NBC allows widget syndication

A new form of syndication could bring even more traffic - and potential advertising resources - to the world of blogging. According to reports, NBC will allow content hungry bloggers to place video clips on websites through widgets.

by Kristina Knight

Widgets have become an increasingly popular form of syndication for bloggers because the content offered is ever-changing, and can be targeted to the demographic of the blog audience. Shows like NBC's "Nightly News with Brian Williams", "Dateline" and sports programming will be offered, along with content from DotComedy.com and iVillage.com. And NBC isn't alone. CBS and the New York Times Company have also allowed bloggers to post programming and content clips.

As a marketing tool, blogs are increasing in popularity. As social networking continues to grow, so does the blogging community. With more people creating blogs and more users reading the content produced, many online marketers are realizing that blogs are a good place for advertising.

The key is to choose a blog with a target market that is the same as or similar to the demographic for the products or services marketers wish to sell. Contacting specific bloggers is probably the best way to go, though there are many companies promising to connect bloggers and advertisers. If you are just starting out with blog marketing, this is a good way to go. But, if you're comfortable in the world of blogs, contacting blog owners personally is another option. The reasoning for choosing the blog on a personal level is that you can decide which blog's stats - daily/weekly unique visitors, geo-targeting information and repeat visitor information - meet your needs.