The Network Solutions sponsored Solutions Stars Video Conference (Oct. 29 at 1, don’t miss it!) features nine content themes:

This is the sixth of nine posts in nine days, offering thoughts on each section. We are passing over “You Need Social Networks,” which will run on Monday.

To Blog or Not to Blog

Here were my thoughts after viewing this series of videos:

Almost universally (with the exception of Rohit) all of our interviewees felt some sort of blogging was a necessary activity for companies. My caveats are the time thing, which is the final segment, and a willingness to let control fall to the wayside. This may mean getting thwacked in the head by negative comments from disagreeing parties.

But, if you are a normal entrepreneur like me, you’ll do whatever it takes and bust your butt to do it. Plus in a down economy, free (as in no hard costs) is good.

There are still rewards to be made from blogging (in spite of Jason Calacanis’ recent statements against the content form). Some of the most cited from the many interviews:

# Direct conversations with customers
# Thought leadership
# SEO
# Staying relevant
# Leveling the playing field with larger competitors

Even better, as sever interviewees like Darren Rowse said, you can learn from best practices and the errors of the past to excel even faster. Really, there’s so much out there about the benefits of blogging, I’d just rather refer you to my favorite book on the topic. Read Naked Conversations if you want more evidence.

I do think it’s harder today to rise to the top, but if you’ve got something to say, and have social networking skills, all should be fine. Consider Beth Harte’s recent successes as a relatively new entrant to the marketing blogosphere.

Marketers who appear in To Blog or Not to Blog:

In addition to the main site, please visit the Solutions Stars Video Conference event pages on Facebook and Upcoming:

• www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=33854706886
• upcoming.yahoo.com/event/1200021