AMG's Blog

Let’s get this straight: I’m a designer, not a writer. What you are about to read (or not if you value your time) is my first blog entry…ever. Now if you are curious as to how a graphic designer (one who uses a computer daily) has never “blogged” before, let me tell you. If you aren’t curios, tough. I am going to tell you anyway. I am probably the least computer savvy graphic designer ever. I know how to use my computer as well or better than the average person and have an ever-expanding knowledge of the programs that I use to create my designs. But, as I see it, the computer is a tool of my trade I don’t really care to know how it works, as long as it does, and I don’t want to spend all of my free time on it. Does a plumber go home at night after a long day of work and hang out with his or her (yes, women can be plumbers, too) pipe wrench, maybe practice toilet installations? How should I know? I am guessing not, though. There are probably other things he or she would rather do. Well, that’s how I feel after spending 8-10 hours in front of a computer at work when I get home: I am not anxious to jump back on one. So, no, I have never “blogged”, and at the time of this writing still don’t have a desire to.

Blogging is for writers, and too often whiners. I have absolutely no desire to be a writer or public crybaby for that matter. Besides, I have things to do… in the real world…with actual people.  Now, don’t get me wrong, I admire talented writers and revel in their ability to entertain or inform using merely a creative arrangement of words. People who make a living writing probably should create and maintain a blog of their own; people who just want to stand up on their little soapbox for a while should not. Nobody cares. The stereotypical “blogger” that I picture in my head is… oh, 37 in his (yes, his, sorry ladies) mother’s basement, lights off, Doritos stained fingers furiously typing insightful quips about the society in which they have never actually participated. I’m just sayin’. I realize this is not every blogger and probably actually only makes up a small (73) percentage of bloggers. There are actually some very talented writers out there using blogs very effectively to springboard their writing careers or as a supplement to their printed works. But blogs are not only for writers and super witty computer nerds.

Blogs can also be very effective in the business world. When a company uses a blog as part of their Web site it can become an invaluable marketing tool for them. One of the ways a blog can be beneficial is that it keeps a Web site current and relevant, helping to maintain a higher ranking position when a potential customer does a Web search for companies within a specific industry. Blogs can do wonders for existing customers as well. They build brand loyalty and stronger client relationships because a customer can interact directly with people inside the company. Blogs also provide a great platform to share information and knowledge, thus potentially creating a better-informed consumer. Blogs can also help the credibility of an organization by showcasing some of the talent and expertise contained within. Lastly, although there are certainly more advantages to a business maintaining a blog, it provides a positive way for a business to gain feedback about their products or services, whether good or bad, directly from the consumer.

There are also some pitfalls to starting and maintaining a blog, mainly the maintaining part. The majority of blogs are abandoned within 30 days of their inception. Starting a blog is very easy but maintaining it takes a lot of time and energy. A company must take steps to ensure that it is kept up to date and not left unattended. An unattended blog allows your message to become lost and allows people with too much time on their hands to spread their message no matter if it is relevant to your company or not.

So blog get your message out there, be careful and diligent in maintaining your blog, but don’t spend too much time in front of that computer. There is an entire world out there that should be experienced.

This entry was posted on Monday, November 24th, 2008 at 9:04 pm and is filed under Recent. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.