Corporate Blogging - Pitfalls And Guidelines
It is widely recognized that blogging is one way to easily add new content to a website, and lots of corporates are embracing the idea with gusto. Not only are there companies that do corporate blogging, but in lots of cases it is not just the CEO or the marketing manager who blogs, but the actual employees of the company itself. Google and Microsoft are just two companies that allow and/or encourage their employees to blog. But the whole concept is fraught with pitfalls. The problem is the conflict between confidentiality and frankness and quite a number of blogging employees have been fired recently for inappropriate blogging behavior.
Questions that are raised and that contribute to the problems around corporate blogging are some of the following:
How much should employees be allowed to say about the internal workings of the company? Certainly, Coke-Cola will not be impressed if an employee blurts out the formula for Coke on the company blog for the whole world to see.
Likewise, should employees be allowed to disapprove of the company or their direct management? Some companies allow this, some do not. Another question that must be asked is how much time employees should be allowed to spend on blogging. Is this seen as part of their job descriptions, should it form part of their formal job output models?
It is clear that companies that venture into the corporate blogging arena would be wise to follow some other large corporate's examples and draw up blogging guidelines. These blogging guidelines should state clearly the boundaries within which the employee should operate, but it should not be so strict as to stifle any creativity or place a complete ban on the activity, nor make it so cumbersome to get permission to say something that it becomes virtually impossible to keep a personal feel to the blog and it merely becomes another official corporate mouthpiece.
Corporate blogging is a great way to add content to a corporate website, to attract new customers, to publish more content regarding company products, services and events and in general to add a more human feel to a company website ? but some guidelines are necessary to defend both the company and the employee respectively from blogging themselves into bankruptcy or unemployment!
The following guidelines have been taken from various corporate blogging rules that are published - they might be a good starting point for any company thinking of allowing its employees to blog:
- Do not criticize other products or competitors.
- Make it clear that you are stating your own opinion, and not necessarily that of the company.
- If in doubt, discuss it with a colleague or your manager
- Do not blab company secrets (e.g. secret processes or formulas, or things such as potential mergers, takeovers, or anything that can be seen as confidential information)
- Do not blatantly use the blog as a platform for overtly selling the company products. The blog is not the right place for that. Be informative and authentic.
- Do not cite customers or partners without their approval
- And quite important ? do not venture personal opinions on politics, race or religious issues ? respect your reader.
Christine Anderssen is the owner of Tailormade4you, a small but professional company offering Web Design and Hosting services for small to medium enterprises. We use the Joomla! CMS to build websites quickly and efficiently and also do custom PHP development.
Related Articles:
Introducing the LinkConnector Widget, a Powerful Web 2.0 Tool for Affiliates
LinkConnector's new widget technology brings the latest developments in the online world to Affiliate Marketing.
Layered Technologies Announces DynaVol for Web 2.0 Companies
Web 2.0 companies with abundant data storage needs can rely on grid-based, scalable and flexible storage solution from Layered Technologies with 99.9 percent uptime.
The Pitfalls Of Business Blogging
Whether you are aware of it or not, your customers, potential clients, business associates, competitors and employees are already engaged in business blogging. They are conversing in real time about your products or services, news and developments in your niche. They are discussing about your new product release. Sad to say, if they have not spread it already, they are definitely gossiping about the customer service blunder you hoped you could keep hush-hush. Word travels fast in the blogosphere. Blogging gets you noticed and referenced, favorable or not, in your industry?s conversations. Business blogging has its benefits but, alas, it also has its share of pitfalls.
Unlimited Market Research and Analysis with SaleHoo's New-look Wholesale Directory
SaleHoo has unveiled an innovative product research and analysis lab as part of the launch of their new site.
Revolutionary Gay Web 2.0 Marketing Company Launches; Opens Doors to Flood of Clients
With corporations finally acknowledging the considerable buying power of the gay community ($712 billion in 2008, according to Witeck-Combs Communications), an innovative new company, Pink Banana Media, has sprung up to help these corporations, large and small, market their services directly to this powerful segment of the population.
EduCatalyst, Inc. Launches Web 2.0 College and University Search Site - LocalSchools.com
Site unleashes social networking tools, such as chat, maps and other geospatial tools, online profiles and personalized web tools to allow college-bound students to make an educated decision about their higher education choices.
AskPatty.com, Inc. Poised for Web 2.0 Driven Growth at First Year Anniversary
AskPatty.com, Inc., reaches first anniversary above target revenue, with an established brand presence leveraged by Web 2.0 best practices and venue in Second Life. Women consumers and the automotive industry embrace female friendly certified concept. Leveraging social media achieved a quick and strong brand presence while developing a innovative revenue generating business model.
Blogging: A Start-Up Guide
Blogging is so easy that you probably do not need a start up guide, but for those who have blogaphobia, I am doing this.
The Launch of FitResolution.com Brings Together Health, Fitness and Web 2.0
The new website FitResolution.com harnesses the power of community-created content to fight the epidemic of inactivity in America head on. Making it easy to create, share and track workout plans, FitResolution combines innovative tools with the power of teamwork to transform a desire to exercise into a resolution to maintain a healthy and fit lifestyle.
Brainstorming For Ways to Make Money Blogging
There have been several blogs posted giving their different views of how to increase income by enhancing their blogs It seems different techniques work for different types of people
Pictage and The Wedding Report Team Up to Deliver Wedding Photographers an Unprecedented Level of Market Research
Pictage, the wedding photography industry leader in online image hosting, printing, sales and service solutions, has partnered with wedding market research aggregator, The Wedding Report. Together, they will offer Pictage members comprehensive data about their markets, to assist in building business marketing strategies and pricing decisions.
Blogging and Cash Gifting Intro to Success
Cash Gifting is one of the Greatest Things to Blog About
Have you ever wondered where the word 'blog' comes from
Home Business Blogging - Essential Secrets To Survive 2008
A lot of home businesses are now conducted online With an internet based home business, your service or products can reach different parts of the world especially if your website can attract traffic
Odiogo's Web 2.0 'Listen Button' Lets You Instantly Hear Text Articles On Your Computer
Starter kits available for WordPress, Blogger and other blogging platforms
Pro Blogging Anyone?
The task of marketing a website can sometimes be a very boring task. Yes, marketing is important and vital to the success of a business but it cannot be denied that the tedium could get to the most persistent internet marketer or business owner.