The Idea Man at Southwest : Weblog

The commercial benefits of blogging ::

Although this Commercial Appeal article talks about blogging as a tool for techie businesses, its primary subject, Justin Palmer of Encytemedia, makes clear that blogging's usefulness transcends that narrow category:

...it's the smaller businesses that really benefit.

"Blogs are about openness and communication," he said. "It puts you in direct contact with consumers and colleagues. It levels the playing field for small businesses and entrepreneurs because you talk directly to clients. If not for the blog, I wouldn't be able to do what I do."

Of course, since it confirms what I've written about before, I deem it correct!

My one caveat is they have a quote from an intellectual property lawyer stating:

"If you have a blog and you start linking to new sites, you have to ask yourself if you have a right to do that linking," said Field, an intellectual property lawyer with Memphis-based Bogatin Law Firm who has advised a number of businesses on Web-related projects.

In order to avoid violating someone's copyright, it's a good idea to have a linkage agreement in place, he advises.

Linkage agreement?  What the heck's that?  I never heard of needing permission to hyperlink to another's website.  In fact, if you're going to refer to someone else or their work, it's good manners if not good law to let your reader decide for themself.  Of course, IANAL, and he is.

Postscript:   I did a google search on the terms "linkage agreement linking blog".  Guess what hit the top?  That's right:  the CA article mentioned at the top.  Doesn't mean it doesn't exist, but...