Terry Lane works for Buzzin’ Media, a blogging network created early in 2008. It currently has 30 blogs covering entertainment, business and sport, with a few personal blogs too.
Here, Lane tells us about some of the blogs, how PR’s can work with Buzzin’ Media and what’s he’d love to be doing in five years time.
You and your blog:
Buzzin’ Media have 30 blogs – tell us about them:
Buzzin’ Media currently has 30 blogs divided into 4 vertical channels – Business, Entertainment, Sport and Personal.
It was always intended for the blog network to be UK-centric where applicable. Therefore our business news blogs err towards UK business news, and our football blogs general include posts about UK, mainly English football. However, our audience is more or less a 50-50% split between UK & USA. We have recently entered into a new partnership with a mainland Europe advertising company which we hope will increase a mainland Europe readership, too.
Who reads them and how many of them are there?
The network was created earlier this year and has increased its readership month on month. In September the network received over 60,000 unique visitors. The network was created to attract male and female readership of all adult age groups.
What makes you different from other blogs in your sector?
We are very concerned with design, usability and accessibility as much as content. Many blogs are not aesthetically pleasing, and still more are hard to use. We have had many positive comments from readers, advertisers and others on how professional our blogs are; and we continue to redesign and further develop our blogs, to improve the readers experience.
Why do you blog?
We have a team of bloggers who enjoy writing about certain subjects. But ultimately, it is a business.
What are your favourite blogs?
Outside of our own network, ProBlogger.com is very well written and of interest to me on a business level. I also enjoy WhoAteAllThePies.com which is a great football blog. Of the blogs in our own network, TonyKlinger.co.uk is always great to read.
About PRs:
Do you work closely with PRs or do you keep them at arm’s length?
A judgement is made once a PR company contacts us. There is no hard and fast rule, though as a business owner I prefer to do business with people I like and trust.
Do you have any advice for PRs?
Be honest & friendly, don’t act like a salesman. We all have jobs to do.
What information/input from PRs is most useful to you?
News is much more readily available, and pr companies more aware of online advertising than when I launched the first internet only UK music magazine in 1997. Then I was explaining what a website was as much as what Freebase.com was all about. We can now get news from many online sources but working together with PR companies is good for receiving/reviewing products and running free competitions, which is mutually beneficial.
What’s the best starting point for a PR who wants to tell you about their client?
PR companies can either call 01634 322 721 and ask to speak to me directly or complete the contact form on www.BuzzinMedia.co.uk
When is the best time for PRs to contact you & what is your deadline for contributions?
We work some strange hours but Monday-Friday 9-5 is good. One of the many advantages of online media is the ability to change a deadline at short notice.
About you:
Do you have a day job?
Buzzin’ Media is owned by Buzzin’ Fly Limited – www.BuzzinFly.co.uk, a website & internet marketing company. Together, they are my day job.
A phrase I use far too often is…
… and can I have one for myself?
I’d like to have a go at…
Skydiving.
Where do you hope to be in five year’s time?
On a very sunny golf course.
[lnk|http://www.featuresexec.com/publications/publisher.php?pubid=22525&hilight=Buzzin%27+Media|_self|Buzzin’ Media]
[img|jpg|Terry Lane of Buzzin’ Media]