Bloggeries is going to look at a business blog today, and this is one that attendees of trade shows will be able to appreciate. The blog is called Chicago Trade Show Displays. The blog is exactly what its domain says it is, a trade shows displays blog for the Chicago area, and a trade shows tips blog that just about anyone who frequents trade shows will be able to enjoy. Have a look at any of their recent bloggeries to get an idea for exactly what the blog is about: Trade Show Leads – Make Them Count, Post Trade Show Evaluation and Follow-Up, Unhappy is as Unhappy Does – Dealing with an Unhappy Client, Effective Use of Banner Stands for your Next Event, Trade Show “Chotchkiesâ€, Create a Winning Booth, Shipping May be Ripping you Off!, and What the Heck Does Drayage Mean?
The blog is cleanly laid out with a business style format and this makes it very easy to navigate. Bloggeries are right marginalized and there is a left navigation system as well as a top navigation system. Bloggeries are in black text on white background and there are blue accents and bordering. In the top navigation bar you will find links for Home, Contact Us, Trade Show Program Management, and Tradetec Skyline Displays. In the left navigation system you will find blogroll links menu, Editors Menu, Event Calendars, Trade Show Resources, Pages Menu, and Categories Menu. The Categories menu contains items such as Exhibit Services, New Products Announcement, Trade Show Tips, Trade Show News, and a category called Uncategorized. At present there are no accompanying pictures with the bloggeries as the blog is an information blog.
I will give this blog a 3/5 for now, but I suspect it is new and with some growth the blog should improve. It is difficult to tell at this point how old the blog is as there are no archives listed. The blog needs work in a few areas, but it does show some strength in some as well, so it has a good foundation at this point. Navigation is easy on the blog as there is not much to move around at this point. I would recommend removing the ‘Uncategorized’ category from the category menu, or changing the name of it to something less miscellaneous (such as Trade Show Information) as it makes the blog look a little disorganized. Appearance scores are very good as the blog has a nice clean template that gives it a true business feel. The content is well written and would be readable by an audience seeking this type of information, so as the blog grows, this may be its greatest asset. Activity however is lacking somewhat, with no strong consistency in activity. The last bloggery was run on January 2 and there is a range of one week to a month in between bloggeries. I also recommend adding an about page to the blog so that the bloggers and editors can establish a rapport with their readership by a small information page about the blog. Overall however, the blog has a good start and if it maintains the consistency of its quality content, it should do quite well in serving its niche as it grows.
-Chrissie