Interview With Chris Garrett, Blogger/Author Of ProBlogger
“The only source of knowledge is experience,” says Albert Einstein, and we can learn from the knowledge, experiences and wisdom of others, so why re-invent the wheel if we do not have to? A few A-list bloggers were asked the same questions, and their responses will be featured in a series of short articles. Chris Garrett, a "professional blogger, Internet Marketing Consultant, new media industry commentator, writer, coach, speaker, trainer and web geek," kicks off the series.
Garrett is very qualified to mentor us because he is highly recognized in the blogging space. He also co-authored the best selling book Problogger with Darren Rowse (another A-List blogger), Blogging for Business with Wordtracker, and coaches bloggers to grow their audiences in his AuthorityBlogger.com online course.
For this series, you will receive various view points on how blogs:
• Contribute to the bottom line
• Help to build relationships
• Build or extend brands
• Can help to respond to crises
The series will also showcase the blogging trends that organizations should pay attention to. A diversity of views allows individuals to choose the view point that makes sense for their unique situation.
How does blogging contribute to an organization's bottom line?
Blogging attracts more visitors and keeps more of the visitors you get, so it is a brilliant lead generation tool but also great for building loyalty and deeper client relationships.
How can organizations use blogs to build relationships?
By dripping out valuable content and especially by interacting with an audience rather than just talking at them.
How can organizations use their blogs to build or extend their brands?
Rather than look at a blog as being something that builds a brand, it is better to think about it as communicating in a valuable and useful way about things their prospects care about and interacting in a way that shows the customers, or prospects that they are valued. The best brands are built by experience rather than saying the right things and polished corporate identity. I like what Jeff Bezos of Amazon said (though I will likely not get it verbatim); "Brands are what people say about you when you are not in the room".
What's the most effective ways for organizations to respond to crises using their blogs?
Answer as soon as you can, in full, and honestly. Then respond to follow up comments on your own and others' blogs and websites.
What are the trends in blogging that organizations should be aware of? And why are those trends important?
Much of the communication that used to be the sole preserve of blogs and forums is now happening in other social media such as Twitter and Facebook status updates. You need to be monitoring for all the conversation that is happening around your brand, not just the main thought leader blogs.
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