Blogs and Feeds

What Are Those Travellers Thinking?

One of the many excuses for why I have woefully neglected this blog is that I have been traveling. I've been coast-to-coast and a lot of places in between. Planes, trains, buses, and cars have played their part in keeping me on the go. But, as I have traveled, I've been struck by these curious thoughts.

1) Why is is that when a flight is oversold, and the airlines ask for volunteers to get on a later flight, it is almost never the obvious pleasure/leisure travelers who take up an opportunity to get a "free round trip ticket?"

2) Why is it that the five-foot two inch, hundred pounder is always battling the 75 pound piece of carry-on luggage? I've seen smaller steamer trunks than some of the beasts of luggage hoisted into overhead bins, usually with lots of help from those who fear having the monster slip and cleave their unsuspecting skulls.

3) Why is it that the bus always stops right in front of a large greasy puddle? The same puddle is always very generous in sloshing the unsuspecting, but eager traveler.

4) Why is it that it always rains, or sleets, or snows when you get home, not while you are away and wouldn't care anyway?

5) Why is it that, if you have the aisle seat on a long flight, the person in the middle will be both large, clumsy and listening/playing with a device that you can hear in your seat?

6) Similarly, why does it happen that if you have the aisle seat, those in the middle and the window seat will have to get up at least once every hour of the flight even if it means awakening you?

7) And, if to forestall the above, you select a window seat, why does it happen that a small child throws a tantrum wanting your seat?

8) Why does it always happen that those immediately ahead of you in the security check lines still believe that you can get through the metal detectors with a rodeo prize belt on and seem annoyed when asked for the second time to step back?

9) Why does it always happen that when you rush to the airport -- arrive a little early -- your flight leaves a lot late.

10) Why do parents let their children crowd the luggage belt when there is no way they will be able to muscle any luggage off the belt -- is it some sort of dare devil dance to see if they can escape without injury?

I'm just not sure, but I've seen it all in the past few weeks. I guess that I will continue to muse on these topics as I cruise the country on business and pleasure.

PR Web™ Invites Bloggers to be Guests at eComXpo Oct. 6-8, 2005

Ever wanted to attend a virtual trade show or not sure what a virtual trade show is? Well this is a chance to attend for free. Yes they do charge registration fees for you to sit at your computer and participate in a 3-day virtual trade show event. PR Web™ invites the first 250 bloggers who register for a complimentary Exhibit Hall and Keynote pass to the completely online eComXpo show, October 6-8, 2005, conference organizers are sweetening PR Web's offer by offering to convert bloggers' standard passes into full conference passes.

While you are at the virtual trade show, do stop in for my sessions. I'm one of the many speakers who will be participating in this event. Getting ready for it has been quite a trip. Each speaker pre-records their presentation, submits it with the requisite slides on a USB device furnished by the trade show. During the show the presenters are online during scheduled time slots. I've never presented virtually before, so it will be new experience for me.

And, just in case you take up the offer for a complimentary pass and are unfamiliar with PRWeb, here's a little something about them. PR Web™ is a fully integrated press release newswire service. They are the largest newswire catering to small and medium sized companies and organizations and one of the largest online press release newswires. I use their service on a regular basis.

By the way, if you visit my other blog Best Blogs on SEO-PR, you will discover a secret many search marketers have found. PR is good food for search marketing campaigns.

PRSA Boston Meets to Navigate World of Blogs

PRSA Boston's March 30^th program entitled "Navigating the Wide World of Blogs" was held this evening at Weber Shandwick in Cambridge, MA. As the image shows, the meeting was well attended. The panel moderated by Mary Helen Gillespie, president of Gillespie Interactive included Dan Kennedy of the Boston Phoenix, Mike Spataro, EVP for Interactive Services of Weber Shandwick (a non-blogger who advises on blogging -- hmmm), Adam Gaffin of Boston Online and NetworkWorld.com and Sam Whitmore of Sam Whitmore's Media Survey. The panel was charged with addressing:

• What are blogs?
• Who are key bloggers?
• How to use blogs for media relations?
• How to make blogs work?
• How some companies have misread the significance of blogs?

The discourse was disappointing. Perhaps, I've already heard too many blatherings about what is "on" or "off" the record, read too many apologists for MSM slam bloggers for their lack of objectivity and issue concerns over blogger credibility and lack of journalistic professionalism. Perhaps, I've been living on a different planet for the past few years -- one where journalists at very credible papers (NYT) have written fake or plagiarized stories, where Sinclair Media aired "biased" information and the dismal list could go on and on. If the same logic is applied that all individuals using the same expressive media are alike, then MSM is just as biased and riddled with credibility problems as blogging. All bloggers are alike, aren't they? Alas! Way too much time and attention is spent looking in at the blogosphere, categorizing and stereotyping.

Missing in the discussion was what is to me the most interesting aspect of blogging -- the ability to connect with publics and listen to the sweet music of the customer's voice. Blogs offer businesses the ability to join in a conversation with their customers.

Every time I hear words like "control" and "influence" used in connection with blogging and bloggers, I am acutely aware of how frightening "customers" must be to many businesses. An image comes to mind of a small child, hands clapped over his ears, screaming at the top of his lungs --"I don't care what you say. I can't hear you." PR professionals (oh! it's that word again - profess...) should help these frightened individuals take their hands off their ears and listen. Then, based on what they hear from their customers design their communications strategies accordingly.

Sure bloggers will and do create havoc for companies that provide lousy products, poorly articulated messages and unacceptable service. However, in my own reading and blog writing, more bouquets of roses are thrown than brickbats.

Also, somewhat disappointed that there was no discussion of some of the really cool tools emerging for following blogs such as BlogPulse that monitors millions of blogs, mining out trends more rapidly than futurists could ever have imagined possible back in the old days of trend spotting when clipping and snipping news items was the norm.

What was billed at $40 a head as "dinner, networking and program" was a snack, some lively networking and the program. Mind you, the tea-sandwiches were delicious, but they were certainly not dinner. Left the meeting both mentally and physically hungry.