Honorary #socialjewels Twitter panelist Margaret Halpin, marketer for MMA International, posed the following to me in an email exchange last week:
To blog or not to blog, that is the question. Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of creating quality content, or to take arms against a sea of mediocre blog posts and by opposing end the added SEO optimization.
Halpin then launched into an argument in favor of jewelers taking up their trusty keyboards and becoming one with the blogosphere. (You can see her response in the September 2012 issue of JCK.)
She wasn’t the only one who had blogging on the brain. Barbara Palumbo emailed me a couple of days before I hosted a #socialjewels Twitter panel to discuss whether or not blogging was in a jeweler’s best interest. In her opinion, blogging is especially important to an e-tailer because if their clientele is savvy enough to buy online, then they’re likely blog readers as well. She also feels that blogging connects people in a more substantial way than other forms of online content. One of the highlights of blogging she says is “knowing that someone may/will walk away from reading it with any type of emotion. Emotions are what affect life.”
So jewelers adopting a blog on their website seems like a no brainer, right? Some of the other #socialjewels tweeters weren’t so sure.
Here are the top tweets from our discussion last week. If you want to weigh in on the issue, reply in the comment section, email dford@jckonline.com, or tweet @danielfford with the hashtag #socialjewels.
Most of you either have a personal or professional blog. In general, what do you get out of blogging?
@danielfforda. 1 Being able to be me – the person NOT known as a jewelry writer and editor.
— Peggy Jo Donahue (@peggyjodonahue) July 18, 2012
@danielfford Q1) I had a diary when I was a kid. Personal blogging has a similar feel to me. I’d “post” pics & thoughts to express myself.
— Daniel Gordon (@DanGordon) July 18, 2012
@danielfford Q1 #socialjewels I’m late but I love the interaction of blogging. I’ve gotten great new design ideas from readers…
— WendyBrandes (@WendyBrandes) July 18, 2012
@danielfford what’s blogging? And it’s a way to hone skills, develop interest and sharpen ones own pencil #socialjewels
— Michael Schechter (@MSchechter) July 18, 2012
What content do you like reading in a blog in general?
@danielfford A2: I prefer humor or light info.I like to keep news from news sources.
— Don Greig (@FocusBMI) July 18, 2012
@danielfford geeky stuff and apparently old irrelevant jewelry stuff 🙂 #socialjewels
— Michael Schechter (@MSchechter) July 18, 2012
@MSchechter @danielfford #socialjewels Definition of a good writer: someone who writes so compellingly that you read despite yourself…
— Peggy Jo Donahue (@peggyjodonahue) July 18, 2012
How often do you visit your favorite blogs?
@danielfford A3: When I’m alerted to a post having gone up. Sometimes daily. Sometimes once a week. It depends on the writer #socialjewels
— Barbara Palumbo (@BPalumbo21) July 18, 2012
@danielfford Q3) I don’t visit blogs. My blogs are served to me (thru RSS, that is). Google Reader is now my daily newspaper. #socialjewels
— Daniel Gordon (@DanGordon) July 18, 2012
How important is a blog for a jeweler, designer, or manufacturer’s website?
@danielfford it is important. Jewelry industry is still behind on all their social medias. So it’s about time they explore new avenues.
— 47thStreetQueen (@47thStreetQueen) July 18, 2012
@danielfford I’m struggling with this one. I think it’s helpful, but I know we haven’t found the right recipe for it #socialjewels
— Michael Schechter (@MSchechter) July 18, 2012
@danielfford Q4 I think a blog is most important to a designer who is communicating an aesthetic than a manufacturer #socialjewels
— WendyBrandes (@WendyBrandes) July 18, 2012
@danielfford q4: I think it used to be but today there’s so many out there. I do think all forms of connecting with clients is good
— Classic Creations (@CCJewellers) July 18, 2012
@danielfford Q4: A blog is absolutely indispensable for a jeweler. Drives traffic and dramatically increases Google presence. #socialjewels
— Don Greig (@FocusBMI) July 18, 2012
@danielfford Q4) very. a blog tells a story. It’s one of the most powerful self publishing tools you have to share who & what you represent.
— Daniel Gordon (@DanGordon) July 18, 2012
@danielfford #socialjewels Only important if the business keeps it up and makes it relevant to his/her customers
— Peggy Jo Donahue (@peggyjodonahue) July 18, 2012
Should the tone be more personal or professional? Or a mix of both?
@danielfford q5: Depends on your business, we are a family business and we offer personalized service. A mix of both is good! #socialjewels
— Classic Creations (@CCJewellers) July 18, 2012
@danielfford Q5 #socialjewels I think blogs are best with a personal tone. Who needs to read a bunch of corporate-speak press releases?
— WendyBrandes (@WendyBrandes) July 18, 2012
@danielfford @hanelly purely personal will wither on the vine. Have a voice or it’s an act of SEO, not blogging #socialjewels
— Michael Schechter (@MSchechter) July 18, 2012
@danielfford @hanelly A5: Both but more perfessional than profersonal. Personal should come first even if its an industry blog #socialjewels
— Barbara Palumbo (@BPalumbo21) July 18, 2012
@peggyjodonahue @danielfford “Profersonal” – great term – be personal but not sterile — keep it warm but professional. #socialjewels
— Don Greig (@FocusBMI) July 18, 2012
What are some of your favorite jewelry industry blogs? And favorite blogs in general?
@danielfford Ryan O’Connell @ThoughtCatalog and I’m also partial to @vika22 Off the Chain (insert own brownie points)
— Barbara Palumbo (@BPalumbo21) July 18, 2012
@danielfford the usual suspects, Jewelry Whore and Gem Gossip when they were a bit more active. HOFs Tumblr was pretty good #socialjewels
— Michael Schechter (@MSchechter) July 18, 2012
@danielfford A6) @JCKMagazine blogs @gemgossip, @TheJewelleryEd, @JewelryNewsNet just to name a few. #socialjewels
— Daniel Gordon (@DanGordon) July 18, 2012
What is the one piece of advice you’d give someone in the jewelry industry starting a blog today?
@danielfford A7: The same advice I gave to our resident blogger: DON’T BE BORING. People want to be entertained while learning #socialjewels
— Barbara Palumbo (@BPalumbo21) July 18, 2012
@danielfford A7: make sure you use the proper plugins and optimize for Google.Learn about keywords and utilize to max SEO. #socialjewels
— Don Greig (@FocusBMI) July 18, 2012
@danielfford don’t. And plan ahead. It’s really exciting at first, but if all you have is your keywords you will burn out #socialjewels
— Michael Schechter (@MSchechter) July 18, 2012
@danielfford #socialjewelsIf you truly can’t write well–get some help. There are way too many bad writers cluttering up our lives.
— Peggy Jo Donahue (@peggyjodonahue) July 18, 2012
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