Our book was released just over a year ago. Alan and I set up this blogsite to "put our money where our mouth is." In other words, if we were to promote the "dominance" of digital communities then we should also "engage" it, as through blogging.
We wanted this blogsite to be a place for us to follow up with topics and themes from the book, for us to muse about the changes in media, digital convergence, impact of social networking, user-generated content, sharing. To discuss search, blogging, dating, rating, TV-interactivity and smart-mobs. To cover multiplayer videogaming, virtual worlds, new market spaces. And considering our backgrounds, Alan would inevitably cover marketing, branding and advertising angles, while I would usually include discussion about fixed and mobile telecoms and the evolution on the internet.
A year ago we thought that we should try to get one or two postings per week to make sure this site remains active. We didn't know how important this site would become to us, professionally and personally, as a vehicle for expressing our passion to a changing media, technology, and to economic and social worlds. We couldn't anticipate how much would be happening, provoking us to write on an almost daily basis and generating over 400 postings in our first year. There is a vast amount of industry commentary, news announcements and analysis on this blogsite already. I would challenge you the reader to pick your current hot topic and write it into our search field here, and most likely you'll discover a blog posting or several that address that very subject.
It also could have been a monologue into a digital void. Alan and me writing essentially to each other, posting an online diary-type journal of our idle thoughts of the day. What is wonderfully inspiring to both of us, is that this site has generated a lot of visitors and traffic. By now we get over 200 individual visitors every day. There are 100 sites that connect directly to us. We have over 200 inbound links. That is very fulfilling to us. We know you are out there, reading our blog.
What is surprising is how well we are regarded in the blogosphere. Technorati currently tracks over 40 million blogsites (there were about 12 million when we started) and today our ranking was at 18,886. That is in the top percent, in fact top 1/20th of one percent of all blogsites. Truly amazing! Its not that we blog about Brittney Spears or Big Brother or the US politics etc, where heavy readership might be expected. In such a techie-nerdy area as digital convergence and marketing/branding and telecoms, we have managed to find a loyal readership. We feel a commitment to you.
Many who visit our site have also posted comments. Alan and I have made it our mission to reply to everybody who comments to us - again within our philosophy of the book, in "engaging" with our readership. Those comments have often provided us with links to fascinating websites helping us learn more, or added dimensions and insights to our postings that we had not considered, helping us understand more; or at times exposed areas where there yet is not consensus, and we have had honest debate within some of our readers, helping us see where honest industry disagreement still exists in the changing world.
And for all those who are "lurking" at our site, have a thought, and are not sure about posting - please do post a comment for us. If you have a question, perhaps we weren't quite clear, or you might have an observation, or don't agree with our point. Please do post the comment. That is what makes a blog come alive: more relevant, more engaging and interactive. We would warmly welcome any comments and we will reply to you.
Our activities here have helped spawn other areas for online digital community social networking. Alan and I helped found Forum Oxford and the Engagement Alliance. Both of our blog entries have appeared among the selected top writings in Carnival of the Mobilists, and both of us also feature on Wireless Watch.
Through direct contacts, conference speakerships, university lectures etc we have also met with many who regularly read our blog. And just as a reminder - yes, Alan and I are available for your event should you like a speaker on any of the topics at this site.
A few words on the book. This site is to celebrate the book Communities Dominate Brands. That book went into its second printing last autumn, was certified a bestseller by its publisher, and is now being translated into several languages. If you like what we talk about here at this blogsite, please consider buying the book. It has fantastic reviews from CEO level executives from various leading companies and was selected as one of the best marketing books of 2005 by the UK Chartered Institute of Marketing. As we keep hearing from readers, the book is fresh and relevant, as if cut from today's headlines. For all who bought the book and for all who posted kind words at Amazon, the Financial Times book pages, at a blogsite or other review etc, we thank you.
Obviously we are working on a follow-up. But no definite date yet. You will be the first to know at this blogsite. Thank you for being part of our community.
I speak for both of us in that more than anything else professionally, the readers of this blogsite do mean a great deal to us. We both start our web presence every day visiting this site to see what the other had blogged, and if we have received any comments. Your readership makes our blog writing worthwhile!
Tomi Ahonen & Alan Moore
Congrats guys.. keep up the great work..!!
Posted by: Lars | May 25, 2006 at 02:04 AM
wow! has it been one year already? My congratulations to you both! A fascinating year .. for a book .. whose time has come .. I think the real fun starts this year and onwards .. when we see communities are indeed dominating brands in every sector! rgds Ajit
Posted by: Ajit Jaokar | May 25, 2006 at 09:21 AM
Congratulations, guys!
Posted by: Jackie Danicki | May 25, 2006 at 10:06 AM
As Ajit said, brilliant whose time has come. I am a proud owner of an autographed copy and fortunate to have connected with you Alan.
Regards
Lalit Sarna
Posted by: Lalit Sarna | May 25, 2006 at 12:37 PM
Very happy birthday,
keep up the good work!
Asi.
Posted by: Asi | May 25, 2006 at 01:37 PM
This is book has really started something new in marketing and customer insight. I have seen a lot of marketing and management people during the last year who have really awaked when then I have heard about communities, social networks, and this book.
Very happy birthday!
Jouko
Posted by: Jouko Ahvenainen | May 25, 2006 at 02:04 PM
The concepts are terrific and SMLXL will have a long a fruitful life. Congratulations.....Now where do I send to get my free Tee Shirt and Cell Phone?
Posted by: ross | May 25, 2006 at 02:09 PM
Concepts are dazzling and well thoughtout. I am sure SMLXL will have a long string of birthdays. Congratulations. Now when to I get my free tee shirt and cell phone?
Posted by: ross | May 25, 2006 at 02:11 PM
It can't a year already! Judging by the feeling of how time flies, it feels a lot shorter. Judging by the impact you have had with the book, a lot longer. Look forward to the next ones...
Posted by: Adriana | May 25, 2006 at 02:15 PM
Happy birthday!
Posted by: Teja | May 25, 2006 at 09:06 PM
Can't believe it is a year. Many happy returns I hope!
Posted by: Mandy | May 25, 2006 at 10:23 PM
Thanks everybody! It has really been our pleasure.
Tomi :-)
Posted by: Tomi T Ahonen | May 25, 2006 at 11:29 PM
It is obvious that this book is a must-read for anyone interested in communities power.
We keep on reading you online and re-reading you offline.
Thankyou for your time and Happy anniversary from Madrid!
Posted by: Rafa Montoya | May 27, 2006 at 10:56 AM
Live by the book or die.
-Bob Helsinki
Posted by: jon granstrom | May 29, 2006 at 07:49 AM
Just want to say what a great blog you got here!I've been around for quite a lot of time, but finally decided to show my appreciation of your work!
Posted by: angle | December 02, 2010 at 01:20 AM
Congratulations.....Now where do I send to get my free Tee Sh've been around for quite a lot of time, but finally decided to show my appreciation of your work!irt and Cell Phone?
Posted by: Alexander McQueen Accessories | July 27, 2011 at 10:02 AM
グランビルアイランドのゴールドフロアに韓国の民主主義人民共和国に北朝鮮最高人民会議の常任委員会はさらに、伝統的な朝鮮·中国友好と友好関係を強化し、さらなる対外経済関係の発展を拡大するために経済特区 "判決"を指定するグランビルアイランド（Granville Island）経済特区開発計画の承認、金床の決断を下した "と経済を開発するために外国投資を誘致するため、他のポートや産業分野で積極的になるようにこの機会を利用。
Posted by: ノースフェイス | February 17, 2012 at 05:43 AM
津の4町を含む全羅経済貿易地帯では、男性のパイオニアは、まだ中国吉林省琿春市に隣接して豆満江です。吉林省、中国、行くためにツアーグループとの毎日の延辺朝鮮族自治州。
Posted by: ノースフェイス | February 17, 2012 at 05:45 AM
阿部さんは「亡くなった父から『拡幅するかもしれない』と聞いていたが、なぜ今なのか。拡幅されれば、別の場所で仮店舗を探さなければならない」と嘆く。同商店街によると、商店街の約２０店舗のうち、約８割が営業再開にこぎ着けたが、阿部さんと同じ事情を抱えているという。
Posted by: グッチ | February 27, 2012 at 03:09 AM