• The top 20 UK Blogging sites has 33.2 million visitors in February

• The world’s top 20 blogging sites had 822.9 million visitors in February

• Over 120,000 blogs created every day – That’s one blog every 1.4 seconds!

• 1.5 million posts are left on blogs every day . . . Or 17 every second!

• The growth from 35 to 75 million blogs took 320 days

• Technorati found that the most linked-to blog on the internet was that of Chinese actress Xu Jenglei – 50 million hits

A blog is short for ….A blog is short for ….

The Guardian weblog is a pick of the best journalism from around the web and the latest news about blogs and their authors.

But it can come in many forms and for many reasons

For internal comms: http://www.iaocblog.com/blog/_archives/2005/3/4/396555.html

For personal purposes: http://qprreport.blogspot.com/

Special interest: Industry based: http://www.adrants.com/

Web LogWeb Log

Why should we blog?Why should we blog?

Because they are search engine friendlyBecause they are search engine friendly

• Text Rich

• Blogs contain a wealth of links

• Designated blog directories and catalogues

Allows customers to interact with your brand and companyAllows customers to interact with your brand and company

Because ‘Times’ are changingBecause ‘Times’ are changing

Why should PRO’s give a bloggers arse?Why should PRO’s give a bloggers arse?

To know your reputationTo know your reputation

• Analysing trends in your market place

• Understanding unsolicited opinion

• Highlighting concerns and negative perceptions

• Shows that you listen and take heed of your target audience

To form an opinionTo form an opinion

On relevant blogs:On relevant blogs:

• It provides an up to the minute news It provides an up to the minute news portalportal

• They are platforms for debateThey are platforms for debate

• GlobalGlobal

On your blog:On your blog:

• By commenting on industry trendsBy commenting on industry trends

• Creates dialogue with key influencersCreates dialogue with key influencers

• Allows you the opportunity to air your Allows you the opportunity to air your point of view and not the media’s

Blogosphere

Audience

Joe Bloggs blog

Traditional Media

Because journalists are taking the timeBecause journalists are taking the time

“ . . . There’s another amazing thing: In five years, I can count on one hand the number of PR people who have commented on my blog or reached out to me as a result of a blog post or story I’ve written in a magazine. How difficult can it be to read the blogs of the reporters you’re trying to pitch in?” David Meerman Scott, author of New Rules of Marketing and PR

Because blogs are the new press releasesBecause blogs are the new press releases

“Millions of people read press releases directly, unfiltered by the media. You need to be speaking directly to them!”

• No longer needs to be news that will only make the front page

• News that appeals to a clients audience, not the journalist

• Copy that is awash with search friendly keywords

• Allows your audience to respond

Internal communicationsInternal communications

•Blogging is more effective, more personable and more transparent than email

•Creates an impression of a level playing field. Staff know what employers are thinking

•Encourages feedback and allows ideas and opinions to be fed upwards quickly

•Especially useful in decentralized work places

How best to blog

It’s a Blog eat Blog worldIt’s a Blog eat Blog world

•Commenting on other blogs gets your Commenting on other blogs gets your viewpoint out thereviewpoint out there

•Use links when you post comments, not Use links when you post comments, not just to your website but also to URL’s that just to your website but also to URL’s that reference your pointreference your point

•Upload links on your own blog and tell Upload links on your own blog and tell people you have done sopeople you have done so

Tell them and they will comeTell them and they will come

Add to: Delicious Digg Reddit Facebook StumbleUpon

1) Make the blog keyword rich

2) Highlight important trends and stories

3) Make friends

4) A busy blog is a better blog

5) Use links

6) Include a Blogroll

7) Be yourself – Sack off corporate chat and speak in first person

8) Use the SEO tools available:www.blogcatalog.com www.bloghub.comwww.blogexplosion.comwww.technorati.com

9) Syndicate the blog with an RSS Feed

10) Use images – Make it look pretty!

Jimbo’s Top TipsJimbo’s Top Tips