As a PR practitioner, I’m always interested in new and interesting ways in which to engage bloggers on topics of mutual interest (aligned with my clients, of course).
Wearing my ‘other hat’ as a blogger, I’m eternally fascinated with how the PR and marketing profession is dealing with the blogging fraternity.
Having attended the recent Nuffnang Blogopolis event and conversed with many a blogger about this very subject, I’m sure it’s one that will continue to be the topic of much discussion for some time to come.
The Malaysia Kitchen Blogger Summit is one initiative I’ve been keeping an eye on – it’s a cool Oz project, part of the global Malaysia Kitchen campaign that’s designed to get people talking about and sampling Malaysian fare (Mmmmm – I’m super-hungry just writing this post!).
The Blogger Summit has recruited 13 of the most popular food bloggers in Australia. These bloggers are currently reviewing Malaysian restaurants around Australia for their chance to win an all-expense paid trip to Malaysia for a foodie’s ultimate adventure (* tummy rumbles *).
Each week during August, the MK bloggers have been reviewing a different Malaysian restaurant.
According to the MK website:
They’ll have to use every skill they have in their blogging arsenal and they’ll need your support. Help your favourite blogger win by voting on their posts with a ‘Like’ – get clicking!
At the end of four weeks, the three bloggers with the most likes across all their posts will win a seat on a gastronomic food tour of Malaysia – a foodie’s dream!
At time of writing (and as we come to the conclusion of the competition), the wonderfully named but equally mysterious Food Pornographer (blog) was well in front with a total of 1043 votes (or ‘Likes’), with Melbourne’s I-Hua from The Chronicles of Ms I-Hua slotting in second with 980.
Natalie Manning from Inside Cuisine is trying to hold off all-comers in third position (with 896 likes).
About Trevor Young
I would write a highly value-adding comment, but I’m too busy DROOLING over my laptop screen. YUMMO! What a cool idea to get bloggers together. You got me thinking about what else we could do in my niche to get people sharing and connecting even more. Thanks, Trevor.
Cheers Lina! Hope your laptop withstood the drooling
Hi Trevor, as well as the food bloggers on their site they also recruited travel bloggers to write about Malaysian restaurants on their own site. I was one of them:) Definitely a fun project with a wide reach. I’ve seen plenty about MK online and in print over the last few months.
The use of PR with blogging is just going to grow. People love reading personal opinions. Finding out what one of your favourite bloggers thinks about anything makes it personal. As for blogging about food – wow, that picture is amazing, I’m so hungry just looking at it.
These are the sorts of projects that PR should be looking at. It’s personal, it’s fun and it’s for everyone to enjoy. I’ve never tasted Malaysian food but now I want to find a restaurant and try it. PR done without having to spend a cent on advertising.