Comments on: Where Did All the CEO Bloggers Go?

By: Jeff Johnson

Jeff Johnson — Wed, 19 May 2010 04:31:09 +0000

I think the question is really much more a question of what online activites are these same CEOs involved in now? As businesses clamor to Facebook and LinkedIn as important new community building tools, these CEOs may have just switched platforms. I’ve noticed the same thing in my e-newsletter marketing practice – while the technology is a bit older, it’s about keeping it fresh and engaging for the target market. The minute you let it go stale…you might as well say goodbye to that online format and jump to the next.

By: Shaz

Shaz — Tue, 11 May 2010 02:22:01 +0000

You explain it well Stephan.

But I wonder if all the CEO you mentioned above stop blogging because they think blogging was’t attractive and profitable anymore?

Like you said, since “blog” isn’t Word of the Year anymore.

By: relationshipsellingbuffs

relationshipsellingbuffs — Mon, 03 May 2010 04:11:38 +0000

I totally agree with Graham. I didn’t realize the statistics were that staggering but it doesn’t surprise me. I don’t think it is so much the CEO Bloggers disappeared as I do think the novelty wears off and maintaining a blog with good, fresh content takes a lot of work and time; the latter of which most CEO’s just dont’ have much.

By: Andy - FirstFound Manchester

Andy - FirstFound Manchester — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 14:31:24 +0000

“1.In blogging terms, CEOs are not much different to the rest of us. Almost all blogs that get started are then abandoned within 30 days.”

Is that true? I’ve seen similar figures, but never a definitive answer. Not saying it isn’t, but it’s something that I’d be interested to read more about.

By: Rick Noel of eBiz ROI, Inc.

Rick Noel of eBiz ROI, Inc. — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 16:02:45 +0000

The point about patience for results is a good one. The importance and priority of a CEO blog depends on your industry. If you are in the Interactive Media business, it seems that a CEO blog is a relevant platform to get your voice, message and Brand out there. My previous boss, Jarvis Coffin, the CEO of Burst Media, posts nearly every day on the Burst Media Blog. As a CEO of eBiz ROI, a start-up Internet Marketing Service provider, I see the value. Though in the 5% of active blogs, I like many, need to be more disciplined in my blogging.

By: Jon Payne

Jon Payne — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 15:52:15 +0000

Stephan – I think its just the big-boys that are abandoning their blogs. Take a look at the INC 5000 CEOs instead of Fortune 500. Here’s one just started up a few months ago by a fast-growing IT services firm on the INC 5000 list: http://blog.dataprise.com

By: Jon

Jon — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 12:53:11 +0000

I agree, a blog should be an insight into someone’s ideas/thoughts on a topic that others will find interesting.

Corporate blogs and polished CEO blogs as you put it wouldn’t fall into that category.

Has blogging been victim of its own success and popularity?

By: Adrian Swinscoe

Adrian Swinscoe — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 12:28:10 +0000

Hi Stephan,
I wonder if CEOs that just stop blogging once they have started actually measure or have thought about the brand damage that it causes amongst their customers. Similarly, CEOs that announce blogs and don’t blog themselves show signs of not being authentic. This could have damaging effects too.

Smacks of just being a fad with them but they don’t seem to measure the downside of stopping.

If they can’t anymore because of M&A legal reasons then why not say so. I’m sure everyone will understand and respect that.

Adrian

By: Tony Hsieh - CEO Zappos.com

Tony Hsieh - CEO Zappos.com — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 12:48:46 +0000

Thanks for the post, Stephan. Instead of writing (longer) blog posts, I’ve found that Twitter has been much easier for me to keep up with, and I try to send out at least one tweet every single day:

http://twitter.com/zappos

By: Graham Jones - Internet Psychologist

Graham Jones - Internet Psychologist — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 11:47:17 +0000

In blogging terms, CEOs are not much different to the rest of us. Almost all blogs that get started are then abandoned within 30 days. Less than 5% of blogs which have been created are actually active. So it is no surprise that CEOs have also largely given up.

But there could be another reason; CEOs tend to have a personality type which is “go getting”, action oriented and results focused. The problem with blogging is it is a “slow burn”. Take a look at the truly successful blogs online and most of them didn’t really become great until they had been around for a a couple of years. The results oriented CEO wants results this quarter. When they don’t see them, they give up and move on to something else that could possibly achieve results for them.

Perhaps we need a new breed of CEOs these days – those whose personality is more suited to the gradual achievement of results, rather than the make money now, kind. All of the financially successful blogs that I know about are ones that are run by people who are not focused on “results now”.