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.
Steve Rubel is a PR strategist with nearly 16 years of public relations, marketing, journalism and communications experience. He currently serves as a Senior Vice President with Edelman, the largest independent global PR firm.
He authors the Micro Persuasion weblog, which tracks how blogs and participatory journalism are changing the public relations practice.
