Sometimes, life and even work just get in the way of blogging. After all, isn’t blogging the be-all, end-all?
Not even close.
But, after some months away from the blogosphere, it is good to see Mike Bawden’s MuchAdoAboutMarketing and Ryan McGrath’s PRLinker back up with recent posts. (Though, as of this writing, the PRLinker blog is “not found.” Hopefully, it’ll be back up soon.)
Mike is back with great coverage and commentary on marketing-related blogs.
Ryan is back (just yesterday) with a great question: How to fit PR blogging into your professional life?
For blogging’s big wigs and many others, that’s not really a question. Blogging is part of their job and responsibilities.
But for some — most? — that’s a valid question.
For most of my clients, there is little opportunity — need — for WOM and other social media. That’s changing, but still would be a tough sell, especially with budgets as they are, reduced man-power, etc. However, I have made progress, and even initiated a couple small-scale social media programs.
I don’t get paid to blog. It’s not part of my written responsibilities — sort of. One way I justify it professionally is that I need to keep up on the latest PR and other communication tools to best serve clients. That’s why they hire my employer. But, like Ryan, I try to keep my blogging on my own time, though I do read and comment on blogs when I first get in, and lump it in with my reading of client media and my own trade media.
Finally, Ryan asks:
I am still unsure of how PR Linker fits into my professional life. Are there other PR professionals who blog on their personal time, outside of work?
Those are questions I’ve asked myself, as I am sure other bloggers have as well.
Ultimately, for those of us that blog but it is not a significant part of our job: It is up to us to learn about blogging and other social media so we can teach co-workers, and incorporate those tactics when the right opportunities are presented with our clients or employers.
Like everything else, blogging needs a priority level — that is, it needs it’s place in our personal and professonal lives. Whether it’s a high, medium or low priority depends on each of us.
My $0.02 for Ryan’s blog is that I like it very much. I like his perspective. I like his “Is blog a dirty word” post, and he did a great recap on the Wal-Mart blogging episode. It’s a good read.
So, I hope Ryan keeps blogging — and reading and commeting on other blogs — even if it’s only once in awhile. But, that’s just my preference. Really, who am I to dictate what Ryan does?
Point to ponder: After mostly finishing this post, I checked out Ryan’s profile at his employer. It seems his employer is using his social media experiences in its own promotion: “McGrath . . . maintains a professional interest in the growing world of social media technologies, such as podcasting and RSS.” So, does that resolve any doubts as to the blog or not to blog question?
– Mike
Technorati tags: blogging, blogs, professional blogs
