As social media grows it’s becoming increasingly pivotal for advertisers to understand what consumers are saying about their brands, products and services in the market.

Most of us have rapidly become familiar with the most popular social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter (and the opportunities they offer for our brands), but does blogging rank as highly as these social media platforms when it comes to commenting on brands, products or services?

Not knowing that much about the world of blogging and what it entails I wouldn’t have thought so. That’s until I was told about a really interesting blogging site called www.2oceansvibe.com.

www.2oceansvibe.com is a lifestyle website that was started by a young guy named Seth Rotherham in his early 20’s based in Cape Town, South Africa.

He started the blog for himself and his friends for a bit of fun, but over years, Seth has become a “celebrity blogger” simply by blogging about things that inspire him in his everyday life, and events that happen to involve his favourite and most trusted brands, products or services.

He’ll blog about what he eats (Woolworths), drinks (Jack Black Lager), wears (Puma/Ray Bans), where he goes (Caprice) and what he does. He enjoys everything from the beach to restaurants, hotels, sport, nightclubs, and just happens to drop brand names along the way.

He lives to his motto “Work is a sideline, live the holiday” and has become a poster boy for this lifestyle in the process.

For some reason (possibly due to the humorous way in which Seth portrays his comments on his blog, or maybe it’s his unique list of celebrity friends and contacts that gain him insight into topical conversations) Seth’s readers have tapped into this online persona that he has created for himself and they trust and follow his advice on the brands he comments on unquestionably.

Seth has openly admitted himself that he would never put a brand up on his website that he does not believe in (even if he is paid) and it seems that it’s this kind of brutal honesty and commitment to his readers that consumers seem to tap into – and they just love it! A great example of how brands can use social media to endorse their products.

As a South African ex-pat living in Australia, I find it amazing (and I admit probably a bit of an eye opener to me) to see how this website is a favourite bookmark for both locals and those living overseas who wish to keep in-the-loop with the pulse of The Mother City.

Seeing this blog and the powerful influence it can yield over its readers/consumers, and vice versa, I realise that the power of blogging is not just another social media fad but rather an important element in the ever growing social media family.

Michelle Joubert is an Account Manager at BCM Brisbane

Check out these related posts:

1. Twitter – not just inane micro-blogging
2. BCM welcomes Anthony Dever, Social Media Manager
3. virtual vox populi