So my own blog is listed in the Technology sector of the Irish Blog Awards as one of the initial nominations. Following a public vote, each of the categories for the Blog Awards will be whittled down to five entrants in each one. Thanks for continuing to take the time on reading Creative Imagination and, hopefully, the blog will be there again next year.

There’s some fantastic reads in the technology category including Dave’s Rants, Michele Neylon’s blog, Eirepreneur and Tom Raftery’s IT Views. Overall I think this is a fantastic move for the Irish blogging community on a whole and whatever about the awards themselves, it is certain to create a wealth of attention for everyone involved in blogging in Ireland.

March 8th (2-5pm):One of Ireland’s most respected and active bloggers, Michele Neylon will present a ½ day seminar, at the Hilton Hotel Charlemont Place, on everything you need to know about blogging. If you are a novice, a regular blogger wanting to improve what you do or interested in adding blogs to your company’s marketing mix then this is for you. Places are strictly limited to the first 30 people who book. The cost is €95 for non members and only €55 for IIA members. This event is expected to book our fast.

This seminar will cover the following areas:

· Wonderful World of Blogs (some introductory examples)

· What is a Blog?

· What are its uses?

· Technical Overview of what makes blogs work RSS feeds and all that stuff

· How to set up your own blog

· Blogging Pitfalls

· Commercial applications of blogging

· Can blogging win you business

· Search engines and blogs – will your content be found

· Monetizing your blog

· How to promote your blog

· Examples of how blogs can be done badly

· Excellent examples of blogs – globally and in Ireland

· Can blogging win you business

· Question and Answer session

Pity its limited to 30 seats… could be an extremely interesting day!

Update : You can pick up a podcast interview with Robert Scoble, conducted by Tom Raftery, by clicking here.

Reading a copy of this month’s ComputerScope magazine (and Technology Ireland magazine)… normally sits on the desk, does the rounds of the office, and then comes back to me so I can read my own copy… but this little article is of interest, to myself anyway – and to anyone reading this blog you should find it similar!

It goes..

THE opening address at the it@cork annual conference, on Wednesday 30 November in the Rochestown Park Hotel in Cork, will be given by Robert Scoble, techinal evangelist at Microsoft USA and one of the world’s best known bloggers.

Scoble, who will talk about ‘Blogging for Business’, has been widely credited with helping to create a slightly more positive perception of Microsoft, particularly amongst software developers who make up a large part of his audience. In addition to his opening address, he will discuss emerging trends in software at a technical forum in the afternoon and is due to attend an inaugural bloggers’ dinner in the evening. According to it@cork, the conference is now shaping up to be the largest ever gathering of Irish bloggers.

Speaking before the event, Scoble said that corporate blogging is changing how companies talk with their customers.

Do it wrong and you could end up with negative PR..

Do it right and you’ll have happier employees, better products, and more informed customers. It’ll be interesting to learn about the blogging that’s happening in Ireland and I’ll bring some of the top tips I’ve learnt working for Microsoft

The conference is divided into sessions on governance, standards and certification, looking backwards to the future, and growing Irish technology business. The speakers include author and management guru Charles Handy, Paul O’Callaghan (CIO at Pepsico), Michael Brophy (CEO of Certificiation Europe), Mike Stephenson (Computer Associates), Joe Gantley (Cork Airport Authority) and Dr Jim Mountjoy, founder of Euristix and a co-founder of Baltimore Technologies.

Anyone interested, head over to itcork.ie…

Pricing: Full conference fee is €275 for it@cork members, €375 for non-members. You can also attend the afternoon technical forum on a stand-alone basis for €125.