I think I’ve changed my mind about blogs.

Let me back up for a second. For those who don’t know, a blog, (short for Web log) is a personal online journal. The writer frequently posts his or her thoughts and experiences on the Web for the whole world to read. Even corporations, TV shows and publications have gotten on board — from “American Idol” to the New York Times, everyone has a blog.

For years now I’ve been resisting the trend. I couldn’t understand how this medium could provide newsworthy, let alone interesting, information. That all changed a few weeks ago when I wanted to find a review of a local concert. The band wasn’t well known enough to make the daily newspaper, so instead I turned to the Internet and did a quick search. To my surprise a number of concert-goers posted entries about the show on their blogs. I found more than enough information — and in greater detail than would have been reported in the newspaper.

Since then I’ve been finding that if done right, blogs can be a useful source for timely and relevant information. The best use of blogs I’ve heard of recently is from Virginia newspapers that used blogs to provide up-to-date reports of the Virginia Tech shooting. Readers could get the facts immediately without having to wait for the next day’s edition of the paper.

Incidentally, it’s probably a good thing I have this new perspective. We’ve recently redesigned our Web site, CleanLink, and one new feature we’ve added is (of course) blogs. Three times a week, “The World of Contract Services” will provide building service contractors with industry insight specific to their marketplace.







POSTED ON: 5/1/2007