This post is part of a series written by zcomm interns. Be sure to check back each week for their take on the latest in the public relations industry. This week, Claire discusses her love/hate relationship with blogs.
These days, it seems as though everyone and their mother (and with the rise of mommy bloggers, especially their mother!) is trying their hand at blogging. In fact, the number of blogs has increased from 35 million in 2006 to a whopping 181 million at the end of 2011.
Many of these blogs are awesome, but a lot more of them fall short. I don’t know about you, but I am often frustrated with the lack of strong writing, web design and organization of amateur blog sites.
I am also just plain tired of friends beginning blogs without any real sense of purpose or focus, leaving me to read posts about what they ate for breakfast or their thoughts on the final Hunger Games book. Even the blogs of friends who have decided to chronicle amazing summer internships and adventures in New York City are disappointingly reminiscent of middle school journals.
While this lack of quality-control/ease-of-access/anyone and everyone can do it/no restrictions or hoops to jump through concept is one of the reasons I am disillusioned with blogs, it is also the fundamental reason I like them so much. Professionally, the “PR girl” I see the benefit of this new age of communication that allows clients to gain credibility through third-party endorsement without media gate-keeping.
On a personal level, it’s neat to have insight into other people’s ideas, and there is a blog for any and everything. I often turn to fashion, cooking and DIY lifestyle blogs for inspiration and end up trying new things that I wouldn’t have otherwise. I’m also very interested in news and what’s going on around me; so naturally, I’m addicted to the Huffington Post.
If, like me, you sometimes have a hard time sifting through the blogosphere to find something worthwhile to read, try checking out Technorati’s list of the top 100 blogs. This list is updated daily, and is based on a site’s standing and influence (translation: number of links to the blog, number of visitors, number of comments, etc.) based on its subject matter.
While this certainly isn’t an end-all-be-all list, and bigger is not always better, it’s a good place to start when looking for reputable, popular blogs that are (generally) well put together. It’s also a great tool for fellow PR professionals looking to target some influential bloggers!
I’ll leave you with some of my favorite blogs below:
Do you have a favorite blog? If so, please post a link in the comments section – I would love to check it out!
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