The Irish blog awards is getting unprecedented attention amongst the Irish blogsphere.

Blogging about blog awards is obviously the most appropriate method of marketing for the awards, but it’s also the most powerful. The power of blogging doesn’t stop there, I believe blogging can be equally compelling as an additional tool in the marketer’s holster in general. I’ll explain why and how in another post when I get time.

As well as being Chair of BIMA (British Interactive Media Association), I was lucky enough to Chair the BIMA Awards 2006, arguably the most prestigious awards in the UK. It’s certainly the only awards in the UK that is dedicated to creativity within the digital industry. As a direct result of the huge amount of blog marketing and link baiting I’ve seen for the Irish blog awards, I’ve decided to recommend a category for blogging to my BIMA executive for the BIMAs 2007. I’m pretty certain Revolution, NMA and others don’t cover blogging, so we’ll be the first.

Along with a new BIMA Web site in a few weeks, I’m going to launch a blog as BIMA Chair, to help demonstrate how the trade association is using today’s interactive technology to improve how it engages with industry and membership. More importantly, how BIMA is looking to solicit feedback so we can improve how we operate.

So, thanks to fellow Irish bloggers and in particular, Damien Mulley for the great idea. Here’s a fine example of how blogging can change conventional thinking.

Unfortunately (not from a business perspective though) Segala has been flying under the media radar until recently, so we weren’t even listed, let alone included on the shortlist. Perhaps we’ll be lucky enough next year.

Good luck to all those short listed I hope Tom Raftery picks up a few gongs. Although I’m surprised his Podleaders site didn’t make it onto the shortlist.