I like the blog post from Sander on his 3 years of blogging. Especially these excerpts :
“I’ve always believed in information equality.”
While hundreds of companies charge their customers for services with knowledge and experience as unique selling points (USPs), I’ve sat on the sideline enjoying the view. I heard these companies (most of them Microsoft Partners) complaining about shifting expectations and a changing landscape. They fear becoming obsolete, because customers wise up and Microsoft (among others) supply standard tools, frameworks and even products to replace their tools, frameworks and products. Lately even with Online Services. I’ve known information is dynamic in nature. I expected nothing less in this line of business.
“It’s why I started blogging.”
I felt information can be made available freely, without repercussions. Standard practices may be shared without cost, product pitfalls may be found easily and demos can be shown indefinitely. In the end for business it’s not information that counts, but relationships and reputation. I feel a customer should connect without you, not because he knows you’re capable of doing the job, but because you’re granted the job.
“It’s why I kept blogging.”
My employer benefits from my blog. Not in a direct financial way, but in an indirect relationship-based way. Because when I speak to a client I direct them to information I’ve shared here. Because when the (potential) customer reads the information he is reminded of the ways of his current IT partner. … and not just customers. Other IT Pros started reading this blog as well… and linking back to it. As a company we could have generated more revenue on the short term (if our sales force would be up to spec) but in the long term we’re seeing increased deal sizes, etc.
Read his ful post on http://blogs.dirteam.com/blogs/sanderberkouwer/archive/2009/06/26/a-dream-come-true-looking-back-at-3-years-of-blogging.aspx
I hope Sander will keep on posting for a long time to come.
