Happy 1st Birthday to this Blog

This blog launched 1 year ago out of pure curiosity. I already read blogs, I had read about blogs and at some point I was wondering what it was like to have and maintain a blog myself.

So I started this one and decided that I would blog about anything related to web culture, web2.0, digital marketing and advertising. I considered this easy to do, since I work in interactive advertising and hence have to deal with this on a daily basis anyway.

But posting on a daily basis, I didn’t manage sofar. I admire all those bloggers who put out (quality) content everyday, many even several times a day – while having a regular day job!

Still, I really enjoy this, so in 2006 I’ll continue weblogging anything interesting I find during my exploration of – and journeys through – that web-jungle out there.

Up and onward. Have a great 2006!

Blogs are (public) conversations, almost like a giant party.

Simon Dumenco writes, that a Blogger is just a writer with a cooler name.

Now, I would like to discuss with Simon, whether „blogger“ is such a cool name in the first place.

But since Simon „posted“ his article in the so called „traditional way“, even though already in the digital space, I can’t comment on what he wrote. I can only email him, leaving everyone else out of this conversation.

Neither can I leave a trackback on his post in order to show him that I am writing within my own blog about his points. (Will someone point him to my blog?)

I can’t have a simple public conversation with him. I could only ask him to join me in a discussion board or forum. But I can’t argue with him on the „digital street“, as I walk by, figuratively speaking.

Taking this thought one step further:

  • Traditional Media Publishing is like one person giving a speach to a large auditorium. You read it, then you discuss with your friends. Maybe you write a letter to the editor (like asking a question in a large auditorium – how many people do that, really?)
  • The forums and discussion boards are on the other side of the scale. After a short time, people tend to know each other very well and often it’s hard for strangers to join into the mostly well advanced conversations.
  • Blogs allow for discussions „en passant“. Comparable to a smalltalk party. You klick past many blogs, do some commenting here and there, engage in some discussions – and sometimes you find topics that capture your interest for a little longer so you stay (or come back often).
  • (btw, thanks to Steve Rubel for pointing out a whole lot of other factors why blogging isn’t quite just plain writing.

    Vodcast from BMW

    While Mercedes Benz amazes me with a fascinating microsite, BMW fascinates me because of the way they are testing new channels of interaction and user involvement:

  • I already knew for a couple of weeks about their
    RSS Feed.
  • Then I found out about their vodcast,
  • as well as their podcast.
  • Now I found, that they even supply you with a mediaplayer, through which you can receive all the above mentioned content, plus more than 3,000 online radiostations (as they claim).
  • Much of what they distribute through these channels are typical PR things (news, (video-) interviews at tradeshows, etc.). All in all a good way of keeping their fanbase engaged with the brand!