Blogging is a cornerstone of Web 2.0. Companies and individuals alike are taking to the Web — heck, you probably have one (or two) blogs of your own. That’s how the number of blogs has risen to more than 133 million over the years. Despite the seeming ubiquity of blogs, some companies/individuals remain hesitant (while others jump in too quickly). A few things to keep in mind about blogging.
MYTH #1: Blogging is easy. When you first register on WordPress or have your Web guru add a blog to your website, it’s exciting! You love writing. You will write every day, you say. It’s a fun part of your day. There is no shortage of ideas. But then, the second week arrives … And it gets harder. The amount of time a blog requires may surprise you. For CEOs who aren’t writers, it might entail drafting an outline or dictating message points, followed by a writer’s take and a round or two of edits. For some bloggers the words flow more naturally. Regardless, finding relevant topics can be a challenge — but not as much of a challenge as finding the time. While a blog can be a fun place to express yourself, it’s not always easy to stick to a schedule — there’s almost always more pressing things to do.
MYTH #2: You can write about anything you want. OK, fine, you can. But you shouldn’t. A blog should have a focus — even a broad subject area counts. For example, your blog might be about vegetarian cooking or grilling. It might also be more broadly about food. But if you’re writing a food blog, don’t stray into subject areas like politics or entertainment (unless you somehow plan to bring it back to a culinary subject). Or, for instance, if your CEO is writing the company blog, make extra sure his or her blogs don’t become political rants.
MYTH #3: Your blog is for you, so it doesn’t matter what you say. Four words: It’s on the Internet. Even if you don’t publicize your blog, people can find it. An online forum as a substitute for journaling comes with risks — your boss, friends, parents and more might end up reading it. Is it likely? Maybe not. Is it possible? Yes. Some young people have a blog and share it only with their friends. Don’t count on them not forwarding it. When I started wedding planning, I considered starting a blog about the insanity of the process — a humorous take on a serious day. But then, I realized that true hilarity would come from honest commentary, and I couldn’t be transparent in this format because someone (the family member or vendor who drives me crazy) might read it! If you REALLY don’t want anyone to read it, maintain a password, or consider a Word document on your hard drive. Or go old school, and get a paper diary.