Marketing Roadmaps

Random acts of blogging

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I have a series of posts in mind to wrap up the year, which I will probably start over the weekend.

For today, I have a whole bunch of interesting stuff to comment on that has accumulated over the past month or so, while I was feverishly working so I could take two weeks off, followed by the mostly off-line vacation. 

In no particular order.

Blog comment spam: I increasingly find myself the victim of blog comment spam. I usually just delete it and move on.  Here are two takes on the issue: from Blog Business World, some ideas for how to manage it and from Jeremy Pepper, some words about blogs that do not allow comments for fear of spam.

One thing I am thinking about: I have noticed that the comment spam always seems to be on the same old posts, leading me to suspect a script of some sort. I AM considering turning off comments on these older posts, with a note explaining why comments have been turned off for any legit folks who want to comment on the topics.

Web 2.0. Okay, I am trying, really, to understand why we need to define a Web 2.0. Sexist though it may be, I’m wondering, is this kind of a "guy thing" — the need to define and box up things? How does any of this help customers and who really cares? Why do we have to put it in a box? Because as Elisa Camahort says in her post, a version number implies something finished and definable,and that ain’t the web that I know.

Seriously, please, can someone explain to me what Web 2.0 is all about, other than a way for companies to promote their offerings ("Web 2.0 compatible, whatever that is), and for consultants and analysts to make money explaining it to everyone. Simple words please. I’m just wondering, "where’s the beef?"

Here are a number of other posts about Web 2.0. I’ve read ’em all, and I am still confused….

I would be remiss if I didn’t comment on the call to action by Steve Rubel for PR agencies to figure out this new media thing. Huh?!  If you don’t know what I’m talking about, actually you are very lucky — it is a tempest in a very small teapot, a major ego-fest and I am 100% with David Parmet: YAWN!! He has the link in his post to the memeorandum thread if you have the inclination.

Those who are doing things will just keep on doing. If you want to posture, position and pontificate, go for it, help yourself to happiness. I’d rather just get on with it. Some other interesting commentary on same: 

Character blogs. As many of my readers know, I have strong opinions about character blogs –I believe they are a valid blog form, albeit hard to do well. About a year ago, this debate took off flying. A year later, here are a couple of anniversary commentaries:

That’s it for random acts of blogging. This weekend I will start my end of year series…..

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Susan –

    I may have missed something on Steve’s blog and wiki and CooperKatz’s home page; however, it seems like CK is playing the role of the cobbler’s child.

    Steve’s remark on the wiki: “Where we need to grow is in coaching/mentoring our entire team in the art of what makes a good blog. Not everyone at our firm yet has had the opportunity to work on a blogging project.”

    And his article states, “There’s no easier way to get people learning about social media than by getting your own workers to dabble in it.”

    Other than a link to Steve’s blog, I couldn’t find any employee blogs on the CooperKatz website. It would seen there is a disconnect at CK…

  2. I know I am in the minority on this, but I love character blogs and think they can be a great way to get the audience involved. The holier-than-thou attitude is a joke, put forth by holier-than-thou bloggers that tend to be caricatures of themselves.