When Katie Spotz first decided to row solo across the Atlantic Ocean, she knew
little about blogging and social media.

Now a world record holder as the youngest person to row the Atlantic
alone, technology has become a huge part of the Mentor native’s life, with
more than 170 countries following her blog.

“Being able to share my experience day-by-day through the highs and lows
was important,” Spotz said via e-mail. “During my row, I was quite possibly the
furthest person away from another human being and the blog was a tool to
connect, no matter how many miles I was away from land. I wanted to share a
message. I was the benchwarmer. I was never a star athlete in childhood, but I
wanted to share that we are all capable of more than we think. It certainly
wasn’t easy to get across the ocean, but I wanted to show that with
persistence and determination, nearly anything is possible.

“It’s been incredible to check back and see the followers literally from
every corner of the planet. I packed a satellite phone in my 19-foot rowboat
and with this bit of technology, I was able to receive encouraging messages
posted on my blog when I needed it most.”

Spotz raised more than $150,000 and increased global awareness of the
lack of clean drinking water for millions during her 3,038-mile Atlantic Ocean
row last year and a team bicycle race across America in June.

Currently in Kenya seeing the results of the funds she raised, Spotz said
blogging about her adventures has helped allow more than 5,000 people gain
access to safe drinking water.

Blogging also “saved my sanity rowing a million oarstrokes and having
nothing more than four ipods to stay entertained and motivated,” she added.

Besides giving more attention for good causes, bloggers are also
impacting businesses like Skye restaurant/pub in Mentor in a positive way.

“I do blogging, and we have clients who absolutely fell in love with us
and blog about us. Especially being a new restaurant, it’s one of the best
ways to have people be familiar with us,” said Susan Miga, manager at Skye.

Dr. Dan Weiss, an endocrinologist, said his blog for The News-Herald
Community Media Lab, “Insights on health, nutrition, diabetes and hormones,”
has helped him become a better resource for patients and primary care doctors.

“I address common questions in my blog,” said Weiss. “For instance, so
many people are confused about what types of fish oil to take and how much, so
I did a blog on that. The blogging is not so much opinion and ranting and
raving, but for recurring kinds of questions patients have. I’ve even touched
a little on politics. I can even reference my own blog.”

Weiss said each blog takes him at least two to four hours to write due to
all the research he does.

“But my kids are grown and out of the house, and my wife is working on
her own projects. This is my project,” he said.

Local playwright Carole Clement said she didn’t know much about blogging
before agreeing to write “My Take on Today” for the Community Media Lab.

“I focus on two areas: conservation and wellness,” said Clement. “I’m
learning so much. I’m becoming an activist when it comes to the environment. I
talk to people about it. I have addressed Mentor City Council regarding the
deer culling program. I’ve always had strong feelings about the environment
and so on, but I didn’t really do much about it and now I do. Because I have
an audience. I get most of my traffic through the search engines. There are
people who care about these things, and I’m reaching them.”

Article source: http://www.hispanicbusiness.com/2011/12/28/social_media_use_of_blogging_helps.htm