The Blog Marketing site has been up for a few weeks. On it, you can expect to find new information helping businesses deal with blogging, book excerpts, as well as occasional reviews and testimonials. The first 3 of these are now live. Each is done by someone who was involved in forming or working on the book in some way, so they’re likely a little biased (due to excitement, as I would be if I were reviewing it).

Either way, though, these are intelligent, objective and respected people in their fields, so they aren’t acting as shills.

Arieanna Foley’s was one of the best editors I’ve ever worked with (in my short career), and she helped the book more than anyone else who wasn’t paid. Her review is a great look into not only why a business blogging book is needed, but also why she’s so excited about the space.

Here’s an excerpt:

Jeremy has ridden the ups and downs of many who become fully involved in the Blogosphere. Ensight.org has acted as Jeremy’s sounding board, his place to vent, and his place to share insight and knowledge about the world and industry he is a part of. He has gained a strong readership by giving his blog a personal voice and story, and the same strong bonds are what make business blogs successful. It’s not just about facts and figures anymore. It’s about personality. Sharing. Involvement. And the story you tell. Jeremy exemplifies what blogging can do, and has much to tell in his personal story as well as in his book.

Yvonne DiVita was the Technical Editor on the book, but she’s also a frequent speaker, contributor, writer and trainer on the subject of business blogging. Her review is almost as good as reading the whole book. I love this excerpt:

First of all, it’s not a fad. Second of all, it’s not a fad. Third of all, it’s so not a fad.

Marc Orchant, who’s become a great personal friend over the last 8 months or so, agreed to write a review. Marc hasn’t read the whole book, but he and I have talked numerous times late at night while stressing about work we’re doing, and his input and solidness has been hugely helpful in this project. It wouldn’t have been anywhere near what it was without him, and his insight is precious to me. Here’s an excerpt from Marc’s review:

The missing link this maelstrom of blogging activity and interest has been a practical, plain-spoken guide to what it all really means to the world of business. Most businesses have yet to adopt to blogging and there’s a simple explanation why: they’re afraid. They’re afraid of doing it badly, doing it wrong, or doing it to the detriment of their brand. In Blog Marketing, Jeremy Wright presents a clear picture of what blogs are, how they’re built and maintained, and how they can create a dynamic interactive exchange between a company and its customers and prospects.

The writing of this first book has been life-changing for me in more ways than I can count. Here, then, is the full acknowledgements, because every person who helped deserves to be publicly acknowledged. If, for some reason, I’ve missed you, let me know as there’s still time to edit the book before it goes to press (and, obviously, I’m deeply sorry if I did miss you!).

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Thank you to my wife, Shannon, for being my refuge, encouragement, the love of my life and every reason I want to get up in the morning. When I’m not with you it feels like someone turned the sun off. Neil Salkind, my agent, for making me believe I could do a book, and for helping me live up to my potential. Will Elder, for being an inspiration in life and in death. I miss you, Will. Mitch Tulloch, for hooking me up with Studio B, the rockingest agency ever. < ?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Suw Charman, Neville Hobson, Darren Barefoot, Boris Mann, Roland Tanglao, Kris Krug, Lee Lefever, and any other blogger who ever believed in me, laughed with me, listened to me or linked to me. Sean Walberg, for opening my mind to writing a book. Neville Hobson, for helping out on the GM Blogs bit. Nick Wreden, for lending me his insight into PR and marketing. Michael Pusateri, for giving me all of his knowledge into the Disney blog situation. Shel & Robert, for motivating me to get this done on time! Arieanna Foley, for rocking it harder than anyone I’ve ever seen. Without you, this book wouldn’t be alive. Yvonne DiVita, for being a great technical editor, debater, and supporter. Margie McAneny, for being the reason I chose McGraw-Hill as the publisher, and for never giving me a reason to doubt that decision. Jon Watson, for helping with research. Steven Streight, for being a “streight shooter,” in spite of everything and everyone. Robert Scoble & Jeremy Zawodny, for inspiring me to start blogging all those years ago. Marc Orchant, for keeping me going in the middle of the night in a strange city with only two weeks to go until the book was due. Jacob Murphy, for never being surprised at anything I do. Evan & Alex, for being the best sons any dad could ever ask for. And, finally, to Joe Flood (www.joeflood.com), for writing a killer little narrative to go along with this little blogging book. Thanks for helping to make my dream a reality, Joe! And, finally, to Dave Taylor for not only doing a fantastic foreword, but for always looking for new ways to challenge old school bloggers into new and creative thinking.

Reviewers

Last but not least, thank you to all of the book reviewers, mid-point reviewers, community editors, business leaders, and bloggers who helped in making this book the labor of community that it is. Arieanna Foley, Dave Taylor, Devin Reams, Duncan Riley, Eric Coleman, Jake McKee, James Kendrick, Kevin Hamilton, Kevin Humphrey, Kynan Dent, Mack D. Male, Marc Orchant, Melissa Reinke, Michael Still, Neil Salkind, Patrick O’Keefe, Richard Murray, Tris Hussey, Lee Lefever, Neville Hobson, Jacob Murphy, Rick Turoczy, Rob Hyndman, Name w:st="on">Robert Jackson, Sarah Worsham, Scott Priestley, Shane Birley, Tim Slavin, Tyme White, Victoria Martin, Wayne Hurlbert, and anyone else who participated in this book in any way.

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Update: I somehow managed to forget Dave Taylor, the author of a fantastic forward, in the acknowledgements. That crappy oversight has been fixed below. Dave’s contributions to this book were huge, not only as a reviewer and forward writer, but also by challenging the status quo. He’s earning a well-deserved reputation for taking a different view on things that matter. Thanks for all the help Dave!