Had an interesting conversation today with a reporter from the Kansas City Business Journal. He’s doing a story about corporate blogs. He got my name through a friend and former co-worker. Since I link to here from my website, I guess we could all consider this my corporate blog. Although those who know me know I’m about as corporate as chocolate pudding. Mmmm pudding.
He asked some excellent questions. Excellent, excellent questions. And I, as usual, was candid and honest. (I was going to say extremely candid and very honest but are there degrees of candor and honesty? I don’t know – “do my thighs look fat in these pants?” candid, honest answer: yes. VERY candid VERY honest answer: Holy sh!t, yes!
Okay, maybe you can be VERY honest.)
I told him all the things I thought about using a blog as a marketing tool (bad idea) and what I thought the keys to having a good blog are (be genuine, be clever, be consistent). I did NOT tell him that I feel about my blog the same way I feel about thong underwear. Sort of a love/hate thing. Seems like a good idea at first but then very quickly becomes irritating until you discovery a way to co-exist.
I can see now that I was right not to use that analogy as I am sure I would have then gone into ways I’ve learned to keep my blog out of my proverbial butt crack. And well, I may not be corporate but that just seems a little too chocolate pudding for even me.
I just found the whole thing interesting. It seems there is a lot of jumping on the blogwagon lately. And there is some of it that bugs me. (This from me who has only been blogging for a little more than a year.) I’ve thought and thought about it and tried to narrow it all down. I’m not done yet, but here are my beginning thoughts:
Good – starting a blog because you think it is cool
Bad – starting a blog because you want to be cool
Good – becoming a blogger because you have something interesting to say
Bad – becoming a blogger because no one listens to anything you say
Good – teaching people about your business in your blog
Bad – assuming we care about your business enough to read about it every day in your blog
Good – being real, honest and genuine in your blog
Bad – being really, honestly, genuinely boring in your blog
Good – starting a business blog that talks about your business and what you do in your business because you have an interesting business
Bad – starting a business blog for any other reason
Good – getting it all off your chest
Bad – editing as you go, trying to be bigger than you are, worrying about what your mom is going to say when she reads it, trying to hard to make a point (whoops, time for me to go!)
Good – being nice to me
you're too cute!
Oh those were some really good points. You made me ask myself why I blog... Hm.
Posted by: flowergrrrl | February 16, 2006 at 08:24 PM
To blog or not to blog....I couldn't decide or more accurately, wouldn't decide. Your one bad point that says it's bad if you assume anyone gives a you know what about what you have to say is the tipping point. Once you realize the only reason any of us do this is because we want to and whatever happens afterwards is just gravy. All I can say is I've met some interesting people via the web in the 12 short days I've been doing this and that alone has been worth it. I'm glad you wrote this.
Posted by: Mike Swenson | February 16, 2006 at 08:56 PM
FG - you blog because it gives you something. I think that's why most of us do it - because we need to - or like Mike said because we want to. I think all of us have a need to be heard and this fulfills some of that.
I never take issue with that. The only time I get bugged is when businesses try to use it surreptitiously to market themselves. And speaking of acting bigger than your britches, check out me using the word surreptitiously!
Posted by: Jenne | February 16, 2006 at 09:47 PM
Excellent post JB. Of course, the reporter didn't call me...I'm not as corporate as you are. :) Your good/bad list is very refreshing, and spot on. My favorite:
"Good – becoming a blogger because you have something interesting to say
Bad – becoming a blogger because no one listens to anything you say"
There's a shit-ton of these types of "bad" blogs out there -- people who just rant. A blog -- corporate or otherwise -- should advance a discussion, about whatever.
Posted by: Jeff Risley | February 17, 2006 at 06:17 AM
Jeff, can you imagine if you were less corporate than me? What would that look like for you? PJs at work?
I directed him (the reporter) your way. I told him I thought you would have a different perspective.
Posted by: Jenne | February 17, 2006 at 08:01 AM
I like this. Really made me think. I started blogging for different reasons than the ones that keep me doing it day after day. I am very surprised that I've "met" so many people - as Mike pointed out - it's been a great bonus.
Posted by: Wendy | February 17, 2006 at 02:11 PM
I blog to gather my thoughts and to create dialogue—I love your list. Rings totally true to me, Jenné.
Posted by: Jack Yan | February 17, 2006 at 04:19 PM
Me too Wendy.
Jack, I think gathering my thoughts is one of my favorite things about blogging. There is something about having to put it on paper that makes you cut through the crap.
or try to anyway.
Posted by: Jenne | February 17, 2006 at 05:03 PM
For me, blogging is part discovery, part confirmation. Sometimes it's like when I was a kid and came home after trick-or-treating; I'd dump out all my loot and sort through it, picking out my favorites and what I didn't like as much. Blogging helps me get my thoughts and feelings out on the table and sort through them to find what's true. I really enjoy reading your insights and appreciate your humor. Thanks.
Posted by: Susie Hilsman | February 18, 2006 at 05:25 PM
Thanks for your comments, Susie. I agree - writing it down is a great way to sort out your thoughts. I really like the trick or treat analogy!
Posted by: Jenne | February 19, 2006 at 08:45 AM