Just Riding Along

Is the Piton on the way back?

The Piton was an anonymous, multi-authored blog on the outdoor industry.  It was one of the first blogs I ever read on a daily basis.  The authors are very bright, uber-insiders that weren't afraid to bring up the meaty topics.  It was very good.  Then, a few months ago they stopped doing it.  I think it got to be too much time and brain energy for them to keep it going (hmmm...sounds familiar).

Well, just going through my Bloglines subscriptions and saw this post over on the Wicked Outdoorsy Blog.  The funny thing is, the Piton was supposed to be anonymous, yet by that post it's obvious that the guys behind Wicked Outdoorsy are also behind the Piton.  Was it an "oops" post or are they going to reveal their identities this time around? 

Either way, I hope they make another run at it.

Cannondale webmaster quoted in eWeek article

Janet Maurice, frequent commenter here on JRA and web/blogmaster for Cannondale Corp. attended the recent BlogOn event in NYC. 

She was featured in an eWeek.com article which also mentioned McDonald's upcoming move into employee blogging.  Here is her quote:

"Like in the IT world, 'geek' is a good term in cycling. A lot of people take pride in their 'geekdom,' and this fact plays right into blogs," said Maurice. "Blogging allows us to communicate to our community in an authentic, real, passionate way. We can do that whenever and however we choose to do it."

Good to see Cannondale sending someone to this conference.  They've always positioned themselves as the most innovative bicycle company so I guess it makes sense that they're the most innovative marketers in the industry too.

Don't forget to use permalinks

Just a friendly reminder about linking to blog posts:  remember to always use the permalink when referring to a specific post.  What's a permalink?  It's a link that goes directly to the specific entry of a blog, instead of the blog's home page.

For instance here are links to:

This blog's home page

• http://just-riding-along.typepad.com

A permalink to a post on this blog

• http://just-riding-along.typepad.com...2005/08/the_interbike_q.html

Why is this important?
The problem with using the home page address is that blogs are frequently updated and content is constantly being pushed down the page.  So, if you use the home page link, your audience will click the link and see a bunch of content that has nothing to do with what they're hoping/expecting to read.  They may not take the time to scroll down and search for what they want...they'll probably just keep on surfing.

The good stuff's in the comments

Just FYI, the people that read and comment on this blog are smarter than I am.  My posts just get things started, but most of the time, the comments are where all the action is.  So, if you're not reading them you're really missing some great insights. 

Here's an excerpt from a recent comment by the Cannondale blogger that pretty much sums up what I've been trying to say for months now:

"To me, that’s what this is all about….being able to share cool information, excite, inform and get back opinions one way or another. This new way of corporate thinking is a hard sell, but I think I’m winning them over. In fact, we’ve recently made a major decision to start being much more open with our dearly held secrets here at Cannondale (you heard it here first!) not because we have to, but because in the end, we’ve got some great information that’s worth sharing, and it’s what our riders want from us. I like to think I had a lot to do with this recent change of heart and mindset here at Cannondale.

There’s no doubt that blogging is a very powerful tool… not just for us on the BradBlog and the RaceBlog but also as a tool for content management for our websites. We’re starting to incorporate the technology as a solution across the board world wide. It’s very exciting but will, I’m sure, take a while for people here to fully comprehend it and embrace in all its forms (especially those at the top)..."

Cannondale has always been a product innovator and it'd be great to see them lead the charge as a communication innovator as well.

Article on e-commerce doesn't mention blogs

For some reason I just received my August 15 issue of Bicycle Retailer and Industry News Magazine (BRAIN).  It must have gotten lost in the mail.  I still think it's crazy they don't have more content on their website, but I digress.

I read with interest a cover story titled: "Internet Sales, Marketing Continue to Blossom."  It was a good article but I was quite surprised to not see blogs mentioned in any way, shape or form...not even a passing reference.

Does anyone else think this is strange?   Haven't blogs had an affect on consumers' buying habits online? 

According to a Marketing Sherpa survey from October 2004, when people were asked where they go online first to "find out more about a product or service," 64% of them said a search engine.  Now, given that we all know how blogs are frequently among the top results for many search queries, I think this fact alone is testament to how blogs have affected e-commerce.

I know at least one webmaster from a major bike brand reads this blog.  I'm curious as to how much inbound traffic they get to various product pages from blogs.  I imagine it is more than a significant amount.

So which is it:  Does a large part of the bike industry still not fully understand this new medium?  Or are my glasses covered in blog fog, making it impossible to see the picture clearly?

The power of search revisited

Some of you might remember a previous post I made about the power of blogs in search engines.  My opinion is that search strength alone is reason enough for businesses to take blogs seriously.

To illustrate this I thought I'd point out  a recent search that led someone to my blog.

As you can see in the screenshot, when this person typed in "sram road components" into the MSN search engine, one of my posts from just last week was returned in the #1 slot.  Right above none other than SRAM.com.

And guess what?...I haven't done any special search engine marketing or paid a dime for advertising of any kind. 

Lucky for SRAM, I'm just a harmless industry geek and not a disgruntled customer with an axe to grind.

 

Old school vs. "neo" marketing

From the Creating Passionate Users blog, comes this great comparison of "old-school marketing" and what they call "neo-marketing".  Every marketing, PR, and sales person should print this out and stick it in their cubicle.  These are not just buzzwords and trends, they are the new reality.   

The larger, dominant brands in the bike industry that are still clinging to the old-school paradigm are at risk of slowly but surely losing market share.  And do I even have to mention that a well-executed company blog can achieve everything in the neo-marketing column? 

When you read through this, which brands come to mind?  Is your company still "old-school"?

Soma Fab buys ad on blog directory

Just noticed that Soma Fabrications is the first bike company to purchase ad space on this popular bike blog directory.  Currently, the "Bicycle Blogs" directory lists 168 blogs, making it the most comprehensive directory on the web (although a new one has recently sprouted up).

Is this the first ad buy from a bike industry manufacturer on a blog-related site?  If it is, kudos go to Soma for leading the charge.  This trend will continue as more of the industry realizes that blogs are reaching an ever-increasing number of their potential customers.

Interbike blogger meet-up

I wanted to have a blogging/tech panel discussion at this year's Interbike trade show...but they were booked up a long time ago.  So instead, I'd like to invite all bike industry bloggers to an informal meet-up in Vegas.  I'm not sure how structured it will be, but at the very least it will be a chance to put a face to a name, share a drink (or two), exchange ideas, and perhaps hatch our plans to take over the industry ;-).

I'd also like to extend the invitation to anyone who'd like to learn more about blogs.  If you're on the fence about this whole blogging thing, we'll help you get down on the right side.  Bring your questions, curiousities, and concerns and feel free to pick our brains clean. 

If you're interested, just stay tuned to this space for updates and more details.  Any questions or feedback, just leave a comment or drop me an email.

Kerkove suspended for forum comments

Wow.  This one is hard to believe.  Authors of PR textbooks, get ready to add to your "Bad PR Case Studies" chapter.

Stuart Dorland, founder of 24 Hours of Adrenaline, a race promotion company, has decided to suspend professional endurance racer Jeff Kerkove for one year.  The reason?  Jeff expressed his opinions about the high-price of Stuart's events in an MTBR forum.  Dorland, afraid Jeff's comments would hurt his company's image, engaged Jeff in series of personal emails that ended up in Jeff being suspended immediately...just days before the 24 hour world championships.  (Read more on Kerkove's blog).

Given what I've heard and read, this is a bad decision by Dorland. Kerkove is influential and respected in the endurance racing community.  Along with being one of the top racers in the country and a true evangelist for 24 hour racing, he has a popular blog, he's a shop mechanic, he's active in Internet forums and he's a race promoter.  Kerkove is the archetypal opinion leader, an influencer, a network hub, he's all the marketing buzzwords rolled up into one.  He is the LAST guy any company should alienate.

The painful irony for Dorland is that he suspended Kerkove out of fear that his comments would influence a lot of people...but now it's that same influence that will damage the brand and bottom line of Dorland's company.   Just read the posts to the MTBR thread...the dog-pile has already begun. 

Note to Dorland and others:

There is a new reality in the marketplace.  It's called a conversation and you don't own it any longer.  Your customers are not just passive recipients of your goods and services.  They have a voice that is more powerful than ever because of blogs, forums and the rise of consumer generated media.  You have the choice to either engage, respect and listen to your customers, or ignore them and treat them like dirt.  If you want to make money and be successful, I strongly recommend the former.

My advice to Dorland.  If you think your decision is justified, explain it to the community, but if you think you made a bad decision, it's not too late to change it.  If I were you I'd apologize to Jeff then send him a first class plane ticket to Worlds and buy him a few pints when he gets there.

Trek dealer show in the books

Wondering how Trek's dealer show went?  Here's what one attendee thought:

"Do we really need a 30 minute fashion show to introduce the '06 Nike line?

Klein......yeah, ummm.....there over there, somewhere in an alleyway all by themselves.......mumble.....couple a models......OKAY! Let's move on, shall we?"

Read more of "Guitar Ted's" report and see a bunch of photos on his blog.

 

Blogs cause Trek to backpedal on dealer show fees

Last week I reported that Trek didn't do a great job in communicating the fees for their dealer only show.  Their lack of disclosure about charging $200 bucks per head didn't sit well with at least one loyal dealer.

Now, I get word that because of a "stir on the Internet" Trek is changing their policy.

"It appears that because of this (chatter on the Web), Trek is working out an "amicable solution" for this years show attendees, but that there may be a policy change for future shows. As I understood the situation as of last Monday, Trek was going to charge $100.00 for any number of people from our shop over two. So, only $100.00 would cover everybody."

This is the first time I've heard of a major supplier changing its policy due to pressure from the blogosphere.  The bottom line is that blogs are giving more and more power to the voice of the little guys and even Trek, the world's biggest bike brand, must take this into account. 

My advice?  If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.

The Perfect Blog: outbound links

[This post is based on my idea of a perfect blog]

Blogs cannot be defined or generalized.  They run the gamut from emotional diaries of teenagers to corporate mouthpieces.  However, there are some key aspects of blogging that should be understood by anyone interested in developing a successful blog or integrating blog-style content on their existing site. 

Outbound links
Outbound links are key to a good blog.  Here are a few reasons why.

They add value to your readers by giving them more information.
By doing a bit of research to find good links, you are providing your readers with valuable insights.  If you point them to good information, they will be better at consuming yours and they will appreciate you more as a result.

In order to keep track of potentially useful links, I use del.icio.us.  This free program lets me "tag" links under certain topics and generally I just leave my account window open for quick access.  I'm sure you've got your own tricks, but the bottom line is to link well and link often.

They increase your strength in search engines.
Google and other engines tend to give more weight in search results to sites with a good number of outbound links.  I don't know the algorithm or anything, just trust me on this one.

The are important for networking with other blogs/sites.
When you link to another blog or site, that person will notice your site in their visitor statistics.  If they're curious (as they should be) they will clicked over to see  what you're all about...and voila!  you've just got another reader.

Watch how good bloggers link and learn to link intuitively.  For instance if I wanted to point out a new frame from from Specialized I wouldn't just put the link on "Specialized" I would link the entire fragment, "a new frame from Specialized."  This is more descriptive for your reader and also gives the link more weight for the target site (but that's another topic).

Thanks for reading, stay tuned for more good blogging tips (and bike industry stuff).

My idea of a perfect blog

Back in April, OregonLive.com asked me to do a bike blog that covered the Portland bike scene.  At first it was fun because I was just learning the ropes.  But as I delved more deeply into the blogging scene, researched blogs at length, and gained more blogging experience, I began to realize that the Bike Fun blog was lacking in many important ways.  I believed a Portland bike blog had vast potential but the Bike Fun blog - because of its limited functionality - was not allowing me to achieve it.  So on June 28th I left OregonLive.com and started BikePortland.org.  In a recent email, my former editor at OregonLive.com - perhaps wondering why I decided to leave - asked me this question; "what is your idea of the perfect blog?"  Here's my response.

The perfect blog should have...

• Open comments (easily moderated, edited, deleted by the author).
• Trackback links.
• A loyal following that leaves frequent comments.
• A cross-browser compatible design.
• Easy feed (RSS) sign-up buttons for major services (Bloglines, MyYahoo, MyMsn, etc...).
• Ability for visitors to sign up to email updates.
• Polls.
• Permalinks.
• Some sort of photo-sharing capability.
• Three column layout.
• Integrated search (not Google-based like this blog).
• Categories.
  
• Custom designed theme.
• Intuitive URLs.
• Posts with many outbound links.
• Well-written post titles.
• Proper posting etiquette, format and style.
• A well-defined niche topic and credible author.
• A tastefully integrated revenue stream (text ads, banners (no animation), merchandise, etc...)

If you're considering starting a blog, you might use this list as a starting point.  If you're already a blogger, feel free to add your ideas because I'm sure I've left some things out.  In the coming weeks, I'll take a closer look at some of these items.  I'll explain what they are and why I feel they're so vital to the success of a blog.

Voodoo edits Drunk Cyclist link

Last Wednesday I posted something about Voodoo Cycles' new blog.  In it, I questioned their decision to include a link to DrunkCyclist.com (Drunk Cyclist covers politics, bikes, and includes images of and links to pornography).

The post hit a nerve and started some constructive dialogue (even though I was forced to edit and delete some of the comments).

Just for the record I am a fan of Drunk Cyclist and I had no intention of telling Voodoo how to run their business.  I simply don't think it's a good idea for a bicycle supplier with U.S. and international distributors (what would they think about it?) and a leader in the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame, to include a link to a site that has such easily accessible porn.

Now, I notice Voodoo has added "warning, adult content" to the link.  I think this is a good compromise and it's great to see that Voodoo listens and takes quick action in response to feedback.

Bicycle industry media can't ignore blogs

Steve Rubel of Micropersuasion is one of the most respected observers of blogging trends and the media.  His recent post, "Big Media, It's Time to go All Blog" touches on a very similar idea to what I have presented on this blog in recent weeks.  That is: consumer expectations are changing and the longer the traditional media and businesses wait to adapt and change with them, the more they are at risk of becoming irrelevant and losing market share. 

Here is an excerpt from Steve's post:

"a new way of communicating is beginning to resonate with audiences. As blogging and other forms of consumer generated media surge, people will begin to expect the same tone of voice from all the sources they “consume.” What's more, they will also expect to have a say in what media covers and the ability to give transparent feedback. The Cluetrain is going to hit big media just as hard as it hits corporate communications...Social media is not an add-on. It's not a feature. It's a way of life that evolves journalism from monologue to dialogue.

I think publishers like Rodale (Bicycling, Mountain Bike), Inside Communications (VeloNews, Inside Tri), the NBDA (BRAIN), Challenge Publications (Roadie Int'l, Mountain Bike), and Hi-Torque (MTB Action) are sitting on a vast amount of untapped potential.  They should leverage their deep industry knowledge and talented staffs by adopting more blogging into their mix.

Why keep talented writers and journalists like Joe Lindsey, Dan Koeppel, Chris Lesser, and so on from their full potential?  Isn't their business (besides selling ads) to gain attention for their content?  Are these publishers afraid of blogs?...or do they just not understand how they work?  Do they think blogs are just an overhyped phenomenon that will go away?

Even Kryptonite -- whose business suffered millions of dollars in losses and whose brand suffered irreparable harm at the hands of bloggers and forums -- still does not have a blog.

The cycling media and industry needs to begin to take blogs seriously, both as a source of market research, and as a vital part of their marketing communications strategies.  It's not just a matter of their success as a business, it's a matter of the success of our industry as a whole.

Voodoo starts a blog

[update:  check out Voodoo's response to this post]

Just got a tip that Voodoo is blogging.  Good to see them enter the fray but I can't resist a few comments.

First, I really don't think it's a good move for a corporate blog by a known supplier to have a link to DrunkCyclist.com.  I'm a Big Jonny fan just like everyone else and I've actually gotten to know him better recently through a series of emails.  His site is full of good info and interesting links.  That being said, I just don't think it's a good idea to link directly to a site that is full of pornography.  Call me a prude, but doesn't seem to make good business sense. 

[Jonny, don't take this the wrong way, but I'm sure you understand where I'm coming from.  Feel free to call me out if necessary].

And second, I really hope they plan on including some outbound links.  Outbound links are absolutely key to the whole blogging idea.  They give your visitors more information, they help you connect with other bloggers and sites (because they'll see the referrals from your site in their visitor stats), and most importantly, Google really likes them (detailed explanation here) and will index your blog much higher.

Welcome Voodoo bloggers, look forward to riffing off your beats.

Donna Tocci stands up for Kryptonite

Almost a year after the crisis, Kryptonite's PR Manager Donna Tocci has re-engaged the blogosphere.  Being the responsible PR person she is, she is monitoring blogs for mention of her brand.  In doing so recently she came across the Naked Conversations blog.  They're writing a book about business blogging and their chapter titled, "Doing it Wrong" features many references to Kryptonite.

Tocci contacted them and several emails ensued.  The result is a very illuminating post from Naked Conversations.  I highly recommend looking through the dialogue in the comments...it's an amazing look at how a company deals directly with feedback (and it's not all good).

There is also a follow-up post that asks the questions:

1. Has Donna Tocci's comments changed your opinion of Kryptonite?  If so is it for the better or for worse?

2. If you had a bike would you buy a Kryptonite lock for it?

Again, be sure to read the comments by some very respected PR/blogging experts.

Interestingly enough, the same day I noticed the Naked Conversations post (I read that blog nearly every day), I received an email from Donna too.  We've been emailing back and forth and I will post something about our conversation in the next day or so.

bike Magazine time warp

Perusing the July issue of bike Magazine and I came across an article titled, "Pro Riders Race Into Cyberspace."  Initially I was excited, thinking I would find out about some pros that have started blogging.  But to my surprise the article mentioned just regular old websites. 

Haven't websites been around for years now?  Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with them; they're a great way to present brands and information.  It's just that blogs are much better for connecting with fans and I think they can do much more for the ROI of sponsors than traditional websites...that is, unless all sponsors want is a place to read a bio and look at pretty pictures of their athletes.

This quote could have been uttered 5 years ago:

"...if they (the fans) can't make it to the races, then they can e-mail us on our websites and talk to us...if you think about that and you consider the value you're supposed to offer your sponsor, then being on the web and reaching out to the public with your own site makes 100% sense."

What would really make sense is if more pro riders actually started blogging.  And I don't mean occassional "diary entries".  I mean frequent updates, open comments, outbound links...you know, actually participating in the conversation, instead of handing out electronic brochures.

To see a good example check out  Giant-sponsored rider Jeff Kerkove's blog.  He is creating amazing value for his sponsors by frequently updating his blog, providing photos and reports of events, and giving reviews/plugs of his sponsor's products.

The online habits and expectations of cycling fans have matured and changed and it's time riders and the industry change with them.  E-mail addresses posted on websites and anonymous contact forms are no longer enough.

Trek's dealer show

Veteran blogger and shop employee "Guitar Ted," is blogging about how Trek could have done a better job communicating the cost of admission to their upcoming dealer show.

"Our buyer at work noticed a short blurb buried down the list on the front page of Dexter, (Trek's dealer website) stating that for the Trek show, only TWO PEOPLE would be allowed admittance for free from each dealer. More than that would incur a $200.00 per head price tag!...I couldn't believe it...It's true unfortunately...If you're reading this, and planning on going to the Trek dealer only show, you'd better let your boss or manager know about this, as virtually no advance warning was given by Trek. It wasn't on the registration form, and it wasn't communicated to us by our rep, although he confirmed it when our buyer called him on it."

Guest Editorial in Bicycle Retailer Mag.

Just a reminder to make sure you read the guest editorial in the August 1 issue of Bicycle Retailer & Industry News Magazine (BRaIN).  The topic is blogging and it was written by yours truly.

It's not the greatest bit of writing I've ever done, but if it gets just a few more folks in this industry to start blogging, I'll be happy.

If you don't get the magazine, here's a link to the article on my web site.  (Unfortunately BRaIN doesn't release any of the content from their magazine on the web so I can't link to it directly).

Best analysis I've seen on life after Lance

There have been a ton of articles recently about what will happen to the bike industry after Lance stops racing.  In my opinion, the best analysis yet comes from blogger Richard Masoner.  He's put together a good sampling of links and quotes from industry insiders that gives a good assessment of the issue.

Salsa GM steps it up

There's a great post up over at the Salsa Blog by their GM, Jason Boucher.  I'm glad to see him use their blog to deal with a real issue and I respect the fact that Jason put his feelings on the table for everyone to see.  In my opinion, this is what blogging is all about...adding a human voice to a brand.

Posts about race and travel reports are great but if you want your blog to really get noticed and create interest from visitors, you have to give them something they can sink their teeth into.

So Jason, why not take the next step and allow your visitors to comment?  A blog without comments is like racing a bike with one leg.  You're limiting the potential of the medium and missing out on a great way to connect with your Salsa loving visitors.

Cannondale blogs

Cannondale has launched two corporate blogs;  The Brad Blog and the Cannondale Race Blog.  They're both powered by a content management/corporate blogging platform from iUpload.

The Brad Blog has been around for several months and I'm excited to have finally stumbled across it.  "Brad" is doing some great things and it's an excellent example of how a corporate blog can help build community and establish brand credibility.  The blog has a cool photo upload utility and an "Ask Brad" section, which is just a post followed by comments and responses.  It even has a bit of opinion and ranting going on which is great to see on a corporate blog from such a major player in the bike biz.

The Cannondale Race Blog is just getting off the ground and so far is just reporting on the Tour de France.  But I noticed this nifty post that lets visitors view the live biometric data of their sponsored rider,  Salvatore Commesso.

They've also set up RSS feeds for posts, photos, and for each individual category.

These two blogs are a great start, but now that Cannondale is officially a publisher, why not keep it going and start a blog for each niche they operate in?  I think they could do well with blogs for their cyclocross, touring, and tandem lines.

Looking for contributors

I'd like to extend an invitation to anyone out there in the bike industry who'd like to dip their toes in the blogging water and join me as a contributor to Just Riding Along.

It's been exciting to see this blog grow and I think some new perspectives could really help keep the momentum moving in the right direction. 

If you're interested, send me an email and I'll go into more detail.

Blogging Interbike

Just received my first, "I'll see you at Interbike" in an email.  I know it's hard to believe, but people are already starting to talk about The Big Show.

I've been to the show as an exhibitor rep several times, but this year I decided to send in my application for a "Working Media" badge and see what happens.  According to their requirements it looks like it should be no problem...but I'm still curious what their response will be.  I think it's interesting that the requirements didn't even mention the word "blog".  As far as I know, they've never granted a media pass to a blogger. 

I submitted the application (PDF) to the PR firm handling the show last week.   I'll let you know when/if the badge shows up.

Clif Bar starts a blog

Clif Bar has just launched a blog.  Can't tell if founder Gary Erickson will be posting, but I think it'd be cool if he did.  It will be interesting to see where they take this.  They obviously spent a lot of time thinking about the design before launching it.  Looks fully custom to me.

A few nitpicks:

• I couldn't find an RSS feed to subscribe to.
• I think it's best to post for a week or two before taking it live.  That way, the blog feels more active and actually has something of value for visitors instead of just a "welcome" post.

But all in all, it's great to see them jump into the fray.  Who's next?....

The truth about bike reviews

Tim over at Blue Collar MTB has let the cat out of the bag about bike reviews in magazines...or has he?  What is the truth about bike reviews in magazines? 

Here's an excerpt from Tim's post.

...over the last couple of months...I’ve run across a couple of bike reviews where the reviewer admitted to only taking the bike on a couple rides. I’ve heard rumors of different magazines getting paid to review a product...and other publications only reviewing products once the company has purchased advertising with them...

This was made clear to me recently when we were talking to a certain bike manufacturer about reviewing a bike for them and they would only allow us, at most, a month to review their bike. Unless I lived on this bike for that month there is no way we could give an honest review. So we turned them down. We’ve already had people tell us they have bought bikes based on our recommendation and the last thing we are going to do is compromise that trust just because some company says “that’s not how other people do it.”

I don't have a ton of knowledge about this  because I've only worked with one bike brand and reviews weren't a part of the plan.  But, I have thought about this issue and I'd love to know more about how it all works.  Are bike magazines being paid to review bikes?  I know advertising plays a part, but to what extent?  Whose responsibility is it to ensure objectivity and honesty in the review process?  The magazine editors?  The manufacturers?  The PR/marketing people?  The readers?

Comments worth reading

Just FYI, the posts of a blog aren't the only place to find good information.  Check out the comments to a few recent posts.

I've had one of the editors at BRaIN Magazine and the editor of Dirt Rag Magazine chime in with some good, honest thought and opinions.  Nothing like a little open dialogue on the issues.

• Bike ads go too far
• Michael Browne on blogs (11 comments so far)

Michael Browne on blogs

Michael Browne (editor of Dirt Rag Magazine) and I have been talking blogs lately.  In one of our emails, he wrote:

"blogging is making truth more apparent...who knows why it happened with bikes before it happened with politics." 

Yeah, where's the White House Blog when you need it?

Study: Journalists turn to blogs

[via micropersuasion]

A new study has found that a majority (51%) of journalists are looking to blogs for story ideas and research.   Clickz has the full story.

Here's an excerpt from their post:

Weblogs seem poised to wield a greater influence over journalists -- and therefore over the stories they disseminate via the mainstream media -- in the coming year. Sixty-eight percent of respondents believe that blogs will become a more popular tool for corporations seeking to inform consumers.

With The Tour fast approaching there will be hundreds of journalists surfing the web for cycling-related story ideas and facts.  With blogs being so search-friendly, I'm sure they'll be bumping into them much more than standard websites.  Will they bump into yours?

Blogs can aid with Product Development

Posted by Tim Jackson:

As a Product Manager trying to rebuild a brand and increase the product offerings, it can be very hard to get feedback in a timely fashion to support your ideas or correct the mistakes in your thinking before it costs you a lot of money. Unless you are blogging that is.

With my brand, for example, there are a lot of things I have been trying to do and new products I have been wanting to add and/or refine. I could spend thousands of dollars to work with a Consultant to evaluate things and it would take months to do. Well, seeing as to how I don't have the money or the time for that process, my blog has proven to be a valuable tool in what I am trying to do.

Currently, my blog is working to help with the development of a line of bikes designed for women. Not only am I using the blog for this, by asking the question directly of my readers and by utilizing one of the many free poll hosts, but I have also gone to one of the many women's discussion forums and posed the question there as well. I intend to go after more feedback, but the return on the investment of time has already proven invaluable to my efforts.

Blogging in BRaIN

Blogging made the front page of the June 15 BRaIN Magazine.  The story, "Companies Learn to Blog the Bikeosphere" was written by Chris Lesser and featured a few bike bloggers including myself, Tim "Masi Guy" Jackson, Tram Line, and Surly.

It's great to see BRaIN spreading the word about blogs to more folks in the industry and Chris did a great job of explaining what they're all about. 

As for my quote, I think the first part came out sort of strange, so here's an explanation.
First, the quote:

"Think of how many sales guys love working in the industry and just love their jobs.  Right now, what's the avenue for them to convey their enthusiasm?  It's Interbike, it's meeting people at Sea Otter,  it's a couple days of the year."

The explanation:

This industry runs on passion.  Most people aren't in it to get rich, they just love bikes and they love what they're doing.  I think blogs are a great way to convey that passion to more people; whether you're a product manager, a brand manager, a shop owner, a CEO, garage innovator, whatever.  Blogs can be like a year-round trade show conversation; a virtual trade show booth for you to show your customers what you're all about, convey your brand's values, display your products, and most importantly, a place to connect.

 

Crooked Cog Network

Check out the just launched home base of the first bike blog network, Crooked Cog.

• Is this guy the future of bike media? 
• Will his network be a good place to put advertising dollars? 
• Will his ability to zero in on popular niches prove successful?

With the success of his Blue Collar MTB blog, I wouldn't bet against him.  Stay tuned for an interview with Crooked Cog's founder, Tim Grahl.

Yakima Road Warrior Tour needs a blog

Yakima is in the midst of a grassroots initiative to spread the word about their brand and connect with their customers.  The only thing missing is a blog.

A blog would be the perfect complement to their efforts. They could use it to promote upcoming stops on the tour, post pictures of events, share feedback from customers, and give people a behind-the-scenes look at what they're doing.

A blog would also allow Yakima's marketing department and PR company to show the higher ups what they're up to and justify the budget for this program in a tangible way.

(hat tip to BicycleRetailer.com)

An opportunity for Trek

(I have added explicit credit to Bicycle Retailer)

According to Bicycle Retailer, Trek has hired a new marketing guy.  I wonder if he's blog savvy? I'm sure he reads blogs, but does he really understand them? 

I hope he's at marketing meetings, pounding on the table, telling everyone how they should lead the way in the bike industry with a blogging plan. He should be telling his bosses that Trek could build some serious brand equity and momentum with bike enthusiasts by embracing the blogosphere and joining in a direct conversation with their dealers, reps, partners, customers, and prospects.

The "View from Waterloo" was a good try, but it's not a blog.

Will Trek take the lead and become the first mega-brand to jump into the blogosphere? And, if they do, will they do it right? Or will they miss the mark and cement even further their reputation as a big, corporate brand that's more concerned with taking over the world than connecting with their customers.   

Trek should identify 2 or 3 key employees and/or brand evangelists, get them up to speed on blogging and let them loose with a new Trek blog.

(Update: I just realized he's not their top marketing guy, so he doesn't yield a ton of influence...but he should still be advocating blogs).