Why do we need to blog?

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May 072012

A question that has more than one simple answer. You blog to have a voice, you blog to have a presence, you blog to be relevant.
The beauty of blogging is that it is so personal; you see our real personalities, and you see PR as we would have it. It’s more individual than a corporate profile or a company website, because you get a glimpse of how we would do it, before you ever pick up the phone and call.

So simple yet so complex. Sure, anyone can write a blog, but it takes a special team of people to target for SEO and to build a following on Social Media to get their blogs read.

But to get back to the question – why do we really need to blog?
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Blogging? It’s not personal; it’s business

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Apr 242012

Long gone are the days when blogging was a personal matter. First generation bloggers were thrilled just to have the space to write about whatever interested them, and if anyone out there on the World Wide Web read the blog, then that was just the icing on the cake. But that was never the aim. It was about being personal, saying what was on your mind and just having your own opinion.

That however, has changed. And if you talk to any blogger today, they will tell you flat out that getting more followers and maximising clicks is the goal. You hear about klout and followers more than you hear about the satisfaction of being heard of.
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David Ogilvy quotes that will help you become a better blogger

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Mar 202012

Ever since we started the C&B blog, it has not just changed the way I write but even what I read. I never imagined myself writing a blog or anything that looked like a blog. Just like any starter, my first question was ‘What is a blog’? The answer will remain confusing till you start writing one. An important thing when you are writing a blog is to know what to write about. To begin with, I always look for topics and things that I find interesting and hope that others will like it too. You make a few mistakes, like I did when I wrote my first blog (obviously that didn’t see the light of the day) and you keep getting better once you get the hang of it.

Like I said, one way to improve how you write is to read what others have to say. An interesting piece that I read recently was a blog post by Darren Rowse, ‘10 David Ogilvy Quotes that Could Revolutionize Your Blogging’ that caught my attention, a must read for bloggers, marketers or anyone for that matter.
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I don’t know what to write

Blogging, Public Relations No Responses »

Mar 152012

Every week like clockwork, our social media watch dog comes a callin’ for our blog posts.

That’s when I start to panic. I haven’t written it yet. Not because I don’t want to, but because I really don’t know what to write about.

What they don’t understand is that writing doesn’t come naturally to all of us. While our writers are off spouting Shakespeare for their next blog post, I’m still thinking about the title.
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In what language do people think?

Blogging, How to, Public Relations No Responses »

Jan 292012

I’d have to guess English, since that’s what I speak.

Seems like this logic is lost on some PR professionals – working in the Middle East – who choose to ignore the importance of the local language. On several occasions I’ve sat across the table with clients who share their past experience with agencies that have had to rely on translators, and even worse, on Google.
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Think Before You Blog

Blogging No Responses »

Dec 082011

Sure, blogging is a great platform to share your knowledge and expertise about a hobby, interest or even the industry you work in. It’s also a fantastic way to drive traffic to your website, while maintaining your credibility. But there are several factors to consider before you dive straight into it.

@arkarthick advises you to maintain a balance between keeping the tone of your blog professional but fresh and interesting. At the end of the day, your blog will be a reflection of you – and you would be surprised by how many people actually judge you on it – so make sure you portray an image you want others to see. You should also choose a theme for your blog that you are particularly interested in or passionate about – selecting topics that you will get bored of will only lead to inconsistency on your blog. The key to maintaining and growing your readership is in the continuity of your posts. Continue reading »

Don’t worry, be happy

Blogging, How to, Public Relations 2 Responses »

Nov 232011

Love that song, don’t you? I StumbleUponed this article about 10 ways to make you happy, and I realised that just reading the title and seeing the picture actually did.

I think we should try to apply some of these principles to our daily miserable work lives (just kidding), and here are a few:

Know Yourself
This took me quite a while. I grew up in the States, went to high school in Syria and then did university in Lebanon. Along the way I found myself quite confused, trying to be so many different people to so many different people. What did I do? Try to be what others wanted me to be instead of myself. That even translated into my career. Continue reading »

How do I become a better writer?

Blogging, How to No Responses »

Nov 132011

With over 500,000 posts and 400,000 comments a day, 308 million people view over 2.5 billion pages each month. If these stats by WorldPress.com don’t wake up the writer in you, nothing will. William Shakespeare would be proud of today’s generation of writers and it is no surprise that some of the best blogs of 2011 are everything from politics and pop culture to travel, tech and beyond.

So before you bring out the quill and scroll (keyboard and monitor in today’s times), here are some tips to help you get started.

Just do it
Plans are only good if you do something about them. If you’ve decided to write, take the plunge. Icy cold water only stings for a short while; once you’ve been in for a while, you’ll realise it’s not that bad and you actually feel like taking a swim. Continue reading »

I want to write a book someday

Blogging, Media No Responses »

Nov 032011

I don’t know what it will be about or when I’m going to start it, I just know that it’s something that I want to do. Until then, I’m pretty proud of all the blogging I’ve been able to achieve ever since I joined Cicero & Bernay. I mean, if you want to be a writer, you’ve got to start by being published somewhere, right?

That’s why I’m always interested when I come across posts that talk about great blog writers (hoping I’ll be on one of them sometime soon) and that’s why I take any advice I can get in order to become better.

According to Ragan.com, these are some great tools for writers.

My favourite? Continue reading »

If my fans are everywhere, what time should I post?

Blogging, Public Relations, Social Media, Uncategorized No Responses »

Oct 262011

Just tell me. When should I share when you’re all the way over there?

I swear, this is more confusing to me than Algebra (and I’m blond). Our resident techy geek, George Durzi, has been very patiently trying to explain: what, where and when to post. My problem? If I have devoted fans (ok followers) in Timbuktu (yes, it actually exists) what do I do. They’re sleeping when I’m awake, eating when I’m at the gym and off on a Sunday, when I just got back to work. So how on Earth can there be one specific time to reach them all?

According to an infographic by AddThis, who just celebrated a birthday (where’s my cake?) this is when you should: Continue reading »

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See & Be PR

Blogging? It’s not personal; it’s business

David Ogilvy quotes that will help you become a better blogger

I don’t know what to write

In what language do people think?

Think Before You Blog

Don’t worry, be happy

How do I become a better writer?

I want to write a book someday

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