Too many of the PR blogs around at the moment (mine included) seem happy to aggregate news from other blogs mixed with their own op-ed commentary. I would love to see more PR blogs focusing on specific niches within the PR industry. I want PR blogs that have a focus and voice of their own.
Bad Pitch Blog was one of the first blogs I came across back in Spring. Here was a popular blog with a unique focus and amusing anecdotes. Unfortunately it's seldom updated. I have recently begun reading Gerry McCusker's excellent PR Disasters blog. The blog aims to: "track the real PR cock-ups; the gaffes and howlers made by spin doctors, PR consultants and the client organizations they represent". That's a nice concept.
I think some student/entry level blogs especially are struggling to find their voice within the PR blogosphere. PR blogging newcomers naturally see what the Rubels', Bruces', Youngs', Godins' and other PR elite are reporting, and aggregate it. This is very wrong. Starting a blog is primarily about satisfying a niche. Even teenagers blogging reporting their love lives to an audience of five people are satisfying that niche. Where else could you find that information? So if you are going to start a blog, make sure it's not an aggregator.
Students are actually quite fortunate with their options. Forward-Moving provides plenty of great information for students to get started in both PR and Social Media. Richard Bailey focuses on PR from a teaching perspective. Owen Lystrup does a great job of covering his foray into PR, as does Ed from Mid-Management.
So what would I like to read? I would love blogs which cover specific areas of my work. e.g. Blogs dedicated to writing introductions to press releases? Find news relevant to this, interview journalists/PR pros and find out what works. How about a blog reviewing media lists. Evaluating the database options available, reporting differences/similarities between them and offering advice to fellow practitioners. Why not blog about media clippings? What's the best way of tracking coverage for your clients? Blogs about distributing press releases.
The more people that blog, the more we're going to fragment. I'm getting close to the maximum number of blogs I can physically read. So, like many others, i'm going to start being very selective about what I read. Why should I select you?
26 November 2006
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A note from an Old Blogger...
You should read mine Rich because its the only one in your feed about Wiggly Life, its your dip into country life, your green conscience, your weekly tickle of tales from the farm, and it will provide you with at least two facts to baffle your fellow students with. Where else can you find out about the contents of Clare Short's wastebin? Where else for a mega row about Cats and our feathered friends? (coming up on Podcast 60) and where else for a Step by Step guide on why you need to plant a hedge - now before March. Thats it.
Hi Heather,
I think that right now, your blog and podcasts are the best examples of how companies should be adopting Social Media strategies.
I'm not a passionate gardener, a result of my urban upbringing I suspect, but I think that you have found the formula that works. I would strongly recommend all PR students to read your blog and listen to your podcast, because it works so well, and there's so much that can be learnt from it.
while i'm not so sure about the mid-management tag (mid-level grunt is more like it), you're spot on.
(pr) bloggers who want to get ahead should innovate, not aggregate. the "market" of up and coming prs who are blogging is certainly getting crowded and the only way to set yourself out from the crowd is to say something that's good enough to get amplified.
be original, even if it means you're not posting six times a day.
not everyone can be as funny as richard, but it doesn't hurt to try.
Ed
Rich, I blog about a wide variety of publicity-related topics, not just on how to start a press release, or how to distribute the release.
But if press release writing and distribution is an itch you need scratched, you might be interested in my free email course called "89 ways to write powerful press releases" at http://www.PublicityHound.com
It focuses on how to write and distribute direct-to-consumer press releases that are equally appealing to journalists.
I love your ideas for all the little PR niches that are begging for a blog, particularly the one on media lists. In fact, I'm going to start paying more attention to this topic and blogging about it, because I get so many questions about this topic from my readers.
Hi Richard,
As another older blogger I've posted my thoughts about this on my blog at blog.simonwakeman.com
It's an interesting discussion
cheers
sw
I should have titled this "A note to new PR bloggers", but I wont change it now.
Ed: What level of PR are you, is a "three year veteran" an Account Manager? Or do you have a lovely Social Media title yourself?
Joan: I have signed up to the course and will blog about it shortly.
Simon: I'm about to reply on your blog, but for the benefit of people here. You are right of course. Developing a niche is not the only way to attract and retain an audience. It is the best way though in my opinion.
Well said. In a crowded bar, who gets their voice heard?
You made this breakthrough - and soon you're leaving us to cycle across Kenya.
Perhaps personal ambition plays a part too (you alluded to this from the start on your blog).
Hi Richard,
I think it's important to have a purpose on your blog but at the same time it's the diversity and the freedom to comment on anything with the chance to be heard that attracted me to blogging in the first place. I try to make my blog as much about PR and my degree course as possible but occasionally I do wander from the path onto any topic that appeals to me and find that I still get people looking at the site. On the other hand I run a blog for a charity that by it's purpose has very specific posts and unfortunately isn't as popular. It seems a good idea to start a seperate blog specifically dedicated to a subject of interest; For me that would be publicity campaigns for films/tv etc. Definately one to think about for the future...
Hi Samantha,
Good to hear from you. That's a good point. Young PR bloggers might not want to be restricted to a specific field within PR. I definitely wouldn't want new PR bloggers to feel restricted, but I certainly don't want them to report Eldeman's latest calamity unless that have a particular student insight. Even if it was "why is this such a big deal", that would be great.
Forward-Moving did a fantastic job of deconstructing it. But by purely aggregating such content from other blogs, I don't think it would be a good read.
I'm contemplating starting a seperate blog focusing on one area of PR, but then having the two would be a tad excessive.
I would actually like to read a blog purely about PR campaigns for films. I also think that focusing on a niche would make you far more employable within that field.
Good advice to newbies where particularly for students, having something original to say is relevant. I'm also concerned when it seems PR bloggers simply link to each other - such as with the release of CIPR's social media code last week, where I'm not sure we've yet added much to any debate.
I believe we should all aim to bring 3 things to our individual blogs:
1. An authentic and personal voice
2. Our own audiences, ideally real world contacts to widen the sphere of discussion and debate
3. Interesting content that may be drawn from a wide range of sources that others haven't necessarily come across or on a specialist theme so acting as a blogging expert in that area.
Incidentally, I started my blog www.greenbanana.wordpress.com to look at the world from my own PR perspective - and also to reflect on automotive PR, which I do as and when I believe there is something interesting to say.
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