“Now, the Web is enabling the market to converse again, as people tell one another the truth about products and companies and their own desires.”
~The Cluetrain Manifesto
Blogging is quite an underrated tool in Pakistan. Although there is a pool of bloggers in every niche but still people think they are good for nothing.
According to Robert Scoble in Naked Conversations, blogging has the potential to change the world. It’s going to be a valuable tool in future. The companies who don’t blog are missing the best medium to build their target audience and customer relationship.
The book starts from examples of the Microsoft blogger who was fired from the company for being too transparent about the company culture. And that’s what the “Naked Conversations” mean.
If you’re thinking this book is a conversation between the nude guys then you shouldn’t pick it up at all. It highlights the power of being honest in your opinions. If you show the world the true side of everything, you can win the people’s trust in you. But if you only try to be nice in your blog, you’ll end up nowhere.
The book is best for thinkers and bloggers who are interested in blogging but don’t know the ‘Why’ of blogging. It starts from the thorough understanding of the term ‘blog,’ take you to the examples of the successful bloggers and includes the tips and tricks of blogging. It also covers the dark side of blogging and tells you how to write smart if you’re hired for a company. A product or business is nothing without blogging.
If your audience doesn’t know what you’re doing and how much your product is beneficial they would never fall for it. Here blogging comes as a saviour. It opens everything in detail and makes the customers understand your business. And once you’re successful in building your audience trust, you open great opportunities for yourself or your company.
Naked Conversations is a complete package for everyone who wants to write on the Internet but hesitates to start. Also, for those who are sceptical about the journey and don’t want to jump into the bandwagon because they think there’s no benefit of it.
Other than the importance of the blogosphere, the book also deals how to blog in a crisis, how to deal with negative comments and criticism. If people are blaming you for your opinion then how important it’s to show up and deal with the comments. The book is divided into three sections; What’s Happening, Blogging Wrong & Right, The Big Picture.
The first section will take you deep into the why and what of the blogosphere. The terms that are most used and their meaning with examples. The second section is the sum of tips and techniques on how to make the most of blogging, how to know the impact of your blogs and how not to get dooced. While the last section will show you the big picture that’s how blogging will evolve in the future and how technology will shape it. It also highlights the importance of podcasting, giveaways and video blogging.
The book is written after a conversation with popular bloggers, research on the companies and the impact of blogging in the past. It took nine months in the process.
Since the book was published in 2006, you’ll find a lot of outdated examples and websites which aren’t applicable today. But you’ll be clear about the core objective of this book. If the term ‘blogosphere’ attracts you then I’d recommend reading this book to gain knowledge before you start.
If you have read it already, let me know your reviews in the comments below.
I prefer books and diaries more than phones and Facebook. Soulfully connected to Pakistan. And I passionately believe that I can change the world through blogging.
Blogging costs 62% less than traditional marketing and is a wonderful tool to increase your social visibility and send your business sky rocketing. Naked Conversations sounds like just the book I need right now. Thank you for such a detailed review!