Business Blog Advice

Remember when people used to call the Internet a fad? “Oh, that Internet thing will never last. A bunch of connected computers … what’s the point?”

The same type of thing has happened with CEO blogs. A lot of folks “in the know” started out saying that CEO blogging would never take off, because CEOs aren’t the kinds of people who blog. On the other side of the fence, a lot of folks saw the communication potential of corporate blogs and urged CEOs to jump on board. And, of course, there were those early adopters — the CEOs who needed no invitation, and instead chose to jump in feet first.

CEO blogs are not new. Look at my post on the Birth of a CEO Blog and check out some of those dates. But CEO blogs have become much more popular in the last year or so, partly in response to the ongoing coverage I’ve captured for you below.

My favorite moment in CEO blog coverage? It came from USA Today writer Del Jones, who in 2005 said the following: “But despite all of the power and sway that awaits an early adopter, it’s going to take a brave CEO with thick skin to enter the blogosphere.” [You mean like these brave CEOs?]

Since that remark (and even long before it), a lot of people have said a lot of things about CEO blogging. And they continue to do so. But up until now, this commentary has never been compiled in a single source. That’s what I’ve tried to do below.

Here’s the ongoing evolution of CEO blog coverage. If it’s as interesting for you to read as it was for me to create, my time was well spent. Enjoy!

The Role of PR in CEO Blogs
(October 1, 2004)

The Blog Marketing Explosion
(October 5, 2004)

CEO Blog or Journal?
(October 18, 2004)

CEOs Refuse to Get Tangled Up In Messy Blogs
(May 10, 2005)

CEO Blogs and Why They Won’t Happen
(May 10, 2005)

Why CEOs Should Blog
(September 19, 2005)

Why CEOs Shouldn’t Blog
(September 19, 2005)

CEOs: Blog or Die
(March 17, 2005)

Should Executives Blog?
(January 31, 2006)

New York Times Encourages CEOs to Blog
March 8, 2006

Maybe Your CEO Shouldn’t Blog
(March 16, 2006)

CEOs and Blogging - Second Try
(March 18, 2006)

Most Popular CEO and Corporate Blogs - Any Good?
(July 22, 2006)

5 Good Reasons Not All CEOs Should Blog
(July 30, 2006)

Does Your CEO Blog?
(July 31, 2006)

CEO Blogging? Don’t Hold Your Breath
(July 31, 2006)

To Blog or Not to Blog - A CEO Question?
(August 1, 2006)

Is It Okay to Ghostwrite a CEO Blog?
(September 18, 2006)

Blogging and the Role of the CEO
(September 22, 2006)

Should Executives and CEOs Blog?
(September 25, 2006)

CEO Blogs Not Censored Yet
(November 10, 2006)

When Should a CEO Blog?
(February 22, 2007)

CEOs Should Blog
(March 9, 2007)

That seems like an appropriate way to end the list.

What Did I Miss?
Did I miss something noteworthy? A good article or commentary on the evolution of CEO blogs? Just drop me a comment below, and I’ll add it to the list. After all, this is our list … not mine.

~Brandon