The True Power of the Blog

by Brian Clark

If you’ve been reading Copyblogger for awhile, you know that I’m truly amazed at the power of blogs to gain exposure for a small business. While I’ve been producing this type of content online for over 8 years, the ability of something cool or important to spread via the interlinked conversation that social media allows for is quite a remarkable twist on Internet publishing and marketing.

But sometimes, something comes along that makes you realize that what we’re dealing with here has implications well beyond business, marketing, and money. We now have the tools to make a difference in all sorts of ways that used to be impossible for “regular” folks.

Prince Campbell, a guy who mostly talks about the business of new media at his blog Chartreuse (BETA), is doing just that. Last week, Campbell (who is a former resident of New Orleans), received a disturbing email from a contact still in the city. He published a redacted version of that email as a post entitled People have no idea how out of control things are down here.., and it caused quite a stir.

I know the content of that email gnawed at Prince all weekend, so yesterday he decided to put up $1,000 of his own money to send a couple of volunteers to New Orleans with a video camera to see if they could document some of the things alleged by that disturbing email. In short order, several volunteers stepped up, and The Blog Herald, The Blogging Times, Know More Media, and Andy Hagans have offered additional cash. New Orleans local Candice Quates will be making the proper introductions on the ground.

This is the kind of stuff that makes me believe that something is really changing this time. Not the empty promises of puffed up IPOs and greed that characterized Web 1.0.

Real stuff that matters.

Char, put me down for $250. And I hope everyone will be watching to see how this turns out. If this type of stuff is happening right here in the USA, I for one want to see it exposed and stopped.

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13 comments...

#1 Bryan Fleming → 08.01.06 at 12:04 pm

It’s amazing that things are still that out of control down there. You don’t hear about it on the media. I find that strange, but not suprising.

Looking forward to the videos.

- Bryan
http://www.BryanCFleming.com
#2 Diane Ensey → 08.01.06 at 2:11 pm

Good for you - and you are right. This is where the blogs as citizen journalism really hit the road (no pun intended). We have the power to pay attention to stories like this, see IF there is even a story, and present it without political/media filtering.
#3 Tammy → 08.01.06 at 2:13 pm

Brian - Thank you so much for posting this here… somehow this on Liz’s blog and just spent the last hour following links and blogs to learn more. My brother went down in March to help clean up an area and he brought back video that stopped me in my tracks. To realize that 9 months later so much chaos, debris and need was still there…

I think we assume because we aren’t there, it’s okay now. I have been talking about this very thing, just how powerful people can be with the reach of their blogs. I will be following this on my spot on the net too.

Tammy
#4 Marketing Basics » Blogs - Leveraging Our Power as a People → 08.01.06 at 3:06 pm

[…] There is a story unfolding in Louisiana that I don’t want people to dismiss because it’s important. We all know people see things through their own experiences. Truth can be a relative thing BUT…. Brian of Copyblogger wrote about what was going down at Chartreuse then I finally had time to see what Liz at Successful Blog. I realized that bloggers were coming together to find out what is really happening down there - post Katrina. […]
#5 Blog Marketing, Blog Promotion for Newbies » Blog Archive » The Search For Truth Sees A New Day → 08.01.06 at 5:42 pm

[…] Others writing on this include Liz, Brian, and Matt. […]
#6 Greg Kiernan → 08.01.06 at 11:03 pm

Its amazing to discover things are out of control still in the areas effected by Katrina. Its great to see that the power of blogging can get the word out!
#7 candice → 08.01.06 at 11:38 pm

You can link to my actual blog if you like.

And thanks for keeping on with all this, of course. I’m actually just taking our mystery journalists out for some drinks, Char has more contacts planned, too.
#8 Travel Trends & News Blog → 08.02.06 at 4:01 am

The True Power of the Blog …

How bloggers are trying to make a change in the drama that’s called the Kathrina Aftermath. This is the same city as described here …
#9 RichardHooper.net » Archive » There’s Power in the People’s Posts → 08.02.06 at 9:45 am

[…] Brian Clark’s post, “The True Power of the Blog” at CopyBlogger, brings a valid point across. Brian writes in reference to a post in Prince Campbell’s blog, “People have no idea how out of control things are down here..” […]
#10 Okdork.com → 08.03.06 at 12:48 am

Blog Traffic #4: Titles = Life or Death…

I wrote another post that had some hints of why a title is important. I don’t think it got the attention it deserved and was going to spend this post writing about how important titles are. While I was planning on doing this I found a site called…
#11 Maria Palma → 08.03.06 at 4:23 am

I’m glad that the truth is coming out. I feel blessed to be part of a media revolution where people can speak their minds and be read by millions of people. Blogs have changed my life and hopefully I can play a part in helping to change the lives of others…Great post!
#12 steve → 08.03.06 at 2:54 pm

yeah im the creator of myspace wristbands, which let me tell you are blowing up. anyways a blog does help and i use it less than i should, but myspace has helped me a tons in selling these wristbands. i love the internet. it has so much power.

http://www.officialmyspacebands.com
#13 Brian → 08.03.06 at 3:02 pm Copyblogger

Yeah dude, I’m like totally into, you know, selling things myself.

But I think you missed the point. I’ll leave your URL in there just for trying, though.