The program is backed by an editorial calendar and a roster of bloggers selected for their communication skills and ability to address different audience segments. I’ve spent some time over the last week judging the finalists in BtoB magazine’s annual social media awards. This is a great chance to take a snapshot of best practices in the field, and I was struck by this year’s entries in the corporate blog category. 27 of the PDF). It’s clear to me that the best B2B companies are taking their blogging to the next level. That’s another great idea. Holy cow! MORE >>

Cree Lighting blogger and former newspaper reporter Ginny Skalski. If you choose to hire a journalist as a corporate blogger, you’re in good company. Every single journalist-turned-corporate blogger I have met is happy to be out of the burning building that is mainstream media and into something with a manageable lifestyle and a boss who isn’t a screaming maniac. Marketers often ask how they can train engineers and technical people to blog, podcast and otherwise engage in deep online conversations with customers. My advice: don’t bother. What’s that going to cost you? MORE >>

And if you’re a blogger or editor who would like a review copy, just leave a comment here or drop me a line and I’ll be pleased to send you one. An idea I’ve been kicking around for a couple of years became a formal book project in January. Eleven months later,  Attack of the Customers  on sale on Amazon ! Now I’d like to ask for your support by liking the book on the Amazon page and registering your like on the book Facebook page. And if you can go the extra mile and plunk down $18.95, I think you’ll find it a pretty interesting read. MORE >>

As an established presence in a community with few other bloggers, Cahill is a big fish in a small pond. His advice to prospective b-to-b bloggers: “Be prepared to stick with it for a while; it takes a couple of years to build up your presence. I was privileged to moderate the BtoB magazine Social Media Awards Breakfast in New York this week. There I got a chance to meet some remarkable people who took chances on social marketing before it was fashionable and won. first noticed Jim Cahill’s blog four years ago, so it was a particular pleasure to meet him and hear his story. MORE >>

There’s also a Blogger’s Choice Award, whereby a randomly selected blogger who helps promote the program (like me) gets to choose an applicant to receive a $1,000 cash grant. There’s no song with this award either, but the blogger might hum a few bars for you. It’s tough raising nickels and dimes. In even the most prosperous times. One new course of action. That might get some traction. Is pitching nonprofits in rhymes. OK, so I didn’t miss my calling as a poet. But if you’re a nonprofit organization in the U.S., Just about anyone can write it, but it’s got to be original. MORE >>