To blog … or not to blog?

OK, I confess, I am an addict. I will admit that I am a “junkie” of sorts for all things associated with popular culture – print media, TV, movies, internet, TV on the internet, reading and checking regular websites and blogs on a daily and even hourly basis. I subscribe to a high number of blogs both from bloggers overseas and in Australia. I receive their RSS feeds whenever they make an update on their page or site. This may be viewed by some as addictive behaviour, and that’s probably true.

What can I say – I thoroughly enjoy reading what other people have to say, what they are tying to sell, the message they want to spread to the world (wide web) and the fabulous photographs they post of anything and everything that inspires them. 

I agree with many internet experts that these increasingly popular social networking tools, when used appropriately, can be an effective marketing tool for your business. As the project coordinator for the ITeC Small Business Online program I, along with the ITeC management team and workshop presenter Andrew Connery, have been focusing on teaching small business owners the merits and value to marketing your business online, and creating a web presence – whether that be with a website, an e-newsletter, HTML email correspondence or even starting with a listing on a free business directory.

This may also include starting your own online blog that you can use to contact customers about special promotions, new products, and that can also build a rapport with your database, with many bloggers sharing an insight into their personal lives and their day-to-day activities along with the products and services they are promoting.

The new trend for all businesses, big and small, is creating an online presence through starting a company page on Facebook, or opening an account on microblogging website Twitter, that allows users to post an “update” online using “Tweets” that contain a sentence or words that must be 140 characters or less. Both activities are viewed as a super-cheap, (in fact a free) marketing technique that other Facebook and Twitter users can view and follow, even choosing to become a “fan” or subscribing to regular updates from the site of that company or small business.

I find myself questioning whether this is the most professional way to market. Yes, it is free and yes, this activity has the possibility to reach hundreds and thousands of potential customers and clients – but is it sending the right message to the world? Is this the way that you want to be perceived by your clients and future clients? This form of marketing may be suitable for businesses providing youth services or selling technology, but would you consider using a legal service if they contacted you on Facebook to advertise their “Discount Divorce” services? Perhaps not …

One of the most recent developments in the Social Networking world is the use of Twitter and the like by our illustrious leaders – our politicians. Now this has been heralded as a new way of reaching out to the public and connecting with potential voters, but it has also highlighted some of the issues that come with Social Networking. Comments made in haste that cannot be taken back, dubious associations through links and unwanted advertising and spam.

Maybe our politicians (and businesses) should consider the limitations of using social networking sites as highlighted recently in the Japanese presidential elections (with strict laws regulating internet use in the country) as there are still voters who, due to a host of reasons including self-exclusion and financial restrictions, do not have access to this medium. 

So I ask again:  To blog … or not to blog?