I certainly can’t speak for Atlanta’s venture community as I am 4+ years removed from day-to-day involvement. However, if I were in their shoes, I doubt I would do much blogging. IMO, to have an engaging blog, you should write about the interesting aspects of your day-to-day interactions. For a venture professional, I’d wager that 90% of these interactions are (or should be) confidential in nature. So while they are fun for us to read, venture posts such as “I met with an entrepreneur this morning. Nice guy, but his plan needs some work” or “One of my portfolio companies is imploding,” are potentially bad for business and, perhaps, ill mannered. This is especially true in Atlanta, where the chances of spotting a well-known VC at breakfast with an entrepreneur is probable at a handful of greasy spoons.

Now, put yourself in the shoes of an entrepreneur sitting across the booth from a VB (Venture Blogger). Knowing that some aspects of your conversation may end up as today’s post, you are going to carefully measure your comments and play your cards closer to the vest. After all, you’d probably fear the reverberations of a negative review from VB even if his comments are scrubbed for anonymity. Again, having the entrepreneur on guard would, IMO, be bad for business.

If you pull the gossipy posts from a venture blogger’s arsenal, then you’re left with the educational posts. “When you are submitting you business plan to a venture capitalist, be sure to use a readable font…” To me (and I suspect others) these tend to be semi-educational and mostly lame.

“Cultural” was probably the wrong word to use. Still, for good and ill, word travels fast in the Southeast. Perhaps this reality is a contributor to a lack in venture blogging.

Just my $.02.

BTW, I’ve had occasion to ping Alan for random thoughts and help before and I’ll say he’s been more than helpful. I wouldn’t want you to start blogging and stop doing that for myself and others so temper the request with that in mind.

But here is my carbon offset to that statement. The more transparent an investor is on their investment philosophy the more entrepreneurs will know with what type of opportunities to approach them with.

As an example, because of Fred Wilson’s blog I have a pretty good idea of what type of deal to approach Union Square Ventures with. Even if I had the most kickin capital efficient Internet app (their sector) in the world, with a defensible position due to a data asset (what they look for), and wanted to raise $1.5 million (their sweet spot) I would not take it to them. Atlanta is out of their region (NYC/DC).

I do know most of the folks that you mention are reading, and that is a start. I was reading blogs for over a year before Toby and Joe Reger pushed me over the edge.

You’re probably the perfect example of what I think we need more of in Atlanta in terms of VC bloggers. While I understand your concern about self-promotion – especially given Noro’s classic self-deprecating professional investor brand – i think it actually cuts both ways. We need more “smart VCs” who get it – who are more vocal through blogging – who can talk about the exciting things that are going on, interesting investments they’re making, things they’re looking to get interested in and what’s not working well. The transparency in my mind is part of what’s occurring in other areas impacted by blogging – and which could really benefit the entrepreneur/venture community. It’s a symbiotic relationship as you’re well aware of. If more enterepreneurs could have “access” to you – maybe not directly – but indirectly through your public blog about what you’re doing (as it relates to your professional investing) — it could help provide context and instruction. Also, it would provide a wonderful medium for people to interact with you in a more controlled way in which you probably can’t do in other mediums easily.

Self-promotion without value is meaningless. However, in the southeast US we need more meaningful dialog about what is happening. Evidence from today’s ATDC $1B celebration shows us that there are interesting things happening. Sometimes, it’s hard to find out about who’s doing what.

So — my challenge to the local VC community – which I dearly respect: start blogging.

Here’s my public challenge. I’d like to see the following at least start a blog and post one meaningful article related to venture capital and what they’re interested in:

• Stephen Fleming, Chief Commercialization Officer, GT Venture Labs
• Alan Taetle, Partner, Noro-Moseley (YOU!)
• Fred Sturgis, Partner, HIG
• Knox Massey, Atlanta Technology Angels
• Sig Mosley, Imlay Investments

And here’s my offer: I’ll help in anyway I can – set up the blog, provide the hosting, find the templates – even help give some tips on how I do it.

NO excuses now.