Lucknow needs a blogging and a product launch culture

Lucknow- the so called calm and relaxed city of U.P. comparatively to the metros, needs a proper blogging culture and some proper launch events. With my 5 years in delhi, the amount of chances and invites I have got in delhi are huge and thats where my blogging took off. There is nothing in lucknow to show for in terms of bloggers or events. The number of bloggers in lucknow can be found out from some blogging network directory but that’s the end of the story. Nothing more… Comparatively delhi has so many blogging events and proper product launches that you cant keep a track of it. Agreed that Delhi is the prime capital but lucknow has nothing to show for, nobody takes that city seriously. Right from Nokia, Asus launches to Auto test drives all have come in delhi..The lucknow scenario?? Pathetic..

I am sure nobody would have heard about meets there. In delhi and other places bloggers are invited to cover events but in lucknow brands call up some moviestar at some mall, cordon off a particular area, get the pics and selfies clicked with the public, launch or showoff the product, 1-2 newspapers click the pic of the celeb and it would be all over. The success of the product would be gauged by the crowd coming to see the celebrity and the next day the newspapers would carry the headline that so and so celebrity was thronged by this much public. She / he was in the city to launch this product. 

This hush hush system means that bloggers , social media influencers don’t get a chance to experience new things as these things seem to be alien to the companies. This city has not seen a blogger meet ever, a summit titled “ Sheroes” by blogadda got cancelled in the start of the year ( which would have been awesome for the bloggers of lucknow), the TATA Brio was asked to be reviewed by going to a mall and see the car and the features. I seemed to be the only blogger, rest was all general public. Nothing new has ever been launched/organized in the city by any company / online marketing agency. Although Indiblogger has a section on its site saying, “I wish to organize a meet” , it must understand that a proper sponsored meet is needed to break the shackles in Lucknow and pave the way for the future. Seriously I am fed up of seeing page 3 party pics in Hindustan times lucknow edition, I want to see the magic of some blogger meet pics in that. In the name of events all you have there is Lucknow mahotsava, the National book fair and the annual Index fair (by IIM Lucknow which is open to the public). The first 2 somewhat get a mention in the newspapers, not the rest.

A newspaper carrying blogging meet / product launches where bloggers are invited would do a lot of good for the blogging world in lucknow in general. Hoping to see it happen soon.