Update: Sorry, this event is fully booked! To get invited to future events, sign up as a Heavy Chef member here.

For this month’s Heavy Chef Session, held in Cape Town, we ask the question: “Is Blogging Dead?”

It’s amazing to think that blogging has only been around for 10 years and people are already whispering about a ‘dying art’. In the past month, we’ve seen blogging stalwarts like Windows Live Spaces and TypePad closing doors or selling up. Apparently, the rise of micro-blogging has all but vanquished the carefully scripted masterpieces that begat a whole new generation of wannabe-Hemingways .

So, is blogging really dead, or is it evolving?

We’ve asked this question of two legends of digital, Seth Rotherham and Rich Mulholland.

Just last week, the esteemed Mr Rotherham announced with great fanfare that his multiple-award winning blog 2Oceansvibe.com is no longer a blog. Seth’s familiar online presence, strengthened by years of daily blog posts, now extends to radio, accommodation and entertainment news. 2OV is now a burgeoning media empire.

On the other hand, the esteemed Mr Mulholland has redirected his focus back to blogging. Over the past 12 years Rich has focused his attention on growing his presentation, conference and innovation companies, and has been blogging since 2001 on multiple outlets such as Jo’Blog, Capitalist Punks and, more recently, his own personal blog.

Seth and Rich will be presenting their answers to the Heavy Chef community later this month – you DON’T want to miss this.

WANT TO ATTEND?

Email Yolandi if you’d like to attend the Cape Town Heavy Chef Session (be quick, seats are limited). There are only 120 seats for the Heavy Chef venue, kindly sponsored by Deloitte Cape Town.

Speakers:

- Rich Mulholland (Founder of Missing Link)

- Seth Rotherham (Founder of 2Oceansvibe)

Date: Thursday 28th October @ Deloitte Offices in Green Point (Map)

Time: 5:30pm for 6pm

Cost: No cost. Heck, if you blog about the event we’ll send you an iPad, a couple of iPhone 4’s, and a 6-pack of Steri-Stumpie. (UPDATE: this is a joke. Not a very good one, but a joke nonetheless. We will, however, be giving away book hampers and t-shirts on the night.)

Refreshments will be supplied by Delheim and Corona.

We set the Channel Mobile team a challenge: How would they utilise mobile in helping build loyalty, as part of an online community management strategy? They used an example of how a coffee shop could offer incentives to their online community, surveying them in the process, to then help segment their database further and target its customers more effectively. And all done on mobile.

1) Keep it simple, keep it text based.

2) Wap push url (which can be connected to the simple text message for those that have newer generation phones)

3) Quick response codes

Rob and Gavin shared some do’s and don’ts with regards spamming using Mobile Marketing. Following the rules will actually lead to better relationships and in turn more profit.

Gavin and Rob from Channel Mobile shared 5 quick tips on how a restaurant could use mobile to make their business more profitable:

1) Decrease your number of no shows by sending them an SMS reminder that they have booked for that evening.

2) On quiet nights push out an sms to your regulars with specials to entice a potential diner.

3) Build your database by enticing clients to leave their cell numbers and opt in to receive special offers – as a loyal customer.

4) Link the sms you send to your clientele to a mobi site which could contain the menu, the specials or just simple directions. It could also be used when they leave the restaurant to gather feedback which can be used to improve customer service.

5) Chasing outstanding invoices via sms has a higher payment rate as they are less likely to be able to ignore it:-)