Comments on: How Could Bad Blogging Hurt Your Company? http://www.chrisg.com/how-could-bad-blogging-hurt-your-company/ Build your business by sharing what you know Wed, 08 Feb 2012 23:51:50 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Brad V. http://www.chrisg.com/how-could-bad-blogging-hurt-your-company/#comment-6227 Brad V. Wed, 31 Oct 2007 01:38:22 +0000 http://www.chrisg.com/how-could-bad-blogging-hurt-your-company/#comment-6227 Great post! I hardly ever read official company blogs because they are usually just glorified advertisements posing as blogs. Too many corporate blogs are just marketing drivel that only they care about. Blogs are a great tool, when used correctly, but many companies don't understand this. Great post! I hardly ever read official company blogs because they are usually just glorified advertisements posing as blogs. Too many corporate blogs are just marketing drivel that only they care about. Blogs are a great tool, when used correctly, but many companies don’t understand this.

]]> By: Brad V. http://www.chrisg.com/how-could-bad-blogging-hurt-your-company/#comment-17881 Brad V. Wed, 31 Oct 2007 01:38:00 +0000 http://www.chrisg.com/how-could-bad-blogging-hurt-your-company/#comment-17881 Great post! I hardly ever read official company blogs because they are usually just glorified advertisements posing as blogs. Too many corporate blogs are just marketing drivel that only they care about. Blogs are a great tool, when used correctly, but many companies don't understand this. Great post! I hardly ever read official company blogs because they are usually just glorified advertisements posing as blogs. Too many corporate blogs are just marketing drivel that only they care about. Blogs are a great tool, when used correctly, but many companies don’t understand this.

]]> By: Daylle Deanna Schwartz http://www.chrisg.com/how-could-bad-blogging-hurt-your-company/#comment-6226 Daylle Deanna Schwartz Tue, 30 Oct 2007 23:40:41 +0000 http://www.chrisg.com/how-could-bad-blogging-hurt-your-company/#comment-6226 I completely agree with you Jen. The best way to turn someone off is to make your blog sound like an advertisement. When you give people valuable content that shows you know your field or the type of products you sell, it instills confidence without having do do any selling at all. They'll check you out if they're looking for what you offer. Something else that could damage a brand is a poorly written blog. Of course bad grammar/spelling will turn people off. But it's also important to have the right voice for the audience. If bloggers are hired or recruited within the company, they should understand what style would most appeal to the people most likely to read the blog. When I write for a music biz audience, my style is pretty hang loose and very friendly. But if I write for a more corporate group, I'm more formal and professional sounding. So style and voice is important to get right too! Cheers, Daylle I completely agree with you Jen. The best way to turn someone off is to make your blog sound like an advertisement. When you give people valuable content that shows you know your field or the type of products you sell, it instills confidence without having do do any selling at all. They’ll check you out if they’re looking for what you offer.

Something else that could damage a brand is a poorly written blog. Of course bad grammar/spelling will turn people off. But it’s also important to have the right voice for the audience. If bloggers are hired or recruited within the company, they should understand what style would most appeal to the people most likely to read the blog. When I write for a music biz audience, my style is pretty hang loose and very friendly. But if I write for a more corporate group, I’m more formal and professional sounding. So style and voice is important to get right too!

Cheers,
Daylle

]]> By: Daylle Deanna Schwartz http://www.chrisg.com/how-could-bad-blogging-hurt-your-company/#comment-17880 Daylle Deanna Schwartz Tue, 30 Oct 2007 23:40:00 +0000 http://www.chrisg.com/how-could-bad-blogging-hurt-your-company/#comment-17880 I completely agree with you Jen. The best way to turn someone off is to make your blog sound like an advertisement. When you give people valuable content that shows you know your field or the type of products you sell, it instills confidence without having do do any selling at all. They'll check you out if they're looking for what you offer. Something else that could damage a brand is a poorly written blog. Of course bad grammar/spelling will turn people off. But it's also important to have the right voice for the audience. If bloggers are hired or recruited within the company, they should understand what style would most appeal to the people most likely to read the blog. When I write for a music biz audience, my style is pretty hang loose and very friendly. But if I write for a more corporate group, I'm more formal and professional sounding. So style and voice is important to get right too! Cheers, Daylle I completely agree with you Jen. The best way to turn someone off is to make your blog sound like an advertisement. When you give people valuable content that shows you know your field or the type of products you sell, it instills confidence without having do do any selling at all. They’ll check you out if they’re looking for what you offer.

Something else that could damage a brand is a poorly written blog. Of course bad grammar/spelling will turn people off. But it’s also important to have the right voice for the audience. If bloggers are hired or recruited within the company, they should understand what style would most appeal to the people most likely to read the blog. When I write for a music biz audience, my style is pretty hang loose and very friendly. But if I write for a more corporate group, I’m more formal and professional sounding. So style and voice is important to get right too!

Cheers,
Daylle

]]> By: Jen / domestika http://www.chrisg.com/how-could-bad-blogging-hurt-your-company/#comment-6216 Jen / domestika Tue, 30 Oct 2007 13:20:55 +0000 http://www.chrisg.com/how-could-bad-blogging-hurt-your-company/#comment-6216 I'd add to the list, "missing the target" with the company blog. Most often, I think, this shows up when a company uses their blog exclusively for hard-sell pieces and product announcements... and then they wonder why nobody reads it! The most successful corporate blogs I've seen are those that post about things of interest to their customers, in a broader sense. My all-time favourite is a company that sells antique and reproduction home hardware. In their blog, the top-knotch writers (primarily Lucy Atkinson) seldom refers in any overt way to their own selection of door-knockers, for example, but rather choose to post a tongue-in-cheek piece on the history of door-knockers or such. Brilliant. I might subscribe to more company blogs if they could manage to blog like this... well, to do it like real bloggers! I’d add to the list, “missing the target” with the company blog.

Most often, I think, this shows up when a company uses their blog exclusively for hard-sell pieces and product announcements… and then they wonder why nobody reads it!

The most successful corporate blogs I’ve seen are those that post about things of interest to their customers, in a broader sense.

My all-time favourite is a company that sells antique and reproduction home hardware. In their blog, the top-knotch writers (primarily Lucy Atkinson) seldom refers in any overt way to their own selection of door-knockers, for example, but rather choose to post a tongue-in-cheek piece on the history of door-knockers or such. Brilliant.

I might subscribe to more company blogs if they could manage to blog like this… well, to do it like real bloggers!

]]> By: Jen / domestika http://www.chrisg.com/how-could-bad-blogging-hurt-your-company/#comment-17879 Jen / domestika Tue, 30 Oct 2007 13:20:00 +0000 http://www.chrisg.com/how-could-bad-blogging-hurt-your-company/#comment-17879 I'd add to the list, "missing the target" with the company blog. Most often, I think, this shows up when a company uses their blog exclusively for hard-sell pieces and product announcements... and then they wonder why nobody reads it! The most successful corporate blogs I've seen are those that post about things of interest to their customers, in a broader sense. My all-time favourite is a company that sells antique and reproduction home hardware. In their blog, the top-knotch writers (primarily Lucy Atkinson) seldom refers in any overt way to their own selection of door-knockers, for example, but rather choose to post a tongue-in-cheek piece on the history of door-knockers or such. Brilliant. I might subscribe to more company blogs if they could manage to blog like this... well, to do it like real bloggers! I’d add to the list, “missing the target” with the company blog.

Most often, I think, this shows up when a company uses their blog exclusively for hard-sell pieces and product announcements… and then they wonder why nobody reads it!

The most successful corporate blogs I’ve seen are those that post about things of interest to their customers, in a broader sense.

My all-time favourite is a company that sells antique and reproduction home hardware. In their blog, the top-knotch writers (primarily Lucy Atkinson) seldom refers in any overt way to their own selection of door-knockers, for example, but rather choose to post a tongue-in-cheek piece on the history of door-knockers or such. Brilliant.

I might subscribe to more company blogs if they could manage to blog like this… well, to do it like real bloggers!

]]> By: Mani Karthik http://www.chrisg.com/how-could-bad-blogging-hurt-your-company/#comment-6212 Mani Karthik Tue, 30 Oct 2007 05:07:19 +0000 http://www.chrisg.com/how-could-bad-blogging-hurt-your-company/#comment-6212 Interesting info there Chris. So Matt does a good job isn't it? Cheers! Mani Interesting info there Chris.

So Matt does a good job isn’t it?

Cheers!
Mani

]]> By: Mani Karthik http://www.chrisg.com/how-could-bad-blogging-hurt-your-company/#comment-17878 Mani Karthik Tue, 30 Oct 2007 05:07:00 +0000 http://www.chrisg.com/how-could-bad-blogging-hurt-your-company/#comment-17878 Interesting info there Chris. So Matt does a good job isn't it? Cheers! Mani Interesting info there Chris.

So Matt does a good job isn’t it?

Cheers!
Mani

]]> By: George http://www.chrisg.com/how-could-bad-blogging-hurt-your-company/#comment-6211 George Mon, 29 Oct 2007 15:39:05 +0000 http://www.chrisg.com/how-could-bad-blogging-hurt-your-company/#comment-6211 > Using the blog as distraction from work Blogging instead of doing things I "have to" to do is a problem I sometimes have. "Clean the bathroom" or "blog", ummm I think I will write that post now... > Using the blog as distraction from work

Blogging instead of doing things I “have to” to do is a problem I sometimes have. “Clean the bathroom” or “blog”, ummm I think I will write that post now…

]]> By: George http://www.chrisg.com/how-could-bad-blogging-hurt-your-company/#comment-17877 George Mon, 29 Oct 2007 15:39:00 +0000 http://www.chrisg.com/how-could-bad-blogging-hurt-your-company/#comment-17877 > Using the blog as distraction from work Blogging instead of doing things I "have to" to do is a problem I sometimes have. "Clean the bathroom" or "blog", ummm I think I will write that post now... > Using the blog as distraction from work

Blogging instead of doing things I “have to” to do is a problem I sometimes have. “Clean the bathroom” or “blog”, ummm I think I will write that post now…

]]> By: maneesh http://www.chrisg.com/how-could-bad-blogging-hurt-your-company/#comment-6208 maneesh Mon, 29 Oct 2007 13:40:14 +0000 http://www.chrisg.com/how-could-bad-blogging-hurt-your-company/#comment-6208 It might not come under direct purview of bad blogging, but not having a vision or goal from your company blog can hurt the brand image of the company to a certain extent. Especially when they fail to come up with a proper use of their blog - is it for news and announcements? is it for promotion and seo to get your yet unclaimed markets.. is it a way to open an interactive medium with your existing clients.. or all of it together whatever be the reason, I feel once chosen the company should stick to that use from the outset. Otherwise it can lead to a mismatch between what the clients/viewers expect and what the firm actually delivers.. and a mismatch is not really what one would call ideal for a brand It might not come under direct purview of bad blogging, but not having a vision or goal from your company blog can hurt the brand image of the company to a certain extent.

Especially when they fail to come up with a proper use of their blog – is it for news and announcements? is it for promotion and seo to get your yet unclaimed markets.. is it a way to open an interactive medium with your existing clients.. or all of it together

whatever be the reason, I feel once chosen the company should stick to that use from the outset. Otherwise it can lead to a mismatch between what the clients/viewers expect and what the firm actually delivers..

and a mismatch is not really what one would call ideal for a brand

]]> By: maneesh http://www.chrisg.com/how-could-bad-blogging-hurt-your-company/#comment-17876 maneesh Mon, 29 Oct 2007 13:40:00 +0000 http://www.chrisg.com/how-could-bad-blogging-hurt-your-company/#comment-17876 It might not come under direct purview of bad blogging, but not having a vision or goal from your company blog can hurt the brand image of the company to a certain extent. Especially when they fail to come up with a proper use of their blog - is it for news and announcements? is it for promotion and seo to get your yet unclaimed markets.. is it a way to open an interactive medium with your existing clients.. or all of it together whatever be the reason, I feel once chosen the company should stick to that use from the outset. Otherwise it can lead to a mismatch between what the clients/viewers expect and what the firm actually delivers.. and a mismatch is not really what one would call ideal for a brand It might not come under direct purview of bad blogging, but not having a vision or goal from your company blog can hurt the brand image of the company to a certain extent.

Especially when they fail to come up with a proper use of their blog – is it for news and announcements? is it for promotion and seo to get your yet unclaimed markets.. is it a way to open an interactive medium with your existing clients.. or all of it together

whatever be the reason, I feel once chosen the company should stick to that use from the outset. Otherwise it can lead to a mismatch between what the clients/viewers expect and what the firm actually delivers..

and a mismatch is not really what one would call ideal for a brand

]]> By: John W. Furst http://www.chrisg.com/how-could-bad-blogging-hurt-your-company/#comment-6207 John W. Furst Mon, 29 Oct 2007 13:05:49 +0000 http://www.chrisg.com/how-could-bad-blogging-hurt-your-company/#comment-6207 The market (kind of industry, B2B, B2C, ...) might be a another factor that determines how useful a blog can be. Jakob Nielsen *The Usability Guru* wrote an article, why he is not blogging. He says, the blog-o-sphere is likely to promote posts written by others, by less qualified expert writers, than his own articles. It's a matter of visibility. Of course this does not apply to every situation, but its a worthwhile read. http://www.useit.com/alertbox/articles-not-blogs.html This articles has a nice PR6. --John The market (kind of industry, B2B, B2C, …) might be a another factor that determines how useful a blog can be. Jakob Nielsen *The Usability Guru* wrote an article, why he is not blogging. He says, the blog-o-sphere is likely to promote posts written by others, by less qualified expert writers, than his own articles. It’s a matter of visibility. Of course this does not apply to every situation, but its a worthwhile read.
http://www.useit.com/alertbox/articles-not-blogs.html
This articles has a nice PR6. –John

]]> By: John W. Furst http://www.chrisg.com/how-could-bad-blogging-hurt-your-company/#comment-17875 John W. Furst Mon, 29 Oct 2007 13:05:00 +0000 http://www.chrisg.com/how-could-bad-blogging-hurt-your-company/#comment-17875 The market (kind of industry, B2B, B2C, ...) might be a another factor that determines how useful a blog can be. Jakob Nielsen *The Usability Guru* wrote an article, why he is not blogging. He says, the blog-o-sphere is likely to promote posts written by others, by less qualified expert writers, than his own articles. It's a matter of visibility. Of course this does not apply to every situation, but its a worthwhile read. http://www.useit.com/alertbox/articles-not-blogs.html This articles has a nice PR6. --John The market (kind of industry, B2B, B2C, …) might be a another factor that determines how useful a blog can be. Jakob Nielsen *The Usability Guru* wrote an article, why he is not blogging. He says, the blog-o-sphere is likely to promote posts written by others, by less qualified expert writers, than his own articles. It’s a matter of visibility. Of course this does not apply to every situation, but its a worthwhile read.
http://www.useit.com/alertbox/articles-not-blogs.html
This articles has a nice PR6. –John

]]> By: Michael Martine http://www.chrisg.com/how-could-bad-blogging-hurt-your-company/#comment-6206 Michael Martine Mon, 29 Oct 2007 13:00:32 +0000 http://www.chrisg.com/how-could-bad-blogging-hurt-your-company/#comment-6206 Great points, Chris. Not responding to an issue is a big one. Once you start a blog, you can't just leave it on the table. You're in it for the duration. One important factor for companies is whether they are already dealing honestly and transparently with their customers and the public. If not, any blog will likely be a failure. If a company regularly deceives about safety, effectiveness, or has deplorable customer service, a blog is the worst thing they can do. I think that's one thing these kind of companies don't get: blogs are not "just" public relations tools or propaganda machines. A successful blog for a good company is definitely a case of the "good guys" winning in the marketplace. Great points, Chris. Not responding to an issue is a big one. Once you start a blog, you can’t just leave it on the table. You’re in it for the duration.

One important factor for companies is whether they are already dealing honestly and transparently with their customers and the public. If not, any blog will likely be a failure. If a company regularly deceives about safety, effectiveness, or has deplorable customer service, a blog is the worst thing they can do. I think that’s one thing these kind of companies don’t get: blogs are not “just” public relations tools or propaganda machines.

A successful blog for a good company is definitely a case of the “good guys” winning in the marketplace.

]]> By: Michael Martine http://www.chrisg.com/how-could-bad-blogging-hurt-your-company/#comment-17874 Michael Martine Mon, 29 Oct 2007 13:00:00 +0000 http://www.chrisg.com/how-could-bad-blogging-hurt-your-company/#comment-17874 Great points, Chris. Not responding to an issue is a big one. Once you start a blog, you can't just leave it on the table. You're in it for the duration. One important factor for companies is whether they are already dealing honestly and transparently with their customers and the public. If not, any blog will likely be a failure. If a company regularly deceives about safety, effectiveness, or has deplorable customer service, a blog is the worst thing they can do. I think that's one thing these kind of companies don't get: blogs are not "just" public relations tools or propaganda machines. A successful blog for a good company is definitely a case of the "good guys" winning in the marketplace. Great points, Chris. Not responding to an issue is a big one. Once you start a blog, you can’t just leave it on the table. You’re in it for the duration.

One important factor for companies is whether they are already dealing honestly and transparently with their customers and the public. If not, any blog will likely be a failure. If a company regularly deceives about safety, effectiveness, or has deplorable customer service, a blog is the worst thing they can do. I think that’s one thing these kind of companies don’t get: blogs are not “just” public relations tools or propaganda machines.

A successful blog for a good company is definitely a case of the “good guys” winning in the marketplace.

]]> By: Douglas Karr http://www.chrisg.com/how-could-bad-blogging-hurt-your-company/#comment-6205 Douglas Karr Mon, 29 Oct 2007 12:58:05 +0000 http://www.chrisg.com/how-could-bad-blogging-hurt-your-company/#comment-6205 Great post, Chris. I agree that it's not always the answer. I would state, though, that it's a great answer to many companies - but they simply won't do it out of fear. Great post, Chris. I agree that it’s not always the answer. I would state, though, that it’s a great answer to many companies – but they simply won’t do it out of fear.

]]> By: Douglas Karr http://www.chrisg.com/how-could-bad-blogging-hurt-your-company/#comment-17873 Douglas Karr Mon, 29 Oct 2007 12:58:00 +0000 http://www.chrisg.com/how-could-bad-blogging-hurt-your-company/#comment-17873 Great post, Chris. I agree that it's not always the answer. I would state, though, that it's a great answer to many companies - but they simply won't do it out of fear. Great post, Chris. I agree that it’s not always the answer. I would state, though, that it’s a great answer to many companies – but they simply won’t do it out of fear.

]]> By: chipseo http://www.chrisg.com/how-could-bad-blogging-hurt-your-company/#comment-6204 chipseo Mon, 29 Oct 2007 12:26:20 +0000 http://www.chrisg.com/how-could-bad-blogging-hurt-your-company/#comment-6204 Those are good points, thanks for a great article. It truly needs to be a balance of some kind. Blogging take A LOT of work and time, sometimes there are other things that need attention as well. Those are good points, thanks for a great article. It truly needs to be a balance of some kind. Blogging take A LOT of work and time, sometimes there are other things that need attention as well.

]]> By: chipseo http://www.chrisg.com/how-could-bad-blogging-hurt-your-company/#comment-17872 chipseo Mon, 29 Oct 2007 12:26:00 +0000 http://www.chrisg.com/how-could-bad-blogging-hurt-your-company/#comment-17872 Those are good points, thanks for a great article. It truly needs to be a balance of some kind. Blogging take A LOT of work and time, sometimes there are other things that need attention as well. Those are good points, thanks for a great article. It truly needs to be a balance of some kind. Blogging take A LOT of work and time, sometimes there are other things that need attention as well.

]]>