Blogs and Blogging - What do you want to know?

Hi colleagues, I'm Jocelyne Boorman. I'm working this week and next with my fellow CASCADE member Josh Hoole.  Marc Osten of Summit Collaborative will also join us to facilitate our online engagement with you about blogs and blogging.

To start us off we'd like you to view the video below that Josh has found and/or read an article about blogging. They provide you with a really simple explanation of what a blog is and demystifies the name!

The web address for the article is: http://www.problogger.net/archives/2005/02/05/what-is-a-blog/   ... or click here to read it.

After you've read the article and/or viewed the video it would be great if you could use the 'comment' function below to share any questions that the video and/or article raised for you.

You will see that we already have a bunch of questions already submitted. Thanks Philippa, Cat and Ian for getting us off to a great start!

Next week we'll report back from a few experts in the field, who will answer your questions. They will also share the best web-based resources that can help us learn more about blogs and blogging. We hope you enjoy it and find it useful!

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Comments

[Marc Osten]

Hi everyone. Next week I and some of my close colleagues will jump in and produce short video responses to your questions....SO DON'T BE SHY!

The questions you ask are probably the same that other people have so GO FOR IT!

Marc Osten

[Philippa Leary]

I went straight to the video link first. I love video for technical stuff because you don’t have to make all that reading effort as well as understanding!

Video was useful because it explained the ‘what’ really well. But I was truly inspired once I moved through to the blog itself. There are some links near the end of the page, where you get to see different types of blogs*. This link [http://www.problogger.net/] has a video of the blogger and his baby son Henry talking about how to blog – what you should include and how to make it personal.

This information is perfectly timed. I have been trying to persuade a colleague that he needs a blog as part of his Policy and Networking. He’s coming around to the idea and has promised to take a look at the cascade site tomorrow.

I have two questions for Marc and colleagues.
Firstly, which blog software would you recommend?
Secondly when I clicked on the second link in this blog* to view another example of blogging style – my web browser redirected me to a site selling camera equipment! Did anyone else experience this and what causes it?

[Cat]

It's great to see an introductory feature on blogging, but I think we need to consider why we might blog before we jump in.

I've seen a lot of corporate/charity blogs which are rarely updated, and when they are the content is uninteresting and the voice of the writer is stilted. Before you begin a blog I think you need to commit to it, have an idea and a passion for it, and have great writers.

I also wonder about confidentiality - you need very clear boundaries about what can and cannot be shared to avoid violating trust of the groups and individuals you support.

[Ian Goodman]

Blogging is a powerful tool if used correctly.

I think I would echo other comments that people must have a passion for it and be prepared to update regularly with engaging information.

In addition I think that self-editing is a key skill needed for any blogger. If you are blogging under the name of your organisation you need to consider what is appropriate and how things should be put across

[Marc Osten]

Based on the comments already shared, here are the questions on the list so far. I've taken the liberty of extracting questions for the comments made, even if they were not placed in the form of a question.

- Which blog software would you recommend?

- Why should we blog?

- How do we know it makes sense to blog, as individuals and/or as a VCO?

- If we have a blog, how do we know how often to update it?

- How do we ensure that the content on our blog is interesting?

- What about the 'voice' of the blog? How do we know whose-what voice to use as we blög, on our blog or other blogs?

- Before you begin a blog how do you plan to sustain your work on the blog?

- Do we need great writers who have a passion for blogging?

- What about confidentiality? How do we develop amnd enforce clear boundaries about what can and cannot be shared to avoid violating trust of the groups and individuals you support.

- What kind of skills, such as self-editing, are the key skills needed for any blogger.

- If you are blogging under the name of your organisation how do determine what is appropriate and how things should be put across?

[Liam Dillon]

Thanks for posting this! I've been keeping a personal blog for several years now so none of this was really 'news' to me, but it was very well done and explains things very simply for those new to blogging. I believe blogs are one of the most powerful communication tools out there at present and it's good to see them pushed a bit more as I don't think enough people know what they are...

[Marc Osten]

Thanks Liam. Josh really found a great piece that makes understanding this stuff a lot simpler. I'm sure I'll use that video quite a bit with colleagues and clients. BUT tell me Liam, what new questions did it raise for you? That is what we are really trying to zero in on now.

[Liam Dillon]

Honestly, Marc, I can't say that it really raised any questions. I just wanted to comment that I'm glad it's being touched one.

[Laura Bennett]

I liked the video and the article immensely! Really clear and helpful to a non-techie like me.
I'm in the process of setting up a new website for a project called "The Big Opportunity" that I help to run, which will help the voluntary sector engage with opportunities around the 2012 Olympic & Paralympic Games. I think having a blog could be a really cool way of introducing some different opinions, points of view etc. And it's definitely something I could see our virtual volunteers get involved in helping us with too.
These resources are definitely something I'll come back to soon.
BTW, I've never been involved so much after a conference - thank you to LVSC, Marc, Jocelyne, Ian & Josh for doing this work - it really keeps the conference "live".

[Josh Hoole]

I have just had a 'live' example of the benefits of blogging. iT4C held an event for the London Girl Geeks network (a group of female techies from all sectors, as the name suggests!). Using Google's free email updates that show where your keywords have appeared on the web, I got a link to http://technorati.com/posts/Tqi7rf7IZ4EyeXNBHkWTwIg7GbhBvbTaFK%2FjHA2sECY%3D. Essentially, one of the Girl Geek's blogs about the event has been picked up by Technorati, linked it to the Girl Geek blog but the funny thing is this: her blog is really about how much free alcohol she drank that evening BUT she has written a rave review of the event and of iT4Communities!
I see this as an example of Web 2.0 doing the work for us :o)

[Marc Osten]

Laura - Thanks, it is great to hear how useful this has been and how you see ways it can be useful to you in the future.

I think you are right about the opportunity to engage virtual volunteers using a blogging platform and strategies to engage them. Are there any specific questions that come to mind for you as you think about this?

Marc

[Marc Osten]

Josh - That is some GREAT stuff! I just love the way some of this stuff can organically spread because of good tagging. Are there any questions related to this organic stuff, tagging, trackbacking, etc. that you think would be useful to get answers to?

[Laura Bennett]

I'd echo some of Cat and Marc's questions - I think of some of those "W" questions.

Why are we writing a blog? I think it's important that we don't write one just "because everyone else is" - or it could become a ubiquitous, a bit like every band in the world (practically) being on MySpace.

Who's it for? Who are we aiming to reach / to engage. What are we wnating them to think about? And what do we want them to think about us?

What's it about? I.e. for me it would have to be about the VCS (voluntary & community sector) and the Games but anything more specific?

When should we write one - every week / month / quarter? Do people expect a (e.g.) monthly one, that way you can publicise it in e-bulletins/newsletters and you can say "come back on the first day of the month to read our new blog" - or is it more of an occasional thing i.e. when we have something to say.

I suppose I'm talking about having some sort of editorial policy - with a very small "e" and a very small "p" - I think the VCS can get too caught up in policies! Obviously we can't necessarily say anything we want when we have public profiles, stakeholders, service users, relationships with other organisations, funders etc - but then I suppose that brings me back to the "W" questions - if those are clear then maybe the blog will be too?

I also have questions about the technology - that's another reason why I liked the way the people who made the video gave us 2 examples of sites to try.

Laura

[Marc Osten]

Hi Laura - Thanks for the questions. They really crystalise things.

[Beth Kanter]

I looked at your questions and noticed that there were not any about an important aspect of blogging - community building and commenting. One question that I often hear about when and how to moderate comments.

I recently wrote this post in response
http://beth.typepad.com/beths_blog/2008/07/when-should-non.html

[Beth]

Hello again, looks like the blog spam filter didn't like my comment with lots of links to resources!

So, going to leave a number of short comments to get past the spam filer ..

- What kind of skills, such as self-editing, are the key skills needed for any blogger.

COMPETENCIES

* Do you enjoy writing?
* What’s your Message?
* Are you a good communicator?
* Are you better at writing or speaking?
* Do you have any technical ability?
* Are you an organized person?

CAPACITY

* Are you a self starter?
* Are you disciplined?
* Do you have time?
* Are you willing to work hard?
* Are you a creative person?
* Are you a Social person?
* Do you have Stick-ability?
* Are you Consistent?

COMFORT

* Are you thick skinned?
* Are you willing to be in the public spotlight?
* Do you want to be the central on your website?
* Do you take yourself too Seriously?
* Do you have a blend of humility and Ego?
* Are you willing to learn?
* Do you enjoy reading?
* Do you enjoy ‘virtual relationships?’
* Are you honest and transparent?

More here:
http://tinyurl.com/5ajqfr

[Simon Croft]

I thought the video was really useful in helping understanding what a blog is. I guess my question is that since there are many people that don't currently use or read blogs, why would they start to engage with them? What would be needed to get people to participate/ what's the real benefit? Personally, I find that unless it's more than about 40% 'of interest' to me, the time I spend scanning for the interesting threads etc is just not worth it.
Simon

[Natalie Broadbent]

Firstly thanks to everyone involved in initiating this - it's been really interesting to read. I have only just had chance to catch up with the blog post so i may be alittle late but though i'd add my comments anyway!

I really liked the video and article. It really gets at the basics of blogging. A lot of the questions i had, such as what blog software to use, how often does it need to be updated and concerns about whether a blog is really necessary and could help our organisation have already been listed.

I have been thiking about getting parts of the organisation i work for involved in blogging but now i think i need to ask myself why we would do it, what it would bring to the reader and if my colleagues would really want to be involved - there is obviously no use in forcing them! Also i need to think about asking would people read it? Blogs seemed to be one of those things that were a craze, a fashion statement - but are they still read with the same enthusiasm. Or does that enthusiasm have to come from the writer now to pull in the readers?

I am writing a piece for our newsletter about blogging and this has been truly helpful so thanks for all the comments!

[sharon Stainsby]

I'm also late to the thread due to holidays. The video is great and I'm pleased that it highlights that the ability to publish news is now more possible for the masses rather than just the media giants.

I know a few people who have their own personal blogs. They all say that they started out nervously and were sure noone would be interested in what they had to say. However they are now connected to other bloggers and related communities of interest.

I think my question is that when a blog is very much a personal thing, is it really that useful to an organisation as opposed to (for example) an email forum/online group e.g. yahoo group? I would be interested to hear about any people who feel that a blog has brought thier organisation added value above other online tools.

[Eileen Conn]

I have just read the emails. As a community activist I am using blogs on two of our websites to publicise news. See
www.peckhamresidentsnetwork.blogspot.com
www.peckhamvision.org
So they are not personal, and not regular. But they give an excellent minimal efrort & cost publicly available arhcive of what is happening and the history of hapenings. I am sure there is much more we can do to get them known but we just manage within our capacity to do this, as we are all volunteers very busy with jobs and other things as well.
If anyone takes a look at the websites, and has any feedback that would be good.