Four 2013 Trends which make Overblog a Potential Game-Changer

Four 2013 Trends which make Overblog a Potential Game-Changer

I am a social media consultant, trainer and speaker who frequently participates in #BlogChat via Twitter on Sunday nights. It’s a vibrant community of smart ambitious people lead by Mack Collier, who is a great guy and one of America’s leading authorities on business blogging. Overblog sponsored #BlogChat during the month of September 2012 and I decided to check it out. I’m really glad I did.
In my first Overblog post, I explained that watching the video on Overblog.com told me that it is more than a typical blogging tool. Overblog offers an interesting approach where the user can produce content and bring in and display selected social feeds all in one place. This approach is a great idea which is supported by important social media trends.
Speak Directly to each Culture and Community
Each social site has its own unique culture. Users have different expectations for content on Twitter than on LinkedIn. Brands are learning that duplicating a message across multiple social sites is not effective and is not desirable to the audience. Some audience members will want to view your content across multiple sites and expect to see a unique message in each feed.
Overblog advantage: Overblog offers a single site where members of your audience who want to see your feed from different social networks can simply view your Overblog site.
The Visual Revolution
Visual content is shared most often and is more effective. Social sites are becoming more and more visual with larger displays of pictures and video.
Overblog Advantage: Overblog is very visual friendly displaying pictures and video in modern larger formats.
Compliance Friendly
Regulated industries are adopting social media tools in large numbers. Some industries, like financial services need to capture and record feeds from each of their sites to comply with regulators.
Overblog Advantage: Having your feeds coming in to one place makes recording and retaining social feeds easier to manage.
Complete Social Branding
For organizations in business development mode, one social site alone may not represent their complete brand. 2013 will bring a new wave of business blogs in a effort to present a more complete brand experience for their audience.
Overblog Advantage: Overblog provides great control while offering a visitor a more complete view of a brand. Overblog filters enable the brand to exclude content allowing more precise audience targeting.
Since trying Overblog, I’ve been pleased with the functionality and timing of update releases. Recent updates have added functionality to the back end, added more feeds and introduced a new mobile app. I’ve found the team at Overblog to be very responsive and friendly. Visitor feedback has been positive.
In 2010, I developed the Social Media Specialist Certificate program for Louisiana State University’s Professional Development Department. To obtain the certificate, students complete four courses and an elective within one or two semesters. The course series includes strategy, implementation, content integration, and measurement. The courses require constant updating and past certificate recipients continue to update their skills.
After evaluating Overblog, I see it as a potential game changer for some organizations. Brands can develop strategies which take advantage of Overblog’s unique platform. Whenever I see a potential game changer I include it in my courses at LSU.
My students are typically successful professionals who are either changing careers or enhancing their existing career. The course study is very interactive and hands-on. The best part is that the students are introduced to two non-profits each semester who volunteer to be examples and case studies. Students apply what they’ve learned for the non-profits with guidance. There is no charge to the non-profit to participate in the classes.
In our Blogging Essentials course this week, our students worked with WordPress, Tumblr and Overblog during the class. Each student said that their Overblog experience was faster and easier to get started and publish.
Overblog is a tool to watch in 2013. For those who prefer action, jump in and try it out. Overblog is a winner.
Notes:Image from Overblog.com introductory slide show. This was not a sponsored post. 

http://www.nxtsm.com/2012/12/four-2013-trends-which-make-overblog-a-potential-game-changer/