Business Blogs Beat Opt-In Email

IABC/Tucson Program Explores Blogging Successes and Failures

(PRWEB) April 23, 2005 -- How can marketers join the current blog (Weblog) craze by serving, rather than alienating, potential and current customers? Find out at A Marketer's Guide to Blogging," by Kim M. Bayne, to be presented at the IABC/Tucson Luncheon on May 5, 2005, at 11:30 AM. IABC/Tucson is a local chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators.

The May program will be held at McMahon's Steakhouse, Ft. Lowell and Swan Roads in Tucson, Arizona. Program costs are $18 for members; $25 for guests and members without reservations; $14 for students. RSVPs are recommended to guarantee seating availability. Visit iabctucson.com or call 520-744-2944, x1363 to RSVP.

The Program
You may have read about the Chairman's Blog, authored by IABC's 2004-2005 Chairman David Kistle. But what exactly are blogs and why should you care? A blog "is a web application which contains periodic time-stamped posts on a common webpage," as defined by Wikipedia, an online collaborative encyclopedia. What about content and focus? Free blogging service Blogger.com says "Your blog is whatever you want it to be. There are millions of them, in all shapes and sizes, and there are no real rules."

"Blogs trump email for serving tech-savvy buyers," observes Internet marketing author Kim M. Bayne. "Sophisticated users seek out quality blog feeds every day, which means they're more educated, more motivated, and more interested than the average user." Kim will present an overview of blogs and their effect on business communications. Discussing the importance of blogging in the marketing mix, she will highlight key trends with case studies of fast-moving players like General Motors, Nike and Macromedia.

IABC/Tucson program attendees can hear how companies use blogs without spamming or polluting the blogosphere. In addition to showcasing blog winners, Kim will reveal which blogging practices to avoid. Attendees will discover real-world examples with actionable ideas designed to inspire involvement in this growing trend.

Kim expresses herself via two blogs -- "Marketing Wirelessly" (about advertising, marketing and PR designed to reach mobile users) and "Minced Media" (random thoughts about different media). In the 2004 book "Who Let the Blogs Out?," author Biz Stone writes that blogs are "saturated with the personality of their creators." Kim agrees. Like many blogs, her entries often contain blunt commentary and untamed observations, revealing aspects of the writer's sense of humor.

"Not everyone likes my writing," Kim admits. "But I'm not writing these blogs for everyone. In a blog, you either have to write for yourself or write for your audience. It's tough to do both well. I've also found that my blog voice continues to evolve, as do my reasons for writing them." As a freelance writer for industry publications, Kim knows how to adhere to style guides and editorial policies, but she also enjoys the freedom and change of pace found in blogging.

The Speaker
Kim M. Bayne presented at the world's first Internet marketing seminar series in 1994. She was one of the first people to register generic (keyword, rather than company name) domains, according to the Washington Post. Kim is author of the highly-acclaimed book "The Internet Marketing Plan," which reached #1 on Amazon.com's Best Seller List for Web Marketing. Her award-winning background includes former host of the groundbreaking "The Cyber Media Show with Kim Bayne" (Nov. 1997 to May 2000), an internationally syndicated public radio show about the Internet.

A veteran of corporate marcom campaigns, Kim understands the subtle nuances of effective marketing, applying her well-rounded, personal knowledge to real world challenges. She has both hands-on project management experience in nearly every aspect of marketing communications, including advertising, collateral, corporate ID, public relations, and trade shows. She has written for such publications as Advertising Age, Business Marketing and e-Business Advisor magazine.

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