Paul Woodhouse, winner of the 2005 Best Blog by a Small Business award, has joined up with us for a new group blog – BLOGthencitity. We’ve been sort of stealthy in our setup, but people are already starting to notice the site – so, here we are – stepping out into the sun!

Thanks to Constantin Basturea of PR Meets The WWW, Kevin O’Keefe of Real Lawyers Have Blogs @ Lexblog and E. L. Eversman of AutoMuse for their visits and/or mentions in their blogs

BLOGthenticity is designed to identify and learn from ‘authentic business bloggers’ while offering other bloggers and my students the opportunity to learn from the best. I think of it as another form of MarcomBlog where PR/Marcom pros are sharing their insights in a sort of mentoring/incubator environment for my students. We have noticed that MarcomBlog draws a lot of outside traffic and hope to do the same with BLOGthenticity.

Paul has posted there seeking your help in defining ‘what’ is an authentic blogger. He writes, “If we take BLOGthenticity to mean blogging authentically, then what does authenticity in reference to blogging mean to you?” Please visit and share your thoughts/definitions.

Business blogging is the new tool/tactic to help drive online commerce – drive potential customers to your static site. As Paul writes, “Business blogging is the new bricks and mortar for your web presence. You have the opportunity to re-identify yourself on the web and to make that vital connection with your customers in the same way as if they’d popped into your office for a brew.” Of course, Paul is from the UK … don’t know of many people in the US dropping by for a ‘brew’ … but, ya’ never know.

Please come check out the new site – BLOGthencitity – and, if you are a business blogger and so inclined, write to us and offer to join. We’d love to have business people with brick & mortar locations who have adopted a blog into their maketing plan join us! We may expand the definitions/requirements … honestly, this is – like most blogs – experimental and a work in progress.