Blogging Guidelines

Guiding Principle:  Networking is not about taking, it is about teaching.

As we network we should teach first about our character and our competence in our work.  This cannot be done in a single blog nor should we try.  Issues of both character and competence have many facets to provide plenty of material on which to write.

In short a blog is an article, similar to a staff writer for a newspaper or magazine, where you share your expertise, experiences or opinions on a variety of subjects.  What makes a blog different is the ability for others respond to your thoughts via their own comments.  Your primary intention of using a blog is to communicate specific information.  What you share in your blog should teach about your competence by the sharing of knowledge.  This will encourage people to visit your profile page.

If your intention is to start a conversation, you should start a discussion under the "Forum" tab.

WHAT TO BLOG
If someone worked for a local newspaper, national magazine or trade/association magazines as their staff expert in your industry, what type of articles would you expect to see?

Tips about your industry
Trends in your industry
What is new
What is hot
What people need to know about those products and services
How people use those products and services
What about biblical principles for business?  Great blogging topics.

Besides your career, where are your passions?
Are you your son's baseball coach?  What is the state of little league?
Have you adopted children?  What does someone need to know before adopting?
Are you a gourmet chef at home?  What are some helpful hints in the kitchen?  Share a recipe.

 

 WHAT NOT TO BLOG OR INCLUDE IN BLOGS
In short your blog should not be a veiled commercial or advertisement of any kind.  Write in such a way that the reader gets good, helpful information.  If you include any information that looks like an ad or self promotion, the helpful information will look more like a sales pitch. 

What you share in your blog should teach about your competence by the sharing of knowledge.  This will encourage people to visit your profile page where you can advertise how you wish.

Here is a short list of "do nots"
Event announcements
Advertising/self promotion
No "call to action" such as "Call me for..."
Phone numbers (They can get that from your profile page)
Specific product/service costs, where to purchase etc...

Footers are fine and encouraged as a way to teach your credibility such as "Tom Smith (Author of the blog) is the president of Wally's Widgets in Indianapolis Indiana.  Tom serves on the Board of Directors of the Widget Manufacturers Association."