TechnoMontreal, a para-public organization whose goal is to promote the greater Montreal area in technology, plans to open a multi-authored blog as soon as early next week. Currently, TechnoMontreal’s website publishes press releases, technology news from different business magazines, and news from its different members, in a very classical fashion.
What I found interesting here was the different reactions from the local blogging community. The TechnoMontreal team contacted known bloggers in marketing, technology and other related areas to contribute to the blog. Michel Leblanc, a internet marketing specialist, wrote that it didn’t make sense at all, as if TechnoMontreal wanted him to work for free. I know from other contacts that he isn’t the only blogger who had the same thoughts. Sylvain Carle wrote that if he blogged for another organization, then it must show him “what’s in it for me” before he considers contributing to the blog. Philippe Martin added to the discussions, mentionning conversations and what’s the essence of a blogger. (all links in french)
I have to say I find those reactions strange after they publicly launched a book inviting businesses to try blogs. I have met a few times Lyne Bouchard and Eric Kucharsky, and I have to say they would be the first in Montreal amongst “classic businesses” to try blogging; even if they have no previous experience, they are eager to try social media. If the first reaction of local bloggers is to criticize their move, let me tell you that no other business in Québec is never going to try blogging afterwards. I also think bloggers in Québec misunderestimate the power of classical media and the influence of organizations like TechnoMontreal. For instance, put together, the readership of all blogs in Québec is nothing compared to a “standard” business magazine like Les Affaires. Blogging at TechnoMontreal allows someone to reach decision makers which previously would never subscribe to a blog.
As for monetary compensation for bloggers, this is for me a minefield. By definition, a blogger is not a journalist, he voices publicly his opinions and doesn’t have the same restrictions and standards of quality as a journalist. Also, blogging takes a hell lot of a time and dedication, and no amount of money is ever going to be proportional to the “work” you are doing when blogging. Which won’t never hapen because blogging is not a business.
In conclusion, I will try TechnoMontreal’s initiative, even though that doesn’t mean I will be a regular contributor, and it doesn’t mean either I will do extra work. And yes, I agree their formula must be tweaked and improved upon.
Comments
Sylvain Carle September 06, 2007
This is because I know that blogging is hard work and you can not build a succefu blog without significant investments (mostly time and effort, it’s not a money issue as you say).
So just to make it clear, I think it’s a great idea to start a blog for any business, but I am certain that you need an insider, not just external help, the hardest part for any organisation is to get the “culture” of blogging, not just the tools or even content…
Fagstein September 06, 2007
And if I’m going to be blogging for a business, you’re damn right I expect to get paid. Why should I fork over quality work for free so they can profit off of it?
Journalists cost money, but it’s not astronomical. If you’re a large organization, you’re paying more for PR than you’d pay a journalist. And if you’re a small company, your staff should be able to handle the blogging themselves.
Blogging is work. It should be valued as such.
Michel Leblanc September 06, 2007
Heri September 06, 2007
Fagstein: what i am not comfortable with is that you voice your opinion on a blog. there is an expression in french which portrays this: “avoir le beurre et l’argent du beurre”. i am still asking questions about getting paid to blog. whereas if you are journalist, you will need to double-check facts, you have to go on the field, wether you like it or not, and you have to write everyday. A blogger doesn’t have to do all of this, and because of this “luxury” he gets, i am not sure how you would reward bloggers. Don’t misunderstand me, I value work as much as you do, all I am saying is that the economic model we have with bloggers right now doesn’t sound perfect for me.
Michel Leblanc: thanks for the comment, I understand your concerns. as I said, TechnoMontreal is a new organization in Montreal , they are learning and we should give them the opportunity to blog, even though their approach was not perfect.
also, other bloggers like Philippe Martin assumed you were writing about TechnoMontreal.
Anyway, I understand that you were treated as an “anonymous blogger” when they send you an email, instead of discussing and talking it with you directly. And I agree, they should have known better.
Michel Leblanc September 06, 2007
By the way, I do understand the power of traditional media since I have collaborated for a long time to LesAffaires and since I “freely” give numerous interviews to various types of electronic, radio waves and print media. My own blog gets me those interviews and I do not have to kiss anybody’s ass to do so. Another thing, Technomedia would not be the first Quebec “classic business” to blog. TD bank for instance, already blog and even podcast and La Bourse de Montréal and several other prominent “classic type of business” already blog. It makes me think of all those phony political party blogs that we had at the last election. If a corporation wants a blog, it should work hard to achieve its business goal. And it should put the effort, the sweat and the money to reach its goal. Another thing, I also know Lyne Bouchard and Eric Kucharsky and told them in their face that a “so called” collective blog was an idea that could not work. I told them that they should start blogging themselves, on a regular basis, and then maybe, they could attract attention and the participation of outside bloggers once they proved themselves. If they chose to suck up to bloggers to do their job for them, it is their choice and I certainly do not agree with it. Now, if you are looking for a wider audience for your content, I would certainly agree that this could potentially be a great opportunity. But then again, you’re a smart and witty blogger. They’ll get to you somehow anyway. You have been blogging for only a couple of months, be patient, your star is already shinning anyway and will glow even more in the near future. Now do not lecture me about giving back to the community. I do a hell of a lot of freebees to AMM, Interlogiq, HEC, Yulbiz, beggars on the street and in my own blog. I hope I still have the right to choose my endeavour and to whom and under what condition I give my free time and spirit. So if their offer has struck a chord within you, I am happy for them since you have great content, but I just happen to be a less cheaper date… Under those conditions anyway…
Fagstein September 06, 2007
Dave Forde - The Connector September 07, 2007
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Heri September 09, 2007
sorry for the delay
for me, it’s exaclty like you are doing with the AMM blog. also I would be blogging in french, and reaching people who previously didn’t have access to Montreal Tech Watch. Obviously, there are no short-term advantages, but like most of the thing I do (like this blog), it’s more on the long-term.
I would ask the same question to you: why do you blog at michelleblanc.com? you don’t have advertisements in your blog, nobody is paying you to blog, you spend hours every day to update it etc… obviously you write to build your profile, and prove your expertise. and it is exactly the same thing when you guest-blog at other blogs.
About the second part of your comment, it’s true. Touché. You are smart and obviously, you have more experience than I have about blogging. I might lose more than I gain with blogging at technoMontreal.
There are one difference though: you view it from a blogger’s perspective, or shall I say as a professionnal blogger, a blogging consultant, and an internet specialist. You get your revenues from that. Whereas my profile is an entrepreneur and a “technologist”. And as such, I view blogs as another channel to promote what I am doing, and the upcoming services we will launch. The more channels I have, the better.
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stephdau September 11, 2007
I tried to reach technomontreal.com at their webmaster address about the numerous WordPress errors displayed throughout their blog, but the address bounced back. I now tried info@. We’ll see.
Eric September 11, 2007
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