1. Represent your company, not yourself. Don't allow personal biases and personal information leak into your blogs regarding the company. Only blog topics and information about your company and its corporate stance on a particular theme (1). If you are relaying your personal ideas and opinions, be sure you state that those views are yours and do not necessarily represent the views of the company as a whole.
2. Be careful with your blogs. Be sure that the information you disclose in your posts will not pose any kind of security threat to you or your company. Include only information that will not harm the image or workings of the company.
3. Be respectful. Because blogging is a public space (2), and you are representing a particular company, be sure that you respect the company's opinions and stances as well as the ideas of others who may post or comment on your blog.
4. Comply with Corporate Requests. If your company asks you to blog on a certain topic, or remove certain posts, comply with their requests. The company will ultimately decide whether your posts will protect and enhance the company's image. If they feel you are not being successful in that nature, remove your posts and be more cooperative with the blogging goals of the company.
5. Use Facts. Make sure that you only state facts in your blogs. Limit the use of assumptions, inferences, and opinions that don't directly reflect the feelings of the company.
6. Think about consequences. Make sure that you analyze your writings to ensure that you aren't including biased information, secure information, or other unnecessary thoughts. These things, as well as quality and spelling errors, can lead to certain consequences. Saying and posting anything that can endanger your company can endanger your job.
These ideas are things that should be followed strictly in order to represent your company effectively. If you are using a personal blog, following these guidelines when blogging about your company is also a good idea.
(1)http://www.corporateblogging.info/2004/06/corporate-blogging-policies.asp
(2)http://feedster.blogs.com/corporate/2005/03/corporate_blogg.html
You know I have never thought about thinking about the consequenses. But that is very sound advice for anyone blogging. Thinking about the impact this can have on your comapany, yourself, and even your family. Those are all things that you would never want to hurt. So, it is a great idea to thing about weather or not what you are writting can hurt anyone.
ReplyDeleteSometimes it is hard to hold your tongue about issues that you feel strongly about, but I agree that a business blog is not the place to express personal opinion. What is said in the blog should reflect the business's views and not personal ones. Blogs are created to help business and it is kind of scary that one employee could say something on it, that could ruin the companies reputation or customer base. That is why it is very important to have specific policies that bloggers must abide by.
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