Sunday, November 18, 2007

Module 5: Conclusion

-C()ncLuS!0N-

1. How did actively participating in online research and journalism through blogging affect you?
Since engaging myself in this project I have learned a tremendous amount of information about blogs. I can now provide input as to what and how they are used and which methods of blogging seem to be the most effective. In my spare time I have even started to research blogs on some popular subjects I am interested in.

2. Do you feel this project was worthwhile as learning tool in this class? Why or why not?
I think this was a very worthwhile project for this class. It forced me to think outside the box, make assertion a topic I was not very familiar with, as well as gather research that I never knew existed.

3. Looking back on your ratings and your research, what is your final thesis statement? Did it change from your initial statement?
My final thisis statement did not change, however there was a lot of good rebutle in the blogs of my fellow students.

Module 2: The Business Blog

Blogging for Business
How useful are blogs as a form of entrepreneurial promotion?
lets find out!

Entrepreneurial blog:
-http://canentrepreneur.blogspot.com/
The entrepreneurial blog I found comes from Rick Spence, former editor and publisher of PROFIT Magazine. In addition to writing a weekly column on small business in the Financial Post, Spence speaks to groups about being an entrepreneur and surviving in the business world.

Discussion on use of blogging as an effective business promo.
-http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/05_18/b3931001_mz001.htm
-http://danbricklin.com/log/businessblogging.htm
The first link about the use of blogging comes from an article written in BusinessWeek. The article discusses brief pros of blogging and gives some of example of business owners who have profited by the use of blogs.

Questions to Consider

-What other options would an entreprneur have to market themselves to their audience?
Other than through the use of traditional means of advertising(print, online, word of mouth) enterpreneurs do not have much of a window in which to market to a potential audience.

-What things can a blog do for an entrepreneur that these other means of self-promotion can not?
Blogging allows the consumer or the audeince to be more engaged. When readers can respond without the commentary from market analysts and other people involved in big business it helps the entrepreneur to network and increase sales.

- Do you feel blogs are an effective alternative to these methods? Why or why not?
Yes, I do think that blogging is an effective means of promoting goods and or services as an entrepreneur and as a business owner. I think it is just another method of reaching out to your current audience and maybe attracting a new audience as well. It often simplifies technical concepts and allows the reader to feel more "in tune" with a business or a company; hence the saying "People buy from people they like and trust."

This is rated a 5... as it supports my original theisis.