http://stuartmease.disqus.com/enTue, 04 Apr 2006 06:40:04 -0000http://www.stuartmease.com/uncategorized/why-we-blog/#comment-1861580<p>David St. Lawrence over in Floyd, VA maintains a blog (<a href="http://ripples.typepad.com/ripples/)" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" title="http://ripples.typepad.com/ripples/)">http://ripples.typepad.com/ripples/)</a> and has begun to organize a Floyd Bloggers group that I think represents an interesting concept that you might consider for the Roanoke area. He's promoting the idea of blogging as a way for Floyd to reach out to entrepreneurial type folks who are interested in the sort of country life that Floyd is particularly suited for. You might consider executing a similar strategy for Roanoke. Perhaps recruiting new bloggers who live in Roanoke city, people who work I.T. jobs and live in the city, people who work financial jobs and live in the city, and so on. Inspire them to blog about their lives and how the city is largely a great place to live and so on. Then as you're recruiting them, buy a specific domain for the purpose of collecting these blogs together (suggestion: something like <a href="http://roanokeclicks.com" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" title="roanokeclicks.com">roanokeclicks.com</a> which is available). Start with blogs but continue with categories on the web site that appeal to your target market (health food stores, like a feature on Roanoke Co-Op). Interview young professionals who blog and put up bios. Make it easy for visitors to get to know the area through it's people. The more people can learn about Roanoke through it's people, the more enticing a trip to Roanoke will be. Spotlight upcoming events of interest, outdoor adventures and so on. If Roanoke is truly interested in headhunting this flavor of citizen then it has to get aggressive. Just some thoughts.</p><p>Sean</p>Sean PecorTue, 04 Apr 2006 06:40:04 -0000