Mike’s Points

This made me LOL. Almost RAOTFLMAO.

Its about a study — due to be released today (Dec. 5) about Americans’ use of the Internet. The particular item was about the mobility of Wifi. The story was published by Agence France-Presse and I found it in the Hindustan Times (from Techdirt).

“The snapshot of how the Internet has changed American life, concluded that home wireless connections were allowing people to stay connected everywhere — even in the smallest room in the house….Since people were unlikely to be surfing in the bath, or while brushing their teeth, [Jeffrey Cole, of the University of Southern California Annenberg School Center for the Digital Future] said he had concluded that many of them went off into cyberspace while on the throne.”

So, in addition to making Americans look a bit silly, it is just another example of the Internet continuing to erode the influence of the daily printed newspaper.
– Mike

Technorati tags: Wifi

Recently, I posted a portion of a “blogging 101″ piece I developed for my company as a way to show the potential and practically of blogging for our clients. The first part was why companies should blog.

The part below is how companies should blog, and what companies could do to promote their blog. As with the other, I would appreciate any feedback and comments. Blogging is still new in the corporate world, and we are all still learning.

Because blogs offer immediacy and even a level of intimacy or informality, they should be active. Bloggers should post often, such as 2-5 times per week. People want fresh content. If a blog goes dry for a period, its traffic will dry up, too.

Posts can be virtually anything. Example include:
> Comment on industry trends, news.
> State a company position on an issue, trend, rumor, etc.
> Provide answers to questions often being asked in the field (that are not addressed elsewhere).
> Point visitors to other sites and blog posts of interest.
> Seek comments on R&D projects, or new products and services.
> Take an informal poll.

In addition to regular posting, here are other blogger tips:
> Read blogs. Both in your industry, and those of related interest (such as what is happening in a vertical market). Be familiar with what is happening in the blogosphere.
> Comment and post opinion on other blogs. That will show your involvement, and offer links back to your own site.
> Reference other blogs (via track backs) and more traditional Web sites in your posts.
> Include links to Web sites and other blogs on the main page. The greatest thing the Internet offers is information. If you can provide original content and links to information, people will visit your blog and Web site. The more people visit, the more who will know about your company or association. The more people who know, the more opportunity there will be for sales, business partnerships, media coverage, etc.

One thing missing in the last group of bullet points is submission to Blog engines like Technorati, Blogstreet, Blogarama, etc. I see those submissions and efforts more as the details, and left up to the agency or an in-house communications person. Not the VP or other company blogger.

My next post on the subject of corporate blogging will be who should post.
– Mike

Technorati tags: corporate communications, blogging, marketing