Is blogging a marketing or networking activity? When does blogging become a distraction?
September 30, 2007
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Perhaps asking this question is heresy in the blogging community.
It is a question I am asking with increasing frequency these days. I have been writing daily since 1998 and writing about small business will always have a place in my schedule.
A busy schedule makes blogging especially challenging.
I have noticed that when I have multiple problem solving or creative projects on the go my desire to write for my blogs slips dramatically. I recall feeling the same way about my podcasts. Producing a quality podcast consumes more time than blogging. Perhaps that is why I stopped podcasting and kept blogging. If so, how do we measure the value of blogging?
Quantify the Value of Blogging
Personally, I love writing and blogging provides immediate feedback. The hard nosed capitalist pig in me asks, “What is the economic value of blogging? What metrics should we use to determine the efficacy of blogging? Should we apply a simple economic (sales increase) measure? Should we measure success by the number of comments a post gets? How can I determine if blogging has become a distraction?
No Blogging = No Distractions
Perhaps that statement is just to simplistic. If I just stopped blogging it would certainly eliminate the “distraction” but would it solve the problem? Is the consumption of creative energy that blogging requires really a problem or is it an opportunity disguised as a problem? Is it just my situation that makes it a problem?
My Current Situation
I am in the midst of reviving and updating a seminar I created in the mid 1990’s before I got involved with the Internet and writing online.
What struck me most was the fact that in those days all my writing and creative energy was 100% focused on developing and delivering seminars. I did not have blogging as an outlet. But these days I am finding that blogging is draining my creative energy and time.
Manage My Creative Energy
I have always justified the time and energy investment into blogging as an essential marketing activity - especially given the fact that my business is 100% international. All my clients, writing, and business opportunities stem from my blog or the relationships I have built with the readers.
I do not question the value of the relationships that result from getting to know the readers on my blog but the potential energy drain. Here is the paradox - the business needs me to redirect the creative energy from my bogs into developing seminars, tools, and web applications. Which causes me to ask the question, “Is blogging a marketing or a networking activity?”
Blogging Resembles Networking
Unless you actually have a marketing plan wherein blogging is one of many marketing tools and activities you use to reach your market - your blogging is more of a social, networking activity. Bottom line, I am questioning the efficacy and ability of blogging to produce the desired result. Is this just a phase? Do I have writers block?
No Writers Block
Writing is easy. Writing well is hard work.
Late in 2005 I wrote Tips and Traps When Buying a Business (274 pages) and in the winter of 2006 wrote Tips and Traps for Writing an Effective Business Plan (374 pages) all while maintaining my blogs. It was a huge commitment that sapped every ounce of creative energy I had. Writing those books was an amazing experience as I uncovered knowledge and capabilities I knew I had but had not fully developed.
Could it be that I just need to get comfortable with directing my writing and creative energy somewhere else?
Can a Blogging Consultant Help?
I wonder how the blogging consultants out there might react or respond to these questions I ask? How many blogging consultants ask their clients about their marketing and business plan?
Gen Yers: Can’t we all just get along?
September 28, 2007
Gen Yers get a bad rap as being know it alls. We have to be careful not to label our own experiences or observations of certain behaviors as a “trend”, for example, take in this point of view:
“Overwhelmingly, we’ve found Gen Yers to be hardworking, entrepreneurial, startlingly authentic, refreshingly candid, and wonderfully upbeat. Basically, not to get all mushy or anything, we love them.” Via Generation Y’s Bad Rap
Passionate, Thoughtful, and Focused Read more
Email Marketing: The Rodney Dangerfield of Internet Marketing?
September 26, 2007
”I don’t get no respect!” is the phrase that Rodney used in his monologues.
I was surprised to read that email marketing brings in $48 for every dollar spent. Not only that but: Read more
A 20 Something About 20 Somethings
September 19, 2007
To gain a greater understanding of the 20 somethings (Gen Y) working for you, take some time to read this post and the comments, very insightful.
Generation Y (25 and under) has grown up watching their parents go off to work every day, 40 - 60 hours per week, with fierce loyalty only to be downsized, outsourced, or laid off in their 40’s and 50’s.
This reality has the 20-somethings with a different mindset from previous generations. We do not want to merely work our time away, but to live a life of significance and fulfillment. That means being and doing more than just having. Via 20-Something Business Trends: The Online Entrepreneur with Time and Money
Review of Online Mind Mapping
September 19, 2007
I wrote a review about Online Mind Mapping Tools, looking at Mindomo, Mind Meister, and Comapping. It will introduce you to the three I have tried and my personal favorite. Check out Online Mind Mapping Tools, I know you want to.
New Blog: Greg On Small Business
September 16, 2007
I set up my new blog, GregOnSmallBusiness.com I created it so I would have a place to share my thoughts, ideas, and comments about small business. My hope is that I can reserve SmallBuinessTransitions.com and TheRemoteControlCEO.com for the purpose for which they were created.
GregOnSmallBusiness.com will be where I try new things like Mind Mapping, discuss developments on the small business front, express my opinions, and observations.
Mind Map Collaboration Tips
September 16, 2007
As a long time mind mapper I was delighted to find the MindMeister online application. What follows are some observations and tips for using MindMeister Mind Map application to collaborate online. Read more
How much do you spend advertising online?
September 15, 2007
I came a cross MarketingShift, promoted as a “Daily Crash Course in Marketing Technology & Brand Management”.
I was pleasantly surprised, MarketingShift has quality content with real life examples and practical edge.
What percentage of your advertising do spend on print advertising versus online?
Marchex expects the Internet share of local advertising to increase to 25 percent within a decade, but that is a low amount even for today. Based on my experiences in local advertising for my wife’s business, I spent about 75 percent of the marketing budget during the past 2 years in print and the rest online, yet 95 percent of her business has come from Internet listings on directory sites. They are cheaper, interactive, and get the right audience, whether you are an accountant, plumber, or clothing retailer. Via Local Businesses Eschew Online, Waste Dollars on Print
Did you catch the distinction in the above paragraph? Are you spending 75% of your marketing budget that only produces 5% of your revenue? Ouch, before you dismiss this, stop and think - could you be missing out? Look at this excerpt from the Marchex report:
“…the small-to medium-sized business (SMB) market, that fuels the $15 billion print yellow pages industry, is still relatively untapped on the Internet, with only 6% of the market buying any form of search engine advertising” Via Marchex
If you depend on the local market and do not have a marketing strategy that includes a strong online component - you are missing out on a lot of leads and customers for your business. Start tracking where your leads come from and then compare that to where you are spending your advertising and marketing budget. Then redirect a large portion to local online advertising.
Dozen Opinions: Does Economic News Scare You?
September 15, 2007
Anita Campbell hosted a great post titled Economic Dark Clouds and Your Business, by Tim Berry of Planning, Startups, Stories and Up and Running. Read more
My Dream Application
September 11, 2007
A One Minute Commercial all about the web application I have been working on.
What do you think?
Am I nuts or what?
September 11, 2007
Over at the Joyful, Jubilant Learning blog I shared my observations and learnings as a result of declaring a Big Hairy Audacious Goal last September (Impact a Million Business Owners) and subsequently entering a competition at Cambrian House (CH). Here is an excerpt:
July 24th I entered a competition at CH, a crowd sourcing community based in Calgary, Alberta - a three hour drive from my home town Edmonton. I entered the competition because I liked the tools, system, and community they developed to assist entrepreneurs with developing their ideas.
I have grown as a result of entering the competition. I have had to summon up my courage to persist, run the full race, and play full out. The folks at CH make it a lot easier with the support, communication, and of course the competition itself draws out the best. I would appreciate your help encouraging me to strive for my best.
My goal is to build what I call my Dream Application for Small Business. This web based software application will:
1) Help business owners identify their “Issues & Problems”.
2) Suggest a variety of “Processes, Solutions, & Strategies”.
3) Lead business owners through a step-by-step process/project/plan to achieve the results they need.My goal is to create a small business development tool kit to help entrepreneurs evolve and develop their business throughout the life cycle of the business. Ultimately, this will be an intelligent system to help operate and grow your business.
I have to admit some days it is tough slugging. Today is one of those days when I think I must be crazy. There is always a price to be paid to achieve anything and right now the price is sorting through all the development options.
I am caught somewhere between developing a rough prototype for a proof of concept versus putting more energy into developing a foundation using Software as a Service (SaaS) options that are surfacing online. Things I am thinking about:
- Is it realistic to build a foundation on a platform I do not own and plan to use to impact a million business owners?
- I think this could be developed using a tool like FileMakerPro, should I try it?
- Is there a simpler way to develop a prototype and proof of concept?
When I started this project I was able to justify the investment of my time because I could use the application in my coaching practice. That way even if it never gained traction in the small business market I could use it in my business. I entered the competition at CH on a bit of a lark. I did not know what to expect from my participation at CH.
No doubt that CH has built a solid community in the programming and web development community. Other than the voting system and competitions they conduct there is not much in the way of real business support, standards, or best practices. being discussed or encouraged. Perhaps that is because they are a crowd sourcing initiative and the ‘crowd’ is supposed to flesh that out?
The competitions become addictive due in part to my competitive nature, but is it good for my business?
Am I simply swimming in a pool of my own presuppositions? These are uncharted waters for me. Has anyone participated in crowd sourcing initiatives before?
What do you think? Am I nuts or what? I’ll take (and appreciate) feedback from anyone.
Have a Hero? Be a Hero, Live Large!
September 9, 2007
Imagine that after surviving abuse, divorce, and having to start over from scratch, you remarry and then decide to start a business. Certain health problems start to turn up and your doctor make suggestions to change your lifestyle and you make the adjustments. Read more
Internet: Distractor or Enabler?
September 7, 2007
This has been a strange week, strange because my ISP decided to upgrade and rebuild equipment on my street. But they forgot to tell anyone.
My internet access was intermittent at best. It has now stabilized as they competed work in the area.
Working with Distractions
I discovered that I have learned to work with a number of distractions. Internet based distractions including listening to podcasts, email, Skype, RSS feeds and of course phone calls from clients. We also home school and my office is at home. What is your typical day like?
How Do You Cope with Distractions?
What is your experience? Do you work with your email, IM, and feed reader open? Do you turn everything off and check your mail manually?
What works for you?
I subscribe to everything (almost)
September 4, 2007
At last count I review, scan, and read about 80 + blogs, ezines etc. Why? Because every so often an article comes by that makes it all worthwhile.
I have been writing about Baby Boomers in Business and am thinking of expanding my swath a bit further to include demographics in general. Do you find this information helpful?
The story I read, was about Boomers Radio Habits, but I like what I am seeing in this chart - Internet gets more time from radio and TV.
Good news if you have a business blog or web site. Anyone out there still questioning whether you should have a business blog and web site?
Tournament of Champions
September 2, 2007
Update: voting ends Wednesday, I created another mashup of an outline of where I am heading with the Transitions web application. I also recorded a video late Tuesday explaining what I am working toward. It was in response to some guy. You can vote for me at “Tournament of Champions“.
My idea for a web application has made the final cut in the “Tournament of Champions“.
For Small Business Owners who want to accelerate their business growth & development, the Transitions is a web application that integrates world class business coaching and advice with online office tools (calendar, to do, blog) and rich media (audio, video) business tools. Unlike traditional calendars, our product helps business owners stay on track with recommended actions, education, and tools to work on their business.
Help me by visiting and voting. I am paired against another competitor. There are 16 finalists and four rounds that eventually produces one winner. You will have to join (it’s free) to vote and please leave a comment on your thoughts, suggestions and ideas for how I might improve my idea.
This is a classic case of Web 2.o in action with the crowdsourcing community (Cambrian House) who have sponsored not only the weekly IdeaWarz but the “Tournament of Champions” competition.
In the classic words from the movie Jerry McGuire, “Help me, help you.” by lending a hand with your feedback and support.
Gratefully yours,
Live Large!
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Getting the Price Right
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