Company blogging 101
I’ve had several new clients talk to me about how to get their best bang for the buck when starting a SOHO-based web presence. Since Technical Communication is best built with a community in mind, this also fits for most Tech Writers and basically anyone willing to accept feedback.
With few exceptions, I recommend blogging. Here’s a great resource on corporate blogging etiquette that I found online quoted from http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/company-blogging-101/:
The easiest time to make a blogging gaffe is when you’re starting out. When you’re about to start blogging, ramp up slowly:
1) Ask someone experienced to read the first several blog posts you do. They can flag inaccuracies or tell you if you misjudged the tone of a post.
2) Write a few posts that you’re willing to throw away. You still get the practice, but without as much pressure.
3) Do a guest post or two on someone else’s blog first. At Google, we have lots of official blogs. It’s better to try things out as a guest before you step into the spotlight on your own blog.
4) Practice on forums first. For example, Google has a lot of discussion and help forums where Googlers chime in from time to time. For Googlers, that’s a great place to start. For other companies, find the most relevant forum and practice chatting with people (make it clear that you work for your company so that people don’t think you’re astroturfing).
Posted by Charles in Blogging, Tech Writing, Technical Communication, Web 2.0, eLearning |
