1. Copyblogger, by Brian Clark: Holding the number-one spot for the second year running, this site excels at teaching the art of writing.
2. Freelance Writing Jobs, by Deborah Ng: For writers seeking new work, this site is your sole destination and maintains a top spot in our contest from last year.
3. The Renegade Writer, by Linda Formichelli and Dianna Burell: Are you a freelance journalist looking for inspiration? Look no further.
4. Web Content Writer Tips, by James Chartrand and Harrison McLeod: With a focus on making more money as a writer, this blog is full of helpful how-to articles.
5. Web Writing Info, by Courtney Ramirez: This excellent blog looks at social networking and emerging web-based opportunities for writers.
6. The Golden Pencil, by Anne Wayman: Wayman, a second-year winner, examines how to go for the gold as a freelance writer.
7. Catalystblogger, by Jennifer Williamson: Williamson writes about the pains and trials writers face.
8. Freelance Parent, by Lorna Doone Brewer and Tamara Berry: Two moms provide excellent perspective on writing with a dash of parenting.
9. Write from Home, by Amy Derby: Derby provides fresh commentary and advice on writing.
10. Copywriter Underground, by Tom Chandler: This site, a second-year winner, provides regular doses of inspiration for copywriters

    Poynter Online - New Media Bilbliography

Broader Reach: 3 X Comms (not just a linkfarm…)

1. Commentary on news (and links for more info)
2. Communication on other events, multimedia, ideas and opinion
3. Community and platform for others to voice

Targeting a demographic/interest group

I think all online media sites should have and need both a point of difference and a very clear value proposition so visitors know exactly what is gained by paying regular visits to the site. need to give this a bit more thought…

If advertising, make it endemic (e.g. a site about health that fiteness & health providers want to advertise on etc)

Where does this leave me? Need to give this a bit more thought…

Very much beyond Blogs…

• nzgirl.co.nz
• whateverlife.com

Few other things to think about too in a blogging business model (Disclaimer: I don’t proclaim to -at this point in time - have taken all factors below into consideration)

1. The value proposition of what is offered to the market;
2. The target customer segments addressed by the value proposition;
3. The communication and distribution channels to reach customers and offer the value proposition;
4. The relationships established with customers;
5. The core capacities needed to make the business model possible;
6. The configuration of activities to implement the business model;
7. The partners and their motivations of coming together to make a business model happen;
8. The revenue streams generated by the business model constituting the revenue model;
9. The cost structure resulting of the business model.

Moore’s Lore on the Blogging and Business models… summed up rather well.. (in 2005, I think we have moved on - examples anyone?)

“I think the key to answering this question of a blog business model is to look at what’s working now.The most exciting economic impacts of the blogosphere are in politics, where real money has been raised and distributed. The problem is that, except for MoveOn.Org, few have developed into real, ongoing, coherent scaled businesses. Scaled traffic, yes. Scaled community, yes. Organized giving, yes. Celebrity for those involved? Yes. But, again with the exception of Moveon, we’re talking about one-man bands.”

Some Intellectual Harvard Horsepower for Thought:

• Best Practices of Global Innovators
• Innovation through Global Collaboration

I learnt all I knew for my school research projects through yellow paged encyclopaedias and microfiche if I was really digging deep. No Wikipedia.. Googling it.. Or going for the expert opinion on the blog of a dedicated, passionate Joe Bloggs.

I haven’t had my ten year school reunion yet, and the blog is probably still a toddler (foetus) in the stage of its lifespan. Stirrings started in 1993, the term web log, was coined in 97, first tool to build your own web log in 1999.. a blip ago in the scheme of things! See the blog history in timeline form here

Blogs have now also made an impact in business as well as personal use, allowing large (and small) corporates have two way conversations in a more real time way.
Read Times Online - Top 50 Business Blogs Here

Best Business Blogs: Readers Strike Back!

Read ComputerWorld - IBM adds tools to extend Web2.0 to business world

and also on this topic - Social network sites give businesses ideas for new collaboration

Read Salt Lake Tribune - Blog about Work - At your own risk!

Read NewsObserver - Bloggers can go from anonymity to notoriety in an instant ..

1. Media/Entertainment blogs - not affiliated with any major media company.

www.perezhilton.com
http://publishing2.com
www.thefourthestate.com
www.jossip.com
www.iwantmedia.com
www.poynter.org/romenesko

Read - “Next Big Things” (Mike Walsh)

Read - “Google Spy” The Browser (Slate)

2. Media/Entertainment Blogs - Affiliated with a major media company.

The NZ Herald “The Blonde at the bar” So. Bad. (Fairfax)
Wall Street Journal “The informed reader” (Dow Jones)
The New York Times “The Opinionator” I’m not a subscriber so can’t see it, does that not defeat the purpose of a blog? (NewsCorp)
The Guardian
commentisfree
The Guardian Editors Blog

While some of these media co blogs are great (Disclaimer #1- previous comment does not extend to blonde at the bar blog), it just seems to me that those blogs free from the conglomerate purse strings seem to know a hell of a lot more about what is going on in their particular area of expertise, probably because they are following and contributing to their area because they actually are passionate about it. Not for a paycheck.Disclaimer #2 - Blog author does not claim to be in said loop.