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Technical Blogging Becoming Popular? |
March 10, 2006 |
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Posted by Joe Lewis at March 10, 2006 11:11 AM |
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Blogging is becoming increasingly popular in technical circles as a way to post information and communicate ideas. This information and these ideas might be technical in nature, but blog postings can also be about industry happenings and activities. All of these subjects have been demonstrated here at Powder And Bulk Dot Com.
What's Next
Print media is now venturing into the blogging arena. Take a look at the latest issue of InTech magazine. InTech is the print magazine for the ISA (Instrument Society of America) and they also have a website. In the February issue, the "perspectives from the editor" introduces their new weblog and promotes it as "a way to get a quick look at industry issues and events, offering insight and opinion on an immediate basis". Print media seems to be recognizing their audiences' bent towards the online world and blogging as a way to share information and ideas.
Powder And Bulk . Com led industry by introducing this weblog early in 2005. With much work by Powder And Bulk management, our moderator and bloggers that have contributed their ideas, opinions and information, I think it has been shown what a valuable commodity a weblog can be in the life of an Engineer.
The InTech editor unfortunately expresses an opinion that "we won't get caught up in marketing hype, but rather, give insight to industry issues". I understand the desire and goal of not producing advertorial documents, however, solutions take the form of applying product to application problems and needs. Therefore, disclosing the source of a solution is important to the practicing engineer so that they may learn and apply it. In addition, where do you think some of the bloggers come from? Some come from the supplier end of the business and, of course, present their solutions as a part of their blogging.
Have We Done Enough
The Powder And Bulk weblog and its contributing bloggers have spent an untold amount of time and effort to bring information and insight on issues of interest to those in the business of processing, moving and storing powders and bulk solids. We have sought out and provided information on problems/solutions and tools and information to help the powder and bulk solids professional engineer. It is compensation enough to know that we have assisted others in some way, brought enlightenment and ideas and maybe even a little bit of controversy and entertainment into the daily lives of thousands of viewers of this weblog.
But, have we addressed things of importance to you? If not, tell us.... please! If we aren't staying on topic, then let us know. If we are hitting on the right things, great and let us know so we stay on topic. If we are getting too advertorial, let us know so we can change. We hope to hear from you.
Other Blogs
Here's another blog about a technical subject. Click here. This is about rubber products and the blog is sponsored and hosted by a supplier. It's an interesting approach, both to marketing of their company, products and services and an interesting source for some good general information about rubber products. Will powder and bulk equipment suppliers join the blogging world in a similar world? Perhaps. It's another way to communicate and has caught on in personal interaction and is catching on in industry.
Brussel Sprouts
I've enjoyed the blogs here at Powder And Bulk . Com over the last several months, I hope every reader has as well. I wish success to InTech and its editorial staff as it ventures into blogging. However, regarding Don Dunnington's most recent blog post and his comments about cooking and eating brussel sprouts..... I think I'll pass.
Joe Lewis
Vice President
Monitor Technologies LLC
jlewis@monitortech.com
www.monitortech.com
www.flexar.info





