SME Blog

Ever had an unintentional sabbatical?

Yes, the unintentional sabbatical is over. Oddly, whilst I've been away I've had some good web stats.  Before I get too paranoid about the value of my (lack of) contribution, I should thank Google for frequently listing SME Blog on page 2 on its search of "SME".  My contribution is clearly nothing compared to that of Google.  It goes to show it is not always what you know, but...

What have I been doing?  Well, the really exciting bit is the twins have turned 4 and just got new bikes. A bit of tension as one is better than the other at cycling, but - hang on this is SME Blog not Twins Online. Ok, I've been looking at strategic issues for external and internal stakeholders.  Mmm, not sure that quite explains it either.  Ok, I've just been REALLY BUSY.

Anyway, it is good to be back and thank you my dear reader for not giving up on me just yet.

Technorati Tags: small business medium sized business sme smb blogging accountants  sme-blog  technology

Hello Alaska

Hello Alaska, population 660k and rising.  Welcome to SME Blog London, population 8m and overcrowded trains. 

If SME Blog can reach Alaska then anyone can.  It shows that SME's can have a worldwide marketing reach.  Your local niche now has the potential to be a worldwide niche.

Technology is breaking down geographical restrictions and not just for business - last year 1 in 12 newlyweds in the US met online .

 

Technorati Tags: small business medium sized business sme smb blogging accountants  sme-blog  Alaska

Philip Woodgate

You're fired! We don't like your blog

Catherine Sanderson who uses the pseudonym La Petite Anglaise for her blog no longer has a job.  That's according to an article in the BBC. She has been fired because her employer took objection to some references to it on her blog.

The employer has just scored a spectacular own goal in PR terms, even if the employer does have a good case for gross misconduct or something similar (Catherine is currently suing the firm).  The firm is said to be old school.  It's got some global coverage by the BBC, but is it the message it really wants to give to potential employees?

Don't worry Catherine, you've got a great blog and it's about to get a huge uplift in readers. Just put your CV on the blog and you'll have a new job very soon.

As a guide to navigating high seas of the blogosphere safely it is worth reading Captain's Blog by Accountancy Age. Bon Voyage.

Technorati Tags: small business medium sized business sme smb blogging accountants  sme-blog

The big five

The big five in this case isn't the lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino, but blogging tools. Not as romantic, but useful if you are thinking about entering the blogosphere.  Anyway here are mine:

1. Typepad - the system that powers this blog

2. Technorati - the means to find new blogs and interesting people

3. ClustrMaps - a map that shows where vistors are located

4. HTML guide book - for the difficult bits

5. RSS feeds - for the left hand column of SME Blog Resource

For a different big 5 selection click here and discover more blogging tools which didn't make my top 5.

Fish theme

My wife Sue came up with the fish theme for this blog. It's a theme I've always liked and stuck with.  The creators of the blog software (Typepad) must share the same opinion as they now use the same theme.  Click here to see their version. 

Marketing cost of fish theme for SME Blog:  Cup of coffee for wife Sue.

Marketing cost of fish theme for Typepad:  A lot.

Seriously, if you are interested in blogging then Typepad is as good a place as any to start.

Technorati Tags: small business medium sized business sme smb blogging accountants  sme-blog

Blogs, blogs and more blogs

I have been trying to avoid this for sometime now.  Other people can do a much better job at writing about this than me. 

I'm talking about the rise of the blog.  I can't avoid it anymore, because according to David Sifry at Technorati (the Google equivalent for blogs):

• Technorati now tracks over 35.3 Million blogs
• The blogosphere is doubling in size every 6 months
• It is now over 60 times bigger than it was 3 years ago
• On average, a new weblog is created every second of every day
• 19.4 million bloggers (55%) are still posting 3 months after their blogs are created
• Technorati tracks about 1.2 Million new blog posts each day, about 50,000 per hour

Blogs are starting to have a real impact.  Large companies are monitoring blogs for PR purposes (I was contacted this week by the PR department of a large UK company.) Small companies are getting their message to the masses.   And the individual is having fun (at 67 my mother is writing her memoirs on a blog - the family contribute, add comments, pictures etc..)  It's the early stages of a technology revolution.

Why bother?

I keep getting asked why I’m so interested in blogs and the web.  The answer is simple – it’s a goldmine of information for SME’s.  It’s so up-to-date with new ideas it hurts (Accmanpro, Business Two Zero).  It can give you detailed insights into other peoples businesses and how they are coping (The Soap Blog).  It’s cross continent (Small and medium thoughts).  The detail, relevance and diversity are truly amazing.

Contrast this with my daily newspaper - one page out of sixteen in the business section on SME’s.  Even better it’s on the old chestnut factoring!

Blogs and the web have really made me think about the future of SME’s and in particular changing business models.  If you think that the last 7 years have seen some big changes with email and computers then brace yourself for the next 7.  We are going to see geographical restrictions being removed and the automation of processes in ways we never thought possible.

Philip Woodgate

Technorati Tags: small business  medium sized business  sme  smb  blogging accountants

Top Blog Tips

Today I was late for my train and I had a few minutes to spare.  In common with many people at Victoria station I headed for the magazines.  Web Designer had an article on blogging that gave their top tips.  You can't find them on their website only the magazine (does anyone else find that funny - okay forget the commercial reasons all you accountants).  Anyway here they are:

Don't waffle

Get to the point as visitors don't have time to read long posts.  Also, use simple language that does not confuse readers.

Write good titles

Develop that art of headline writing.  Just as with newspapers readers first scan the title before reading the article.

Comments

Try to respond to comments.  Interaction helps keep the blog interesting.

Be yourself

Blogs are all about the personal touch and the human voice.  Avoid third person corporate speak and develop a personal voice that is true to yourself.

Sounds easy enough, only problem is that Mark Frauenfelder of BoingBoing adds:

"There is only one requirement - you have to be interesting.  Everything else is secondary."

And if all else fails make sure you have a good picture....

Philip Woodgate

Setting up a blog

If you are thinking of starting a blog then you must check out David Terrar's blog Business Two Zero.  David has put together a very helpful four part article titled "BTZ's insider's guide to Blogging".  There are so many tips and hints that I expect I will be going back to it for several months to come.  Thanks David.

Update 1 March 2006:  David has now added further information on RSS feeds.

Philip Woodgate