Right now, thousands of companies are using corporate blogging as a means of reaching out to new customers. This means that the field is incredibly crowded and getting more so every day. How do you get your blog to stand out from the crowd? It can be complicated at times, but there are several techniques that you can use to make sure that your blog gets noticed and that you beat your competitors.

1. Put a name and a face on your blog.

Don’t make the mistake of anonymous blogging. Many businesses owners make this mistake because they are not willing to put their employees or themselves out in the public eye. The result is a static blog that is boring and unpersonable. You will need to give a name, even if it is just your first name if you want your blog to be successful. A picture is also useful, but if you don’t feel comfortable with that, you’re going to have to use your personality to create that picture in the minds of your readers.

2. Blog about the right topics.

The blogs that get read find a way to mix current events in with their regular company news. The more topics you cover, the better your chances are of being discovered. Read through your competitor’s blogs and see what they are doing. Find out how you can do it better. It’s ok to have a few posts on your blog that may not be directly related to what you do. This helps build up your readership. However, it is important to find some way to relate every post you make to your company or your industry. Otherwise, your readers could get confused.

3. Allow your readers to comment.

It can be pretty scary to open up your blog to comments from your readers. However, this is a risk that pays off by allowing your readers to feel as though they are a part of what you are doing. If you do allow comments, it is alright to moderate them to avoid having a disaster occur, but you should allow some freedom of discussion. Many businesses make the mistake of talking at their readers instead of talking to them. By using comments, you can avoid this common mistake and ensure that your readers will feel that they matter to you.

4. Have fun.

The most common problem that all corporate bloggers face is that their industry may be a bit boring. There is a way to have fun with your posts, stay relevant to your topic and stay professional. If your blog makes you snore, what is it doing to your readers. Change it up every now and again and keep it lighthearted.

In order to avoid many of these pitfalls, it is a good idea to work with someone that is familiar with blog management. You’ll be able to get the benefit of their expertise and they can help you leverage your blog for success.

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Originally posted 2008-07-16 05:05:37. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Although corporate blogging can be a powerful tool, there is a time when it can get pretty dicey. Without proper management, a blog can be a disaster that can end up ruining your corporate image. Let’s take a look at three examples of the good, bad and ugly in the world of corporate blogging.

The Good

A good corporate blog finds the balance between being personable and professional. This is a juggling act, but when it’s done right, the result is a successful blog that builds a solid relationship with the public. The best example of a good corporate blog is Sun Microsystems. They’ve allowed their employees as well as management to post blogs on anything under the sun and the result has been terrific in the blogging community. Readers feel connected with the company and they can now put faces with a big corporation. This company has long been a leader in the corporate blogging world and they are a very good example to emulate.

The Bad

Walmart is a terrific example of corporate blogging gone bad. They set up a blog that was supposed to be written by a couple that was traveling the US in an RV and staying at Walmarts. The only thing that was not mentioned was that Walmart was sponsoring this as a corporate blog – not as a personal endeavor as the creators originally claimed. The blogosphere soon found out and the result was scorn. This did not do Walmart’s image any favors and they quickly retired the blog in question and have not made any new overtures.

A lot can be learned from this debacle. Never try to masquerade a corporate blog as anything but a corporate blog. It will backfire.

The Ugly

Earthlink’s blog is perhaps the most notorious. The company already has customer service issues and a lot of ill will already. When they debuted the blog, they were opening themselves up to a whole new host of problems. First, they didn’t allow comments, then they did, then they didn’t and the cycle continued. The posts ended up addressing constant controversy instead of addressing any key issues for the company. They simply could not surmount these obstacles and the blog was eventually cancelled.

For this lesson – make a decision and stick to it. Otherwise you look wishy washy. If you have trouble with customer service, a blog may not be the best idea. Don’t open your company up to problems right off the bat if you are concerned that the blog will turn into a public bashing forum for your company. This was a bad decision on the part of Earthlink and one that they undoubtedly regretted. Instead of fixing their image, they ended up reinforcing bad publicity.

The best way to ensure that your corporate blog joins the ranks of The Good in blogging is to work with a management company that can help you navigate the treacherous waters of blogging. With their help, you can avoid falling into The Bad or The Ugly categories.

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Originally posted 2008-08-08 05:16:46. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Few people realize how powerful a blog can be when it comes to projecting an image to the public. Words have a power all their own and the wrong ones may sink your company’s reputation. Before you even start your own corporate blog it is very important to first come up with the image you would like the public to have of your company. Then, figure out how you want to get that image to come across. Here are some hints to help get you started.

1. Honesty is always the best policy.

While full disclosure of a company meltdown may not be the best idea, it is always important to be honest in your blogs. Never try to stretch the facts, pad your accomplishments or make your company look like something it is not. The blogosphere as it is called is an incredibly small little micro-universe and news, both good and bad, travels fast. It only takes one small slip up to tank your company’s image.

2. Be engaging and never dull.

Most people think of companies as being grey, lifeless and without any character. You can dramatically change that perception by having a blog that is engaging, fun to read and exciting. However, you have to walk that fine line between getting people interested in your company and becoming unprofessional. If necessary, try to take a few courses in creative and persuasive writing. It will definitely pay off.

3. Avoid the sales pitch.

There is a way to move products on your blog without having it sound like an informercial. Today’s blog readers don’t want to read a commercial – they want news and they want it now. Instead of blatant sales pitches, find a way to integrate your products with what you are talking about, or what is in the news right now. This way, you’re actually providing your readers with help instead of hawking your latest product in their face.

4. Be friendly and cultivate blogging relationships.

The whole point of blogging is that it is very social in nature. The whole point of corporate blogging is to bring that element into your business to help increase your customer base and build a stronger brand. By inviting popular guest bloggers in your niche, or just developing some great friendships with other bloggers, you can build a strong network between each other, and everyone wins.

It is also important to remember to be very friendly, but professional, when dealing with your readers. Never get dragged into a flame war on your blog or stoop to picking fights with readers that leave comments on your blog. In the end, you’re going to be the one that looks bad, and that is not the image you want to project for your company.

These are just a few hints to get you started on the path to presenting the right image of your company. Sometimes it helps to have a professional walk you through these initial phases and we highly recommend hiring a blog management service to do just that.

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Originally posted 2008-08-14 05:00:10. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Since corporate blogs are so popular, there are quite a few myths that go along with them. Before you even start your own blog, it is important to be able to separate fact from fiction so that you go into this process with the right expectations. You can really learn a lot from these myths, and you’ll know what you should not be doing on your blog.

1. Build it and they will automatically come.

This is completely untrue. You need to work to build your readership and it may take months. Unless you are already very popular and get a lot of daily traffic, you’re going to have to work hard to build up that audience. It is very easy to get discouraged with this process, but if you can stick with it, you’ll be greatly increasing your chances for a very popular blog.

2. Comments are a bad idea.

No one really wants to give their customers an open mic, especially if the company already has a history of customer service issues and a bad reputation. However, comments, when moderated, can lead to an open and frank discussion that is very useful for your business. In addition, it gives the impression that you really do want to hear from your readers. Commetning on blogs is a very big part of many blog reader’s lives and they will want this opportunity.

If you do have a problem with disgruntled customers, then comments may not be a good idea, especially if you let them go live without first moderating them. Try to weigh the pros and cons and then once you have made your decision stick with it. It is better to have never allowed comments, than to have allowed them and revoked them down the road. This will be perceived badly and will give the public the impression that you are trying to hide something.

The best answer is to set all comments to moderation, which means that you will get to read them and approve them before they go live. There may be a few grumblings about this, but overall, it is much safer than allowing comments to go live immediately after they are written.

3. It’s ok to have fun and be strange on your blog.

You still are representing your company, so you’ll need to find that balance between being engaging and being stupid. You don’t want your company to get dragged through the mud because of one ill thought out post. Make sure that you never post anything that could result in someone thinking less of you or your company. It’s fine to have fun with your blog, but never forget that it needs to be professional.

Blogging is tough, and many companies prefer to hire someone to help them through the entire process. A blog management company can assist you in determining the future path for your blog as well as with marketing and daily maintenance. They make it easy to have a successful corporate blog.

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Originally posted 2008-07-01 05:35:27. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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It is obvious that the concept of executive blogging is becoming more popular, as businesses small and large are suddenly turning to blogging as a way to convey news and information to their customers and clients. Still, many companies are wondering if executive blogging is a worthwhile endeavor for them to invest themselves into, especially because it can take some time and effort to get the blogging process started. If you are wondering if executive blogging is a good idea or a bad idea, keep reading, and you may get a much better feel for what makes corporate blogging so advantageous to so many companies. In fact, most people would be hard pressed to name a reason against executive blogging, considering how many benefits are associated with it.

In our new and changing marketplaces, it is becoming absolutely crucial for companies to build relationships with customers that are long and lasting. In order for a relationship to bloom, it needs to incorporate healthy communication and trust between both parties. There are many different ways that a company or a brand can communicate with its customers such as advertising through the television, through print, through radio, billboards, websites, newsletters, banner advertising and so much more. Unfortunately, most of these methods of advertising and marketing are impersonal, and they focus on making a sale rather than really reaching out to the readers and the viewers in order to create a strong and lasting relationship.

Most customers do not really mind getting information and news about a company, but they do not generally enjoy having their privacy invaded through marketing gimmicks on a constant basis. Reaching out to customers in other ways is generally more advantageous because it allows you to build powerful relationships with your customers past, present and future. Customers can go through your blog on their own time and at their own level of convenience. They can subscribe to your blog’s RSS feed, can leave comments and feedback, and can interact with you through your blog in a variety of different ways. In other words, by blogging, you can create lasting relationships that facilitate good communication between your company and your customers.

A business blog or corporate blog can service as a nicely non intrusive way for you to build and facilitate healthy two way communication with your customers over a long period of time. This is really easy to achieve, and involves creating plenty of resourceful and useful content keeping customers and other readers coming back for more. Some of the information that you can provide in your blog may include statistics, trends, tips, tools, guides, expert views, interviews and how-to advice relating to your company, industry or products.

With a corporate blog, you can build a large and consistently growing community of loyal readers that you can specifically target whenever you introduce new products or services, without having to pitch marketing campaigns to them. In other words, to answer the question of whether executive blogging is good or bad, the answer is a resounding “Good”!

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Originally posted 2008-12-16 05:13:35. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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As corporate blogging becomes more popular, many companies are wondering if this is something that is right for them. There are many benefits that can be achieved by having a corporate blog, such as increased sales, better brand recognition and SEO, but none are as important as creating that personal link with your readers. A corporate blog is a tool that can be used to really create a relationship with readers, which can result in an increase of the other three points mentioned above.

To create that personal link there are a few techniques that should be used, as well as a few that should be avoided. In many cases, a fine balance is needed to accomplish your goals. For example, if you need your corporate blog to move a certain product, there is a way of selling it, without appearing overly commercial. Let’s look at a few ways that companies can create the personal touch with their blog.

First, the blogger needs to give at least their first name. A last name is not essential, but if you are a well known executive, this can be a good thing to add. No blogger should be anonymous, as this makes the corporate blog feel more like a promotional tool than a public service or outlet for information. In addition, it does help to have a picture of the blogger, since this does give the readers a face to go with the posts. This is is not necessary, but it is helpful.

Next, the blog should focus on providing information that is useful to readers. This point cannot be stressed enough. If a post is useful, readers are less likely to be offended if you are selling them something. Not all of your posts should be centered around “Buy our products.” You need to create a mix of personal posts, product announcements and news that is related to your industry.

The next point is vital – creating the right kind of relationship. When you first start blogging and you’re getting new readers that are interacting with you, it’s easy to let your guard down and let that level of professionalism slip. This should never happen on a corporate blog. If you need a personal outlet – create your own blog – but don’t bring your issues and opinions to your corporate blog.

This is your company’s public face – do you want it to be perceived as unprofessional and scatter brained? No! Each post should be written in a concise format that uses appropriate language and humor, without crossing the line. This is a balancing act that can be difficult at first.

We recommend using a blog management service that can assist you in finding that balance and avoiding the pitfalls that doom corporate blogs to failure. These are powerful tools, but you need to make sure that you are using them in the right way to avoid having a disaster on your hands that is hard to erase from the public’s mind.

Photo Credits: 1

Originally posted 2008-06-27 05:37:17. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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So many advice columns, tips and books focus on what you should talk about on your corporate blog, but few ever go into things that you should not talk about. While it is important to focus on the positive, you also need to be aware of some common mistakes that can derail your efforts. With the right approach, and saying the right things, your corporate blog can be successful. However, it only takes one bad post to sink all the work that you have done.

Let’s go over a few things that have no place on corporate blogs:

1. Company Rivalries –

If company X has stolen your customers/clients/ideas, your blog is not the place to air that dirty laundry. Company rivalries may be interesting, but at the end of the day, the participants just end up looking foolish, or downright nasty. It is best to take the high road when you are in the midst of a problem like this and keep the dirty laundry where it belongs. Your corporate blog should always present the best possible public face to the world, and that face should not look petty.

2. Bad News –

While there are some instances where full disclosure on a blog can benefit a company when there is bad news, if you are not versed in the art of communicating bad news and putting a good spin on it, it does not belong on your blog. Once again, we come to the public face of your company. Your blog is the place for positive news, not for “the sky is falling and we are all going to be homeless.” Keep the bad news out of your blog, unless there is absolutely no way that you can avoid addressing a problem.

3. Inappropriate Humor/Graphics/Videos/Sound Files –

Viral videos have exploded on to the scene and although many are truly funny and you may want to share them, they have no place on a corporate blog. Bottom line – if you wouldn’t tell a joke, show a video or graphic to your 98 year old grandmother, it doesn’t belong on your blog. You may think it’s funny, 99% of your readers may agree, but it’s that 1% that can tank your company. Always keep it clean, and avoid running the risk of tarnishing your company’s image through inappropriate content.

One thing that corporate bloggers need to be aware of before they write one word is that in the blogosphere, a post is forever. It’s not just about weathering the storm that a bad post can cause for a week. Thanks to search engines, caching, linking and copying, a bad blog post will live forever.

Before you write anything, think for a minute if you will be proud of that post in a month, a year, five years. Chances are, that’s how long that post will be around. If the answer is no, write something else. Always take the high road and your company will benefit.

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Originally posted 2008-10-22 05:29:19. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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If you have decided to allow comments on your corporate blog, it is a good idea to start mapping out how you will handle certain situations now, before they actually happen. Sooner or later, something will come up with your readers and it is very helpful to have a planned response all ready to go. Let’s look at how you can steer any comments into the right direction.

First, let’s cover what would happen if you are dealing with an event in the media that is not particularly flattering to your company. It’s a good idea to craft an official response to any comments that may come up on this issue. You may also want to do the same in a blog post, addressing the issue and finding a way to spin it in a positive direction. There is always a way to turn something bad into something good, and your honest efforts will be appreciated by your readers. In fact, you may even find that they are behind you instead of against you.

It is also a good idea to work on responding to incendiary comments with a level head. This is a trap that can ruin many a corporate reputation. There are people out there that live to leave nasty comments on blogs and some will just keep going back. Instead of ignoring those comments, or engaging the person in a heated discussion, craft one simple response that addresses the main points and leave it at that.

At times, it can be difficult to deal with comments and often, many people wonder why they allowed them in the first place. However, it is never a good idea to suddenly remove the ability to leave a comment on your corporate blog, especially if you are going through a public issue. This gives a very bad impression of your company and makes it look as though you have something to hide.

It may not be the easiest thing in the world, but if you are allowing comments, you’re going to have to stick with it and weather the storms. You do have some options when it comes to handling those who consistently leave negative comments or those that bring absolutely nothing to the discussion but flamewars.

Most blogging applications have a feature that will allow you to block certain IP’s from being able to leave a comment. This can be a real lifesaver when you are trying to steer comments in a positive direction. Find out which person is responsible for the nasty comments, ban their IP and go about your business.

Alternatively, you can require registration on your site before someone can leave a comment. Most people who live to start flamewars and irritate others will not go to the trouble of setting up an account. If they do, you’ll have their email address and more information about them, which is very useful in this situation.

When handled professionally, comments can add a lot to your blog, but always remember to be positive and cool under pressure.

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Originally posted 2008-08-19 05:14:35. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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In this day and age, the hottest media and the hottest method for communicating with customers, employees, business partners and competitors are through corporate blogging. If you create a corporate blog for your business, and you follow some basic strategies for improving communication through this popular online media, you will make waves not only in your company, but in your industry, and the entire market as well. More and more companies and corporations are turning to blogging as a means of communicating within the industry. Do you want to start corporate blogging now, while there is still time to make waves, or do you want to wait until you’re stranded with the old forms of communication, when your competitors are reaching out to your customers via their corporate blog?

Face the facts:

If you want to improve communication in your company, you need to start blogging. Corporate blogging will allow you to create new lines of communication between employees, business partners, customers and company and competitors as well. By creating a corporate blog at this point, you are simply opening your company up to the same lines of communication that other companies, possibly within your industry, are already utilizing to reach out to new customers and target markets.

The level of communication that you can create by corporate blogging is better than every other form of communication available between businesses and their customers. If you do not already have a corporate blog, or if you have a corporate blog but you are not properly utilizing it, then you need to make a change right now. If you do not have time to write in a corporate blog as the owner of a company, you need to find someone who can keep up with your corporate blog for you. There are plenty of corporate communication consultants and professional bloggers out there that are more than capable of writing a corporate blog for you. The best corporate blog is one that is written by the company itself, but if you cannot find a way to maintain your own corporate blog, you need to seek help rather than scrapping the idea all together.

Corporate blogging opens up new lines of communication between everyone that your business could ever come in contact with. If you want to create new ways for your customers to reach out to your company, or for your employees to communicate with you and within the business, then you need to create a corporate blog. Once you understand how a corporate blog works and how it can benefit you, you will better understand the importance behind keeping a blog for your company. Try it out for a couple of weeks, open up new lines of corporate communication, and then make the decision of whether you want to keep it up on your own or hire in a corporate communication consultant that can help you get the job done.

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Originally posted 2008-12-19 05:19:45. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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For those thinking about starting a corporate blog, there are a few caveats that should be considered before you ever throw your hat in the arena. The blogosphere can be a scary place if you are not prepared and it is easy to have a disaster of epic proportions on your hands without even realizing it. There are numerous stories of corporate blogging disasters and while they can be amusing, the owners of the companies affected probably would not agree.

A corporate blog is a unique tool that allows you to reach out to the public, increase brand awareness and build up your customer base. It is also a tool that has the potential to cause irreparable damage. You don’t want your blog to go down in flames, and you certainly don’t want it to take your company with it. Here are some tips to help you avoid the most common blogging disasters.

1. Pick your bloggers well.

If you will not be doing your own blogging, this usually means that the task falls to an employee. You will need to make sure that they are well balanced, can handle criticism and can post in an articulate and friendly manner. Think of this blogger as a public speaker – would they present the right face for your company to the public?

You also need to make sure that the employee is a stable individual that is not prone to bursts of anger or being disgruntled. You don’t want your company’s dirty laundry aired to the world and it only takes one angry blogger to turn the tide against you. If you end up firing a blogger, make sure that you remove their posting capabilities BEFORE you do so that they don’t have a chance to post one last burning missive.

2. Be consistent.

If you decide to allow comments on your blog, great. Just don’t change your mind. This gives an incredibly bad image of your company and makes it seem as though you have something to hide. Likewise, refusing to allow comments on your blog can give the same impression. Find the balance by using comment moderation tools to weed out bad comments and let the good ones through.

3. Always remain professional.

Your corporate blog is not the place to get overly personal. You may be having a bad day, you may hate your job, you may want to stick it to your spouse/boyfriend/girlfriend but your corporate blog is not the place to air these subjects. Always keep your private thoughts private – they just don’t belong on your blog. Keep your posts friendly and open, but make sure that you never cross that line.

By utilizing these three simple rules, you can avoid becoming a blogging disaster for the history books. If you have never blogged before, or you prefer not to leave your company’s future in the hands of an employee, it is a good idea to get some help with your blog. There are blog management services that specialize in helping you present the right image and get your message across.

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Originally posted 2008-07-15 05:25:42. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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