Comments on: 7 Steps to Better Business Blog Posts

By: Heidi Miller

Heidi Miller — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 17:33:59 +0000

Great list, Ann! To that I'd add: 8. blog what you are passionate about. I wrote a follow-up entry on it here: http://talkitup.typepad.com/weblog/2006/11/blogging_your_p.html Thanks for the tips!

By: Daniel Monday

Daniel Monday — Sun, 22 Oct 2006 14:32:14 +0000

I think what a lot of these comments are getting at, and what Rob, Tim and Paul really pointed out, is that blogs are about being human. That is, having an opinion, not taking things too seriously 24/7 and being honest – although that’s not an inherent human trait per se (what a wonderful world it would be if it was, huh?). Whereas most advertising, business collateral, sales materials, etc. are about the company, a company blog is about the employees and human face(s) associated with it. This way, you get to know the company and the folks behind it. And the more you know, the better the relationship. And the better the relationship, the more trust people have…

By: Lenny

Lenny — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 15:10:56 +0000

Great post Ann!
Tim referred me to your post and that was exactly what I was looking for, since I am planning on starting to blog for the company I work for myself. The only challenge is, as you mentioned, what to write about. I think with these guidelines and some creative thinking, that shouldn’t be too hard of a task.

By: Bill

Bill — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 08:00:53 +0000

I like the way you talk about the conversational approach.

By: Paul McEnany

Paul McEnany — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 04:20:40 +0000

“Think about creating posts that start conversations, have a point of view, and appeal to the interests of your readers. All writing must consider the audience, but for bloggers, it’s critical.”
Yes! Have a point-of-view please! Too many biz blogs try a little too hard to not offend, or to be too many things to too many people (like most businesses in general). Blogs are human, and humans have opinions.

By: Gavin Heaton

Gavin Heaton — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 03:27:45 +0000

As Maureen points out, keeping content fresh is a real challenge. It is easy to let your job description get in the way of taking on additional tasks (such as blogging). One way to cope with this is to draw from a wider pool of employees.
And Ann/Lewis, while I see your points about keeping internal and external sites separate, there is still tremendous potential in activating your internal audience as brand ambassadors. Is is risky? Maybe a little … but it makes for a lively site and a living brand!

By: Tim Jackson

Tim Jackson — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 02:49:57 +0000

Ann- you’re too funny. True’dat.
Maureen/ Daniel- Exactly my point. I get some of the best responses to the stuff I post about having a bad/ boring day or just the random rambling stuff. Mixing the goofy with the serious creates that human feel that people can more easily relate to. Most of us are not able to be serious all the time (some of us almost never, actually).

By: Daniel Monday

Daniel Monday — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 01:49:35 +0000

All great points, Ann. Nice post!
Maureen: Regarding your [great] point on having fresh content, it helps to write about personal accounts and things that go on around you. There’s nothing as fresh as writing about something that’s just happened or you’ve experienced recently, especially when you tie into a specific point/message/idea/etc. I try to do this when I can. It allows you to develop fresh content on-the-fly, while giving readers that transparent “I’m a human, too” feel. I love learning, reading and writing about marketing, social media, etc., but I love even more when I can write about how those things tied into my daily experiences.

By: Ann Handley

Ann Handley — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 00:43:14 +0000

Tim: True ‘nuf.
Anthony: Looks like you have a very colorful blog as it is… As for profitable, well…that’s a bit trickier, certainly. But depending on your definition of “profit,” it’ll come with experience and readership. Eventually. We hope. : )
Maureen: You speak the truth, of course. Blogging is a commitment…to your customers, to your mission, and to yourself. It’s the real deal…and you can’t fake your enthusiasm.
Which leads me to Rob’s point…precisely! Hey — it’s nice to see you ’round the Daily Fix, Rob!

By: Rob O'Regan

Rob O'Regan — Thu, 19 Oct 2006 23:41:45 +0000

Don’t forget the most important rule: Keep it real. (Bad Exhibit A: Edelman/WalMart). Don’t spin, don’t sell, be honest and be open to other opinions.