Is blogging a lonely business? Of course not. I have a happy blogging experience because my blog has connected many friends in the field. I enjoy sharing peer experience with them. Yesterday Peter Zapf, the VP of Global Sources E-commerce Services, sent me an email and pointed me to the SMARTCHINASOURCING.COM, a Global Sources website that publishes information about whatsnew and know-hows of sourcing in China.
In my previous post about Corporation Generated Media (CGM), I mentioned some of the B2B media corporate blogs in the region. They were all published for marketing and communications purpose. Peter then suggested me to pay a visit to Smartchinasourcing.com.
Alright, I think the site fits my ideal model of second opinion marketing, which invites audiences to participate and contribute their views and opinions, allows sharing of peer experience, cultivates sense of ownership for the product, then converts believers to advocates.
What I would like to suggest Smartchinasourcing.com is to have a columnist or contributor inside Global Sources who can publish views and thoughts on regular basis. Start cultivating an opinion leader figure who can represent the site publisher. The publisher/media marketer should set a goal to be the center of influence, which is beyond a moderator character.
Ok, I am always sensitive to every tactical marketing approach, and I admit that some time I can be over sensitive 
On Smartchinasourcing.com, I discover a feature “Submit an article and get a free link back!” Well, I sense a carefully crafted site optimization and link plan behind the call-to-action. It is good to encourage relevant content provision through an incentive inbound link. For a search-savvy supplier, the “get-a-free-link-back” will be an effective e-marketing practice that boosts search engine visibility and drives online traffic. The approach is reciprocally beneficial for both the contributor and the publisher.
Cartoon by Dave Walker.
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In line with Global Sources Chinese web strategy, should we expect to see the Chinese version of Smartchinasourcing.com in a foreseeable future? Peter’s team has done a great job. I appreciate the approach.
Thanks for visiting this weblog. I am a digital marketer based in Hong Kong. After founding a marketing consulting company, merged it with a trade show company, and completed my tenure in 2007, I am blogging my insight and commentary for marketing and entrepreneurial experience. Now I am the Managing Director of 
