From time to time I like to pull out emails from my gmail box and
answer them here in hopes that other folks will benefit from the
discussion (please feel free to leave a comment on this post to add
your voice). Most letters are edited to a readable
length. If you email me your questions I will try best I can to get to
them. It may take me awhile, but I always write back.
Before I dip into the mailbag I want to thank fellow Scoble fan Randy Charles Morin
for fixing my domain issues and Shawn Zehnder Lea for volunteering to
upgrade my photograph, which now has a more suitable background color. It's incredibly kind people like Randy and Shawn that make me
appreciate every day I get to have a seat on board this big ship called
the HMS Blogosphere as it sails out to sea. Now onto the mailbag...
Letter #1
Steve, I've read your blog for a long time but after reading this post, I felt compelled to write you....From a PR point of view, how do you tell people about this stuff? How do you convince them? - Bruno
Bruno, thanks for your note. It's hard to convince people that don't want to believe in the power of corporate blogging so in some cases I don't try. Blogging's not for everyone. However, those folks who are curious are like birds of a feather that like to flock together. Once they see companies who are successfully using blogs to advance their communication goals they learn alot and feel more comfortable applying them in their own businesses.
Letter #2
Hi Steve, Could you briefly share with my your view on accepting advertising on your blog? Why don't you do it? What would it take for you to do it? - Jim Kukral
Jim, when I started this blog back in April of last year I vowed
never to accept advertising. I am not in this to make a buck, but to
engage in a discussion about the democratization of media and
evangelize its possibilities. However, in recent months a few companies
have approached me about placing ads on my blog. I am weighing if I
will run these campaigns. If I elect to go forward, I will donate all
proceeds to a charity to-be-determined that supports medical research
for children with brain tumors. Believe it or not, I am a brain tumor
survivor going on 22 years now and I would like to give back. If others have thoughts here, I would be eager to
hear them. I promise, however, that if I do run ads I will keep the
advertising simple, relevant and clean.
Letter #3
Steve, I was reading your article about Blogs? I'm sorry I don't see or possibly don't understand the value. As a business person. To me - it looks like pretty little pictures you send out to friends and talk about whatever. Is there something I am missing from a business standpoint? How will a Blog help me gain more business? - James
James, I certainly understand your point of view. On the surface, blogs look no more important that personal home pages during the heyday of Homesite and GeoCities. The difference here is that blogs are social. They're not really Web sites. They're more like watering holes. Their structure and interconnected nature enables across-the-ether conversations that were not as easily achievable before blogs. The way they can help your business is by showcasing the thought leaders inside your organization. Remember, people buy products and services from people, not companies.
Letter #4
Blogs are a big waste of time. Sure, there are people who have
nothing better to do with their lives than to surf the net and read
other people's opinions. Those are the same people who during their
school years used to hang around on corners, with nothing to do, bored
out of their minds! I'd say to them: "Get a life!" - Emilio
Emilio, sure that's one point of view. But I think you're missing
out on the power of shared thinking. These days most of my best client
ideas are sparked by something I read in the blogs. So I actually feel
the opposite is true. The greatest thinkers of our time are hanging out
in the blogosphere. I hang with them to learn. Do me one favor. Find a
blog on a topic that you like and stick with it. I bet you will learn
something valuable.
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Send letters via email to steverubel@gmail.com.
