We are still not quite sure if our Alternative Energy Blog is worth the effort, but we seem to have launched just as the phrase is leaping out from every news stand, with the Washington Post and The Economist both leading with the topic. I’ve no doubt that this is a really booming area.

I’m finding the subject interesting - and learning loads as I go along. It feels good to be writing about a topical news subject, with a mass of material. I don’t have to hunt for stories. But the economics of a blog are a bit airy-fairy. If it does well in Google, it could become a valuable property that somebody might want to buy - but that is going to take a while. In the meantime, it’s hard to earn enough ad revenues to pay somebody else to write it. You need to get several thousand visitors a day to make anything like real money. Still, with clicks at about 20 cents + a pop in alternative energy, it’s easier than some subjects to make some pennies. If it does well, there may be some value in credibility. We’ll see. For the minute, it’s a bit of a whim.

Shel on the FIR Podcast notes how the new venture that he and others are involved in (Crayon) has had a warm reception from the blogosphere, including “competitors”. This is one of the rather nice things about social media. We all recognise that we have a common interest in each others’ success - (though we can’t help crowing when the big boys f-up). The more that businesses experience the benefits of transparent and frank conversations with their employees, business partners, and customers, the more likely they are to understand and want blogs, podcasts, etc in general.

It’s also a tribute to the way Shel and Neville have built up a network of online contacts who feel well disposed to them. This store of goodwill is invaluable. Blogging is such a great networking tool. I do believe that a podcast is, if anything, even more powerful than a blog, because people really feel that they know you when they hear your voice regularly. Of course a blog is a great companion to a podcast.

P.S. Matthew and I see ourselves as a nascent media company that does consultancy to fund ourselves in the meantime. Recently we were told on good authority that we have the UK’s second most listened to indie podcast (storynory). I have no means of confirming that 2nd biggest claim, but it’s nice that we are thereabouts. More humbly, if anyone, including Crayon, would like some top audio production skills, including mixing and editing packages and documentaries, not to mention working with actors (both of which most podcasters are not too comfortable with), then we are at your service.

Edelman has broken its deafening silence on the Wal-Mart fiasco. Their top blogger, the much estimed Steve Rubel, says he had nothing to to with it. His boss, Richard Edelman, has finally apologised, which is the right thing to do, but would have been done much better by doing it much sooner.

He graciously says Edelman takes 100% responsibility - i.e. let nobody blame the client (which is the first rule of PR).

Some interesting comments on Neville Hobson’s postabout the whole affair.

Here’s a lovely new blog that we helped to set up. It’s called Quick Indian Cooking and is written by Mallika Basu, who works in public relations, and also happens to be a great cook. Mallika’s idea is that real Indian cooking can be quick, simple and tasty. In fact, simple is often best. I’ll be trying out some of her recipies, but I’m not sure that I’ll follow her tip about wearing a shower-cap while cooking to keep the smells out of the hair. Mallika, here’s my tip. It helps to be bald.

When we first launched Blog Relations, about a year ago, quite a few people said something like, “Who would want to read a corporate blog? It would just be full of corporate bullshit.”

Well I don’t think anyone is going to accuse our blogging experiment with Exbiblio as being full of bull. The latest post is about an employee whom, I was told in that lovely American way, had been “terminated”. I think it was more a parting by mutual consent, as it turns out. The ideas of the employee and the company clearly weren’t a good fit. I think he comes across well in the interview, and I hope that the piece helps him find an employer whose ideas are more aligned with his own.