Business is something pretty close to my heart considering I run my own. Freelance is always the lower end of business of course, I don’t have the nightmares that are staff and so on (part of the reason I like it rather than being a manager). 9rules has a great business community if you are looking for a range of business blogs and information. This week in the business community I noted a couple of entries that really got me wanting to respond.
The first of these was the post from Business logs ‘Money buys lots of things including objective feedback for b5media’. I think most people know by now my reasons for choosing 9rules as a blog network and part of that was the way they work and the people behind it’s ability to express themselves coherently and with integrity. There has always historically been so-called rivalry between b5 and 9rules, that really needs to be put to aside to look at this.
B5 media basically got VC funding of $2 (the figure is being disputed) and this is something that grates a little with me. I did have a minor woot moment at business acknowledging blogging netowrks and don’t think there isn’t a slight pat on the back deserved – thing is I’m not sure if it should be a slap or pat. In the Uk funding is shall we say less thrown about like it’s christmas and it’s snow. I don’t know if anyone deserves ever that money, but it’s the issues having investors creates that I personally think would have a negative effect on a business. Someone buys into your business they want something so you better have a solid model that you ensure stays the same, otherwise quickly it becomes a very different beast. My other point would be that any blogging network is it’s members in part. Yes, there are the network workers behind and in-front of the scenes, but what is a blogging network without good quality blogs? So, how many of these blogs are getting a slice of this investment pie? How many of them are seeing rewards in some way for being members? These are crucial bits to me. Mike writes an interesting article and puts forward some interesting points including the business model of b5 and other’s views on it. Whether it is a real deal or a funding model of any other form is disputable, the key here is with such risk investment (and it is a risky one if you think about it) there has to be something in it for the investors.
The other post I would like to comment about is from Simple and Loveable entitled ‘Are your business cars as effective as they could be’. I can’t tell you the saga that has been my business cards, mainly because it will possibly bore you to death. It’s the one area of my business I always feel gets a ‘could do better’ report card. I’ve hummed and muttered over so many different combinations it is not funny anymore. This is a great article though and made some points clear to me. It revolves around ‘quick entry’ points’ which we all apply to websites, but how many of us apply to our business cards? I am definitely going to follow through the simple steps Nat outlines here when I come to do my next batch. The fog around my business cards has lifted slightly thanks to this great post.
That’s blog club for the business community then. With such a range of blogs from entrepreneur, advertising to user experience and customer management – you can find information on anything to do and around business. I’m not going to list them here but I’d recommend checking them all out, you don’t have to own a business as this information is useful for anyone.
This at least some very good questions you have put forward, but I also think that many of the things going over at b5 are going to be things that you are not going to see initially but over time will pay off in tremendous ways. The hiring of staff, the upgrading of systems, and the investment in the bloggers themselves. I am sure there is more to it that the lead people over at b5 are still working out the logistics of, but as a new blogger there myself, I’m excited to be a part of the community that b5 is. I’m excited that b5 isn’t going to leave me floundering as a new blogger. I’m thrilled about the new niches that are being created by passionate people, and I am also happy to have you guys over here at 9rules as the competition. I respect you guys and hope for the best for you.
Hmmm I wouldn’t say ‘competition’ myself. I certainly don’t see myself as competition for anyone just because I am in 9rules. Blogs in networks are yes linked to the network but surely we are competition just by being in that network… all sounds a bit gladatorial to me. I guess when it comes down to it having bloggers that are happy is they key and if you are William then it’s obviously working for you. I do get the vague feeling blog wars is brewing again by some of the comments I’ve seen about the place and on that post. Ultimately, all a blogger can do is decide what works for them.