Question for a Friday

Robert Stadler's Question Mark Installation at St. Paul Church in Paris via Dom Dada on flicr

I have questions and lots of them....all the time. I was probably one of those kids that drove my parents wild with questions like "why don't we know anyone that's been killed by a killer bee?" or "Why don't McDonald's milkshakes ever melt?".

Well, here's one that has got me wondering lately. Have any of you received requests from PR firms asking that you visit a new blog? I received one request and thought to myself...."well...that's one way of doing it. Maybe I should have done that". Then I received a request from another PR firm for another new blog. So now I'm thinking, is this a growing trend? Are new blogs building a following through the PR firms rather than the old fashioned way? I have checked out the blogs, and they are nicely done, and the bloggers seem to love the design world as much as I do. They are stylish and informed.

I love PR Firms. They send me lots of very cool information that I might not know about otherwise. In fact, I would never have known about these blogs without them.....because...ahem....the bloggers have not been to katiedid.

Oh....another small thing..... I did notice there were no link lists on the blogs, so it seems no reciprocality. So I am not sure quite what to make of it. Blogging to me has been a building of a community, sharing ideas and supporting each other.

How do you all feel about this? I know there has been much written about blog etiquette and how to drive readership to one's blog through commenting on other blogs, etc. The Skirted Roundtable gals had a great discussion about it HERE. Colour Me Happy wrote about it HERE.

It seems that having a PR company handle all of the preliminary "meet and greets" is one way to go. I am curious how you all feel about it?

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  Do you think it would be an effective way to gain readership for the new bloggers? Or might it just put people off?



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  Do you feel it will have any impact on the community feeling of a blog?



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  Do you think the lack of reciprocal links will have an impact for these new bloggers?



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  Do you think we will be seeing more of this? Is it a growing trend?



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  Do you think that since there are so many new design blogs out there, it is a way to get the ball rolling more quickly?

See....lots of questions..... I know.... I'll stop now.

I would love to hear your thoughts on all of the pros and cons!

There is no question that I wish you a Happy Weekend!