Fuel Dog Compliment

Fuel Dog posted about my newest gig, which is to create a blog for a consumer show.  As they noted, I've been highly skeptical about third-party blogging for shows. 

My skepticism has to do with "voice".  I just think that the best business blogs have a singular voice - that of someone involved with the product or service in a decision-making role.  And peering into their "blogging soul" is what makes the reading compelling. 

Case in point:  You don't read Alan Meckler because of his analysis.  You read Alan Meckler because he's Alan Meckler.

That said, I think Expophile does a nice job.  Some solid reporting and fact-checking and they're there every single day, which these days is more than I can say for myself (now on day 15 of the respiratory infection that won't go quit).

Then again, Expophile isn't linked to a show.  So as far as I'm concerned, the jury is still out on whether third-party blogs will help show managers.  Maybe FuelDog will prove me wrong.

It looks like this new blog I'm creating will be going head to head with one of Jason Calacanis' Weblogs, Inc. properties.  Calacanis' has a network of more than 70 blogs across a wide spectrum of topics, allowing him to attract significant ad revenues.

And while Calacanis' blog strategy appears to be successful (so far), I'm hoping that creating a new blog attached to a specific show and the people behind the scenes at that show will provide a differently compelling story than what Gadling is currently providing.

We'll see.