reaction, I go on to explain the benefit of potential customers coming to your blog and being “sold” on your company because they feel like they know you already. Therefore, the customers in a sense, are seeking you out instead of the other way around.
I spoke recently with one of my uncle’s, who owns a construction company, about the benefits of having a blog. He was literally beside himself with the possibilities having one can create.
I always have to follow the conversation with a warning against the unrealistic expectations of instant success. Having a blog and using it for marketing purposes takes work and dedication. I usually insist people be prepared to spend about 2 hours a night at least 5 days a week. This usually brings people back to reality.
After explaining the effort required to create a successful blog, I recommend reading David Meerman Scott’s book “The New Rules of Marketing and PR.” It is still one of the best books about blogging and online media I’ve ever read.
Blogging is a chance to really sell yourself to your target customer base. I recommend that the business owner to keep this in mind. It’s like having a lengthy conversation with your customer’s, only you can choose exactly what you want your customer get to hear/read.
Why non-bloggers don’t get bloggers
The only contact non-bloggers have with blogs, usually comes from the news. These people are actually quite average. Most people here in the US still don’t know what a blog is or the implications of having one. It is still foreign. Most people that I speak with outside the blogosphere think that a blog is a personal journal.
I admit being guilty at times of assuming everyone else is interested in what I am interested in. This is simply not the case. Not everyone uses Google Reader, is interested in finance, and so on.
Non-bloggers are individuals not consumed by the internet. Their computer use is mostly limited to checking email, google (actually probably MSN) searches, and looking up bank account information. I, like other bloggers, must realize this when communicating with non bloggers.
Should We Try to Convince Others to Blog?
My argument is yes! I believe it benefits the blogosphere tremendously to maximize the number of new blogs and bloggers.
Plain and simple, the more bloggers exist the more marketing opportunities there are.
The more bloggers there are, the more of a chance you have of develop relationships with others who are interested in the same things you are.
Relationships to me are the biggest reason to have a blog. As I stated in my last bloggingtips.com post, the people I have met online are some of the greatest contacts I have.
I am more than willing to offer up any of my services/knowledge to anyone who wants to network and work hard. I have found many other bloggers have the same attitude.
What do YOU think?
Kevin | September 12th, 2007 at 10:33 pm #
I think you’ll find that a lot of people don’t actually realise they’re reading blog sometimes. For example, a popular blog which a lot of my friends read is never referred to as ‘that blog’, it’s referred to as ‘that website’.
Should We Try to Convince Others to Blog? - For some genres I’m sure it’s beneficial (ie this one). I wouldn’t discourage it but I’d rather spend my time convincing people to subscribe to my blog. As I said, most people don’t care if a site they like is using a blogging script, forum software or a content management script.
You bring up a very good point : ‘Why non-bloggers don’t get bloggers’. I think a lot of people still spend more time in forums etc. I can understand this though ie. feeling part of something, easier to get to know people etc. Our job as bloggers is to try and bring that community feeling to our blogs.
Good post Josh
Josh Mullineaux (Post Author) | September 12th, 2007 at 10:51 pm #
Thanks for the insightful comment Kevin! That is a good point that most don’t care what type of a website they’re viewing as long as it provides them with what they’re looking for. Congrats on surpassing 800 rss btw!
Kevin | September 12th, 2007 at 10:56 pm #
Thanks. Yeah we crawled over yesterday morning. Just need to get to the 1000 mark now!
Miche | September 13th, 2007 at 1:20 am #
I’ve blogged on and off for a few years now and it’s definitely been a learning curve. To begin with I was so keen to use the powers of blogging to win me business that I was writing in the style of popular bloggers and not necessarily mine. You won’t be surprised to hear reading numbers weren’t ever that high.
These days I really feel I’m beginning to find my own style and I love the thought of writing a blog as opposed to dreading the thought of what I can write about.
Oh and on the subject of people knowing what a blog is - I’ve been trying to explain to my other half for years now and she still doesn’t get it!
David Meerman Scott | September 13th, 2007 at 4:33 am #
Hey there Josh,
Thanks for mentioning my book. I appreciate it. I’m glad that you thought it was useful.
On the speaking circuit I get asked those questions a lot.
I usually say “You’ve all read blogs, you just don’t know it. Seach engines love blogs and you have no doubt linked to them many times without knowing it. A blog is just a web site written by a person who is passionate about a subject and wants to share their passion with the world.”
This seems to work. Even my mother gets it.
Cheers, David
Sahil | September 14th, 2007 at 6:11 am #
Hmm.. sometimes its very difficult to make people understand about blogging.