So you have a blog - Now what are you going to do?
In our past few posts you may have noticed a more “serious” tone to our blog…it is not by accident and it is not a permanent signal that we are turning into a boring PR company. It is just a desire to add positive discourse to the blogosphere. Don’t worry - I have a feeling that an eating competition involving pizza is just around the corner …
Many companies are blogging, even the FTC. Yes, the FTC is blogging. So what makes your blog better than anyone else’s? There is no right or wrong answer. But there is one thing you must have - a voice. I have a number of blogs that I keep track of on my RSS but there are only a few that I make a point to read every day. As I started evaluating each blog, I realized they were all different. Seomoz is a blog that I really like. I don’t know a ton about SEO but I like how transparent they are about their company. From client proposals to hiring, they offer a glimpse of the company culture and their business philosophy. Another blog I often read is Seth Godin’s blog. Seth’s blog is usually quick posts of reactions/insights to situations he comes across on a daily basis. I like his posts because they usually make me stop and think, if only for a second, before I continue to my next feed.
Blogging is not art. I have yet to come across a “professional” blogger who I think has created an art form. But that is the beauty of it and why they have become popular. Anyone can blog. Just remember if you are going to do it, do it well and do it consistently. The most successful blogs keep up to date posts. Whether posts are weekly in-depth posts such as BlogMaverick, or quick daily posts, the content should be new, fresh and insightful. Don’t be afraid to open up a little and show personality. If your company is fun, show it. Be true to your company and to your culture, and people will respect you for what you are.
So blog away, friends! Just remember to have a voice and be true to that voice. As far as we’re concerned, you will continue to see our more in-depth and professional posts as we try to create our voice. Hopefully it will help provide you, dear reader, with something to think about, as well as entertain you with our fun side. And if you need a quick tool, take a look at this good resource on how to write for blogs.
Who are your favorite bloggers and why? (C’mon, send me a comment!)
Comments
Can I use this space to plug my own blogging efforts? We in the tech media are experimenting with blogs in different ways -- in fact, I have two different blogs with different voices, but they're still written by me. First is the Cool Tools Happy Blog, which basically tries to keep readers updated on my thoughts of some new gadgets or other stuff that doesn't make the normal Cool Tools columns. It's been harder recently to keep this updated -- and of course it can never be as thorough as something like Engadget or Gizmodo, but on the other hand, you get some of my opinions on the news as well.
The second blog I contribute to is the DEMOletter blog, which is one post a week (usually Mondays, but sometimes Tuesday), in cooperation with Chris Shipley, producer of the DEMO shows. She writes a weekly "blog" / column item, and I contribute one with my perspective as well. The posts are generally about technology innovation or other issues in the world of tech, and I often give updates on DEMO alumni who have gone through the conference.
I'm finding it harder to write a "traditional" blog (where one just spouts off opinions), if only for the fact that I have opinions on a lot of things, and eventually the blog would just sound like some old cranky guy complaining that kids should pull up their pants.
The other problem is that so many people are blogging now, that unless you become "in" with the other bloggers, your voice for the most part gets lost in the sea of other bloggers out there. It's too much like high school sometimes.
Posted by: Keith Shaw | October 25, 2006 05:34 PM