Do you use blogs and how do you use them?

[MichaelCorfman]

Today the GPWA announced it now supports member blogs on the GPWA website (see the announcement here: www.gpwa.org/forum/gpwa-now-offers-member-blogs-180612.html).

So I think this is a good time to ask about the use of blogs by members. Do you currently run a blog on your site or do you plan to start one? Do you blog on another site, and do you think you will blog on the GPWA website? Are their particular blogs you read on a regular basis? Do you ever post responses to blog entries?

Besides answering the poll question (please note it allows multiple responses), please share your personal experiences with blogs. If you blog, why do you do it, and are you happy with the results? If you read blogs kept by others tell us about them - their URL so we can look, what do you find of interest, and what keeps you coming back?

Michael

[GamTrak]

I purchased a new domain that will have a blog and I created a second blog here that I look forward to utilizing to the max.

[joeyl]

Read Blogs?
It makes no difference to me where content is written, or what it's written on is called, ie blog, website, forum or wiki. I read them all.

Why Blog?
Blogs are'nt really that useful for gambling webmasters to add to thier websites, if they carry on writing thier content the same as they do on static webpages, and refuse to link to relevant information, just because they're linking to competition, or scared of losing link juice..

GPWA Members Blogs.
Members blogs will be useful here. Members will write content, which helps here, and will use it like a social bookmark to link up thier content with, from a domain with a bit of juice.

Everyone's happy.

Do I Blog?
Yes, I post to Sandracer, after selling Gamblog. I started blogging years ago because I wanted to do something different, rather than compete with portals I frequented by building loads of portals. It's why I never started my own forum either. Also I need my free speech.

Since then, blogging has taken on bandwagon status and i'm looking for something different to do again

Good Blogs? (gambling only)
Midas Oracle (prediction markets) (Chris Masse)
Slipperytoad (wants to be a pro gambler)
Die Is Cast (general) (David G Schwartz)
HPG (casino & industry news) (Caruso)
Netbetblog (industry) (an economist)
Political Betting Blog (Mike Smithson)

& many others...

Cheers.

[LiveCasinoPartners]

I added wordpress to my sites for the recent "news and bonuses" section. In my experience the blog helps with time sensitive information. It's also a lot easier to make a post on this weekends bonuses at a particular casino than to make a new individual page for it.

I also feed the different blog posts to different parts of my site. That works well as well.

[T3ddyBlair]

I enjoy blogging as its loads of fun writing and getting as creative as you wish. blog posts don't always have to be so serious, they are a great way of getting whatever on your mind out and I must add that the bit I really enjoy is reading peoples thoughts and comment on the absolute rubbish iv published, LOL!

ohh and the Blogisphere is awesome!

[AK]

Ok here is my scoop why some use Blogs, Beside the Seo and easy article boosting there is a current loop hole and legal side that can help or hurt You with the current copyright and fair use law. I hope You find this info useful.

There is something called a "section 230" This is from an article from eff.org

What is this "Section 230" thing anyway?
Section 230 refers to Section 230 of Title 47 of the United States Code (47 USC § 230). It was passed as part of the much-maligned Communication Decency Act of 1996. Many aspects of the CDA were unconstitutional restrictions of freedom of speech (and, with EFF'S help, struck down by the Supreme Court), but this section survived and has been a valuable defense for Internet intermediaries ever since.

What protection does Section 230 provide?
Section 230 says that "No provider or user of an interactive computer service shall be treated as the publisher or speaker of any information provided by another information content provider." This federal law preempts any state laws to the contrary: "[n]o cause of action may be brought and no liability may be imposed under any State or local law that is inconsistent with this section." The courts have repeatedly rejected attempts to limit the reach of Section 230 to "traditional" Internet service providers, instead treating many diverse entities as "interactive computer service providers."

How does Section 230 apply to bloggers?
Bloggers can be both a provider and a user of interactive computer services. Bloggers are users when they create and edit blogs through a service provider, and they are providers to the extent that they allow third parties to add comments or other material to their blogs. Your readers' comments, entries written by guest bloggers, tips sent by email, and information provided to you through an RSS feed would all likely be considered information provided by another content provider. This would mean that you would not be held liable for defamatory statements contained in it. However, if you selected the third-party information yourself, no court has ruled whether this information would be considered "provided" to you. One court has limited Section 230 immunity to situations in which the originator "furnished it to the provider or user under circumstances in which a reasonable person...would conclude that the information was provided for publication on the Internet...."
So if you are actively going out and gathering data on your own, then republishing it on your blog, we cannot guarantee that Section 230 would shield you from liability. But we believe that Section 230 should cover information a blogger has selected from other blogs or elsewhere on the Internet, since the originator provided the information for publication to the world. However, no court has ruled on this.

is there anything Section 230 can't do?
Yes. It does not apply to federal criminal law, intellectual property law, and electronic communications privacy law.

So be aware there is some gray outlines in this law, and there is a chance your blog info could be swiped as fair play in this crazy global web. These are just some things to consider before using a blog.

[raphnix]

I have my own personal blogs and blogs with different niche for my websites. I use these blogs either to promote my other website and blogs or just post some thing I want to talk about with my online friends and community.

It helps to boost my traffic and my PR standing.

By the way, thanks for that useful legal issue AK. I'll take note of that.

[casinojack]

This is how I as an affiliate, got a lot of great keywords. I encourage everyone to keep 2 if you can, one on your site, and one on a different URL.

Also, make a couple autoblogs, news / aggregation type sites, and Google loves them. Here is my BASIC steps. Feel free to ask more details, but here is how I did it.

1. Wordpress (2.7 is sweet)
2. Plugins (List is missing
(Attached)
3. Promotion

So basically I did this

Register a domain that is Wp compatible
Get a nice theme
Install all widgets
Add some auto blog features for content (make sure you list source so no issues)
Assuming all is sexy add a banner. (Widget tool is good for this)
I then Ping the site to pingler.com or whatever
Publish feed(s) ( i have a rss submit software does a great job fast, but feedburner is a great start)
Top Blog (blog rating sites) submissions
The OnlyWire.com account for keeping the social bookmarks up ( all free stuff so far, expect the domain and hosting..there is more expensive solutions of course)

Thast my easy guide, fo r those looking to start. Is nice cuase I keep a blog being very active, Use the sticky feature for static content, and rock and roll.

[aksana]

I use blog on my own site, and I have a very good success with it. I hope I will find some time to start a blog on GPWA.

[Chips]

I have blogs on three of my sites plus a blogger site from Google. I regularly update the poker and casino blogs with new promotions, new slots games etc. They can be very powerful for fast indexing and getting the word out. (minutes actually).

I tend to blog in spurts, as I have not developed the discipline to do a blog daily as I used to. It is hard to find the time sometimes. I do keep a folder of blog topics and ideas so I can look for a topic in a flash.

[playbonuscasino1]

I have my own blogs set up . And i just love them. I post good content on them and visitors come to view the content in return some people clicks ads and i get money

[bc4u]

I've decided to focus on my site itself rather than the blog also - Maybe if I have more time one day then I'll go back and add to it! Right now, the actual site is the most important and never ending work needs to be done on it!

[bbonline]

When it comes to online business, blogging is one of the useful open source for promotion. You can actually put on every detail that you want on your blog. Others might also find time to create a blog for personal purpose, as they want to express and show something in public. That's how effective blogging is.

[taltsahi]

I think the era of blogs has ended...
less and less people use it and read it and move to the forums and community websites

[Nandakishore]

After going through this poll I decided to start a blog entry on GPWA.

[bbonline]

I think the era of blogs has ended...
less and less people use it and read it and move to the forums and community websites

Not actually what you think. Do you know that many webmasters used those blog hosting site just to create their own personalized page. Blogging has been a part of promotion not just by own personal thing.

[pgaming]

No plans on using blogs to time consuming plus would rather keep things simple. The content could be put to better use on site IMO.

I too believe the blog era has ended or will be. There is a abundance of alternative cutting edge technologies arriving everyday.

greek39

[XoomBingo]

We do use blogs and it is quite useful too. For one it is a nice way to interact with your existing/prospective customers and generates income too.

[anniina]

I mostly comment on other people's blogs. I don't have time for one of my own but I think it's a great way to get great content out there for those who have time for it (a blog that's rarely updated is not so credible in my eyes, so I don't want to have one unless I keep it updated and stuff...)

[Nandakishore]

a blog that's rarely updated is not so credible in my eyes, so I don't want to have one unless I keep it updated and stuff...

To the point! That's exactly why I don't have a blog, apart from the GPWA blog which I don't need to keep on updating. I can use it whenever I feel like.