I’m up here in Napa having a group blogfest and it’s been a great time so
far.  It’s fun to meet folks that I’ve only known through the blogosphere. 
Everyone is excited to talk about online communications and explore how we can
use this new tool to make our companies/brands/executives successful.  Here’s
the big point that I preached in my opening session - it’s way too early to draw
lines in the sand and criticize each other - meaning other bloggers, PR firms,
etc.  For this vehicle to succeed as a communication tool we need to work
together and demonstrate "blogging best practices" through our actions - writing
about best practices and setting policies won’t do it alone - we need to do it
through our work in the blogosphere, however that may take form.  And the folks
here that I’ve talked to agree.  I have a few fun stats and soundbites to share
from the day.  There are more lengthy posts from Neville
and Anita
(and probably others that I haven’t seen yet) about the sessions if you’d like
to read them.

Statistics from Elizabeth’s
opening remarks:

• Every 3 seconds a new blog is formed
• 27% of internet users read blogs
• 5% of internet users say they use RSS
  aggregators
• 12% of internet users have commented or sent
  other materials to blogs
• BUT - 62% of internet users don’t know what a
  blog is

Shel made a great point in his session about
using blogs as a crisis communications tool:

"You cannot
manage a crisis with logical statements - even if they are correct" (hence the
value of a two-way communication platform like a blog to provide timely updates
during a crisis)

That’s all for
now…

– Matthew Podboy