Is your company ready for a blog?
If you’re like a lot of people who own, run and work for companies – time is at a premium these days in the “let’s pull ourselves out of the recession” 2011 financial environment.
Do you really have time to blog?
Would you want to if you had the time?
Is there someone you could assign the blogging to?
Would blogging take them away from more important projects?
All good questions and all reasonable places to start when thinking about adding a blog to your company’s web site.
But the bottom line is…
Can you afford not to be blogging?
Probably not.
Firstly, the reason being that people who search the internet for products and services seem to enjoy a quick glance at the company’s blog.
It lets them know there’s someone live out there.
Someone is updating the blog on a regular basis; i.e. the company looks more “bonafide”.
Secondly, blogging creates new company content that can then be put to a variety of purposes.
Why not a newsletter?
Why not a press release?
Why not send it to some on line or print publications as a special interest story?
Let’s face it we’ve all got to be a bit more “creative” these days at the workplace to diversify and set ourselves apart from our competitors and blogging fits right into that new model.
Sooo… now, that you’ve decided to take the “blogging plunge” so to speak… what do you possibly write about?
Another great question and believe me I’ve seen some very unusual company blogs!
There’s always the middle road… where you stick to the product or service you’re offering and detail new information or just get information about them and your company “out there”.
Or there’s the “road less traveled”…
I’ve seen company blogs that discuss which employees have what types of dogs.
I’ve seen company blogs that theorize on future ideas and products and services.
I’ve seen company blogs that highlight certain departments, individuals and current awards or accomplishments.
One even talked about the company’s fitness program and how many people lost such and such weight one month!
All very fun and interesting to read blogs.
Rule #1:
Remember if you’re bored writing the blog, your readers may be bored reading it.
So spice it up.
Personalize it.
Make it immediate to the potential or current customer that may be reading it.
Remember a blog isn’t a “thesis” so don’t deal with too much in one blog. One topic will suffice. Save all the great ideas you get writing for the next two, or three or four blogs!
Rule #2:
A blog isn’t the place for perfect grammar or perfect English. Although I would suggest perfect spelling unless you’re trying to make a point.
You can afford to be a little less formal, a bit more casual with the reader – using colloquialisms and “pop culture speak”.
Let down your proverbial hair a bit and show your “human side”.
Rule #3:
Update the blog at least once a month. A blog is a blog is a blog and if your blog’s last entry was a year ago it clearly is not serving its intended purpose.
I know, I know… who has time for that?
I combat this time issue by making a list of “possible blog topics” and keeping it by my elbow; adding to it when I get a great idea in the middle of a project I’m supposed to have done yesterday! 
Then, when I’m at a blocked moment in one of my regular projects, I quickly write out a short blog on one of my “saved topics” and add it to my blog file.
This way I always have a “ready to go blog” for those months when all h*%$ is breaking loose and I don’t have a moment to think let alone “blog”.
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Happy Blogging and next time I’ll cover the social media boat and whether it’s a good idea to jump in the water and start rowing with that heavy load!
AnteaterWebDesign.com
Web sites that are affordable.
Web sites that you can update yourself.
Web sites that stand the test of time.
JillForbath@anteaterwebdesign.com
