CEOs: To Blog or Not to Blog

Last week, Seth Godin suggests that CEO blogs are a bad idea. More would probably agree with him rather than not, but I can't help but feel that this attitude feeds the fear factor around the directness, authenticity and honesty that make blogs such a fabulous medium for communicating with customers and other key influencers.

Godin claims that "If you can't be at least four of the five things listed above, please don't bother."

I disagree. The number of people reading blogs are increasing and people are starving for compelling news from compelling people.

The smart CEOs will jump on this bandwagon now and use their blog to create a brand around their company and its products/services. Like Robert Scoble continues to do so well, its inevitable that they will also create a brand around their name. If this isn't smart marketing, I don't know what is. It's a good idea for local politicians to get smart about blogging earlier rather than later as well.

There are others who share my sentiment. There's also a great read on the RSS Enterprise blog today on why should a CEO blog. It points readers to the CEO Bloggers Club, which believe it or not, has an international audience.

Blogs do not need to have millions of readers or links to be successful. And it isn't necessary for people to blog every day. Blog when you have something compelling to say and people will come back for more.

My vote: Two Thumbs Up. And another piece of advice: The CEOs I work with are incredibly passionate about their company and products/services. Why show that only in the boardroom? Wouldn't it be great that wonderful raw and authentic asset was visible to the community you care the most about - your customers?