Emarketer.com reported this week, based on a Technorati-sponsored survey, that the lines between blogging and the mainstream media are disappearing.
The number of professional, semiprofessional and passion/enthusiast bloggers who are creating real media experiences has grown. In parallel, mainstream media are putting emphasis on blog content
Bob Lutz, Vice Chairman of General Motors, writes a public corporate blog and is one of a rapidly growing number of high-powered CEOs who recognize that blogs are a necessity in today's marketing environment.
Add Amazon, Boeing, Cisco, Cox Communications, Hewlett-Packard, Sprint, Xerox, Texas Instruments, and many other goliaths to the list of bloggers who (according to Technorati™) put up an estimated 120,000 new blogs every single day!
Advanced blogs are incorporating Web 2.0 social technologies such as blogs, podcasts, instant messaging, text messaging, customer online accounts, and chat features that facilitate online collaboration with customers and others.
Blogs had 77 million unique visitors in the
This makes the role of the blogging “brand advocate” extremely important. A large percentage of bloggers worldwide frequently share personal experiences with companies or brands (34%) and frequently include product reviews (37%), according to the study.
With advanced blogging, you can create a community, become collaborative, and create a participatory environment. These Web2.0 strategies will change your relationships with customers and your market. The customer becomes an integral part of a new customer-centric marketing process. They collaborate with your business to help building your brand and corporate identity.
The way you brand yourself, the way you communicate and interact with prospects and customers becomes very different. The current down turn in the economy will not change this trend. In fact, it will only accelerate it, with customers looking for the brands that provide the most value and opportunities for interaction.