How many read blogs? (please reply)

[TripleF]

Last night I was instructed that blogs are a good way to market in the hopes of making sales. I disagreed because for 1). I don't read blogs. and 2). I don't know anybody else who reads one.

With that theory I stood my ground that nobody reads blogs.....and it wouldn't be a useful avenue for marketing and selling.

By the way............NONE of the 5 people at the table read blogs....HOWEVER 3 of them were saying BLOGS are a good way to advertise :confused:


No comments necessary.......just please vote.

Thanks!! :tu

[Powers]

I don't read 'em Scotty. Just never got into any

[G G]

My comment is:






Wait, you said you didn't want any comments.:tu

[Col. Kurtz]

No, however it may be an age thing. I don't facebook, tweeter, or any of that other stuff...

[G G]

No, however it may be an age thing. I don't facebook, tweeter, or any of that other stuff...
Me neither Jerry, but I think everyone but you and me does.:tu

[icehog3]

I wlll vote and not comment that I don't read blogs, Scott.


Wait a minute....

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa73/icehog3/doh2.jpg

[mmblz]

i do... 91 of them...


if you advertise on one, make sure that the ad appears when you're in a news reader... not just when you visit the actual website...

[DrDubzz]

women read blogs, and I don't mean that in a demeaning way, to you or women. My wife has a blog, and there is a whole blog network of women that blog about nothing in particular.

Really the more correct statement would be, bloggers read blogs.

I'd vlog on youtube, it helps with people with short attention sp....

[CigarNut]

I voted No. As a general rule I do not read blogs. However, if someone on a board I read points out an interesting article in a blog, I may go read it (depends upon the article and the author).

The biggest problem with blogs is that anyone -- regardless of ability -- thinks that they:

1. Have something of interest to say
2. Know how to say it
3. Know how to communicate / write it

When in fact:

1. Most stuff is not very interesting to an audience outside your family
2. Many bloggers are not very articulate
3. Many bloggers are not very good authors / writers and do a piss-poor job of using the english language

Having said all that - my wife posted an article in a Blog (allears.net (http://land.allears.net/blogs/guestblog/2008/08/)) a couple of years ago on our cruise through the Panama Canal and it was the greatest thing ever! :D

[Volt]

No comment?

I will anyway. No myspace, facebook, no blogs, no twitter, but on the other hand I have a life and actually see/meet people in person. Sort of 20th century but it works for me.

[madwilliamflint]

I'm mainlining all that nonsense right in the back of my head. I read hundreds of them. It's a great communication medium but for actually selling I wouldn't bother. I usually have four or five separate sites going at once but I'm not selling anything on any of them.

Of course most of them (>95%) really REALLY suck, so it takes a while to find stuff you like. Generally people who keep their posting tight to a particular topic area are interesting to follow. The rest are just talking about their cats or what they had for lunch.

[LockOut]

I read a handful of medical/ems/fire blogs to continue learning.

[DrDubzz]

I have a life and actually see/meet people in person. Sort of 20th century but it works for me.

loser












;)

[massphatness]

I voted yes ... and while you asked me not to comment, since when has that stopped me before? :D

As a market researcher, it's not as simple as does a random group of people read blogs, but rather does your target audience (presumably current and prospective customers) read blogs. And if a healthy percentage of your target audience reads blogs, more importantly, will they read YOUR blog? A blog can be effective as part of a coordinated marketing strategy, but blogging for bloggings sake -- in the hopes of increased sales -- is likely to be a frustrating experience.

[St. Lou Stu]

I read em from time to time and I agree that advertising on them (IMHO) isn't worth much.
I go strictly for the content and tend to steer away from blogs that do advertise.

[adampc22]

would it be uncool if i did a blog about this ? lol

[Deputy]

I read a couple but they are more geared to specific interests and not marketing.

[replicant_argent]

I read em from time to time and I agree that advertising on them (IMHO) isn't worth much.
I go strictly for the content and tend to steer away from blogs that do advertise.

Tim also only subsribes to Playboy for the "articles." ;)
My mom blogs... I read it out of the "you can't not look at a car crash" mentality. It helps me understand how far into an alternate reality she has actually gone.

The only other blog I read is a good friend of mine, and he is a pretty huge geek, but his saving grace is that we have a lot of interests in common. ;) He also writes very well, and occasionally I learn something from him I am grateful for.

[s0leful0ne]

I can assure you that they are playing a HUGE role in media.

Blogs are easy to maintain and a quality blog provides good information to a large amount of people with almost no effort at all.

I took a class that discussed the effects of blogging on politics. The presentation was eye opening. I think the recent presidential election was vastly influenced by blogging.

In short: You have to choose the right blog if you want to advertise. If your key market is not the blogging type you're out of luck. But if there are reputable blogs, the approval of those blogs would be very advantageous

[Coach Deg]

Scott every once in a while I read a sports blog off espn or yahoo and could not tell you one of the advertisers!!

[jledou]

I do read blogs, but they are typically hobby related or written by friends and not commercial blogs.

[TripleF]

I'm shocked.......

I told my sister in-law I couldn't name 5 people who read blogs......and now I can. Even though she still can't name 5 people who do, the truth is.....more people do than I thought....

I appreciate everybody's input........ :tu

[Volt]

I voted yes ... and while you asked me not to comment, since when has that stopped me before? :D

As a market researcher, it's not as simple as does a random group of people read blogs, but rather does your target audience (presumably current and prospective customers) read blogs. And if a healthy percentage of your target audience reads blogs, more importantly, will they read YOUR blog? A blog can be effective as part of a coordinated marketing strategy, but blogging for bloggings sake -- in the hopes of increased sales -- is likely to be a frustrating experience.


Ok, Vin, that post made too much sense. Your sucking all the fun out of the poll :r

[Coach Deg]

I might be way off here, but after answering and thinking about it. Isn't most threads on CA blogs?

[kgoings]

I voted yes, but I dont do it on a regular basis. Most of the blog stuff I do read is photography related. And the ones I do read are professionals whom I could really learn from. Most of the stuff they post is technical how to's. Not 'personal' garbage.

I do know many photographers who use blogs as marketing. And they say it does work.

[massphatness]

Not to thread jack, but the true value in blogging from a marketing standpoint lies with the blogger. If 3F were start blogging about his experiences with cigars for his cigar lounge, for example, he may find an uptick in sales as his blog gains eyeballs in the Tampa area and like-minded readers flock to his lounge.

Blogging gives you a forum -- more to inform than to actively sell, but in setting yourself up as an "expert", it will only be a matter of time before people start to seek you out. If you can connect with your audience, your words take on gravitas and suddenly, you find your positive reviews of an RP Decade translating into increased sales out of the lounge's humidor.

Advertising on someone's blog is a different animal. No different than advertising anywhere on the net, really.

[GreekGodX]

I read them in the spirit of open discussion. I like to see other people's points of view, whether I agree or disagree. A blog is a good release for a lot of people and a way to get their message out.

[JE3146]

I've never found a blog worth reading.

Then again, I don't read the newspaper either.

[RazzBarlow]

For the most part, I won't read a commercial blog. But, like anything else, if it's well written and fun to read...I might indulge in a blog here and there.

[saggel]

Apart from following more than 250 blogs on my Greader, I also own many blogs on several subjects such as cars (http://autoblog.gr/), blackberry (http://www.blackberryblog.gr/), iPhone (http://iphoneblog.gr/) and a personal (http://www.aggelopoulos.com/).

[Bruins Fan]

I voted no, but sometimes if I can't watch a sporting event in my area NESN or Comcast has live bloggers.

[Footbag]

Wow. I read tons of blogs. Too many to count. Cigar blogs, Technology blogs, Political blogs, Science blogs... It seems like anytime I am looking for some sort of specialized info, Google brings me to a blog.

I would say that with today's more powerful blogging software, many of the blogs don't really look like blogs. Also, adding an E-Commerce plug-in is extremely cheap and easy. Plus you can get advertising revenue.

As for TripleF's point, I think that depends on one thing. Traffic. Blogs with a lot of traffic can generate very good sales and revenue. But it is hard to continue to increase traffic. I think every bloggers hope is to generate enough revenue to pay for the hosting and registry costs, but very few do.

And the blog I run for my business pulls in decent keyword traffic. Then refers to the main website.

[pnoon]

Wow. I read tons of blogs. Too many to count. Cigar blogs, Technology blogs, Political blogs, Science blogs... It seems like anytime I am looking for some sort of specialized info, Google brings me to a blog.


Shall we change your user name to Footblog? :D

[Footbag]

Shall we change your user name to Footblog? :D

Blogbag? :D

[Resipsa]

I think more people read blogs than realize it. If you go to any of the big sports sites, eg espn etc, or really any of the well known commercial sites those links you're hitting are taking you to somebodys blog whether you realize it or not. I read a lot of blogs as rss feeds through a couple
of different aggregators, it's the only way to have the time
to keep up with all of the different professional and personal things I want to. Maybe not as many as some have stated, but easily 50-60 blogs of some
sort I follow

[captain53]

Unnecessary Comment: I voted yes because I read one ocassionally. But that said I never look at the ads on them because I assume most of them are scams. IMHO it is throwing away ad money.:2

[Don Fernando]

I might be way off here, but after answering and thinking about it. Isn't most threads on CA blogs?

:tpd:

I blog (my reviews www.cigarguide.org currently transferring all my old reviews to new webspace, new layout, lots of work but its looking so much better) and I do read certain blogs, newsblog and cigarblogs.

[junkinduck]

I voted no as I don't subscribe to any and couldn't tell you a thing about the advertising. If I do read on it is through a link or by accident.