Reading blogs: learning from others in your domain

Many domain experts write articles or publish blogs under their name. Some use blogs to promote their books and professional work. Some are an extension of their position, in the style of a CEO blog (university professors, company executives). I consider these bloggers the early adopters of the format into the traditional business and academic domains. These are excellent resources to read and study as references and inspiration. Well researched blog strategy books are yet to come. This situation of early adopter examples (primary resources) and yet-to-come published guides is not unique to blogging. Most new web and technology products are in this state at their early life. If you are interested in blogging I suggest: start reading, taking notes, keeping tabs, analyze and formulate some rules you can follow. This work will help you understand the use and ability of writing a blog. The technical books will help you get a feel of the technology.

Selecting what to read is the first step in understanding blogs. The biggest problem here is what to read, there are just too many blogs which are not useful. Just like selecting books, pick the writing which is right for you. Some use author selection, academic writers in business speak to business people. Some use reviews, the Internet offers a few resources for authoritative and popular writers. If you want to learn from specific domain experts, be careful of the top blog listings of general or simply popular reviewers. The web is full of "top 50" and "top 100" blogs lists. But these may not be what you want to read. Top blogs are usually rated by the number of readers or a rating system like Technorati, Business Week editors, or Time Magazine's top 25 blogs. But this is probably not what you need to write a business blog and promote your message. Try domain experts in you area. Search in the blog indexes for key words which represent your own domain. Blogs are the big shift from broadcasting and populism to narrow casting and specialization. I will go more into this as the ideas of business blogging develop into a coherent description here.

My blogging favorites which are not at all related to the business of blogging come from business and media. These are known domain experts (some call them thought leaders). Here is a short list:

Clayton Christensen [blog]: authored "The Innovator's Dilemma" one of the most insightful little books on how technology and ideas either get stuck or move forward. More of Spencer Johnson for thinking executive (Johnson wrote "Who Moved My Cheese").

Steve McConnell [blog]: is an early Microsoft developer and manager. Authoring some of the most useful books in programming he developed a set of ideas for the software industry. McConnell's "Code Complete (2nd ed.)" is one of the most comprehensive volumes on programming and managing software. Take a look at all his books and his blog if you want to learn about software, the engine fueling our technology world.

Jakob Nielsen [blog]: is the "pre"-blogging blogger. His "alert box" newsletter articles are a testament for what steady serious writing can do for an idustry and a career (for over 13 years). Focusing on his usability message his articles are samples of ongoing work first published in "Designing Web Usability".

Don Norman [blog]: Nielsen's partner and the proselytizer of complexity (as opposed to Nielsen's simplicity). His book "Emotional Design: Why We Love (or Hate) Everyday Things". Besides being the "complex" counterpoint to Jakob Nielsen, Don Norman's writing is a fascinating exploration into the world of real-practical-imaginative product design. While the Internet has been the world of virtual design product design and all the implications of use seem to have takes a back seat. Than we are suddenly hit with the Nintendo Wii and Apple iPod and realize that there is still simple and creative innovation in the product design.

Upcoming Bloggers in Business

Jim Collins: Christopher Meyer: Set Godin: