13 August, 2013

As you may be aware, the internet has got rather big. It can be difficult, despite the best efforts of the search engine spiders, to decide what’s worth reading and what’s, well, not. So we thought we’d help by highlighting some of our favourite blogs dealing with the things we care about – social and environmental issues and good communications (gardening, books and crafts are another matter, not to be tackled here!).

If you have other recommendations (or if you think we should have mentioned your blog!) tell Kirsty at kirsty@amazonpr.co.uk.

Our picks:

CharityBloggers

For some great tips on what NOT to do, as well as some ideas for what works well, go to the CharityBloggers site. Here, more than 30 different bloggers regularly share their views on charity mailings and appeals.

All the contributors have a vested interest in the charity sector, but their knowledge and understanding is also gleaned from their various life experiences. One is an RAF officer who reads the Telegraph, used to teach chemistry and supports a number of charities abroad; another works in the City as a fund manager but is also the trustee of a small charitable trust.

The Comms Insider

The brilliant and insightful Comms Insider is written by an anonymous comms professional working at a UK charity. This sometimes scathing blog lifts the lid on the frustrations of life in the not-for-profit world.

It’s hosted on the Charity Comms site. It may not be called a blog anymore, but the  Knowledge Hub, featuring interviews, articles, and how-tos on everything from crisis management to mentoring, is a great resource (and features expertise from our very own team!).

Zoe Amar

How innovative is your innovation? Are your online tools meeting your offline targets? Marketing and digital comms consultant (and new mum) Zoe, asks all the right questions and achieves a nice mix of discussion and practical advice on her blog.

Janet Murray

Education and social affairs journalist Janet Murray writes a great blog linked to her media training consultancy, Last Word. Recent topics include handling a disagreement with a journalist (!) and how to develop a successful story pitch.

Guardian Professional Networks.

Vital communities for many are The Guardian’s professional networks, which boast a range of excellent sector-linked blogs, featuring a host of writers. We particularly like:

Guardian Voluntary Sector Blog

Guardian Social Enterprise Blog

Guardian Social Care Blog

ClearlySo

The social capital experts at ClearlySo offer a great way to stay up to date with all the latest developments in the world of social business and enterprise.

Third Sector

The well-used Third Sector blog is a platform for the views of charity experts and practitioners, as well as the magazine’s editorial team.

PR Moment

PR Moment contains a summary of Good and Bad PR highlights – worth a quick read while the kettle’s boiling – as is the PR ideas of the year.

Allison Ogden-Newton

And lastly, for now, Allison Ogden-Newton offers some thought-provoking articles on social enterprise, public service delivery and life as a charity CEO, drawing on her roles at the World Child Cancer and the Transition Institute.

Let us know what you think and share your blog suggestions with us @amzpr.