I totally aggree with your guidelines. And it's really important to not force blogging in the intranet. Blogging has to fit into the corporate culture.
But companies should think about heading to a corporate culture where blogging fits. Then decent blogging could be a way to accompany that way to a new culture.
I find your guidelines very valuable so I translated them to german, posted them on my blog (address provided in the URL) and commented them from my point of view.
Thought you might be interested in a feedback that some people over here in Germany share your thoughts.
Anonymous
Many thanks for your post Frank. Does yoru organization blog? What is your experience with blogging on the intranet. Do send along the link to your post in German… Cheers, Toby
Anonymous
Unfortunately my organization doesn't blog. The company is not yet ready for that step but I'm working on it.
In Germany we have a great community of bloggers in the internet, but there aren't much corporate blogs within intranets. Corporate blogging lacks a well-founded reputation, still many company leaders think of students writing their diary or of exotic freaks. But that's changing. I guess Germany is about 1 – 2 years in behind of the way blogging is accepted in US or Canada or France. In the meantime there are a lot of informal meetings and round tables discussing newer ways of intranets or coprorate communication.
I took your title for my post: Intranet Blog: Should you blog the intranet?
I'll try to translate my comments to English tomorrow so you can read it in your language.
Best regards, Frank
Anonymous
I used some german phrases and kept it quite informal so I hope my translation back to English is not too strange – the other way around is easier for me 🙂
* Ensure you or your executive(s) have something to say, and write in a conversational manner
(If don't have something to say then something's wrong anyway. You may continue to send boring texts as press releases to the press but don't do it that way with your employees)
* Ensure your employees have an interest and appetite for reading a blog
(If they don't have: Hunt for some evangelists and use them to lure the others into the trap)
* Develop a content focus (e.g. strategy, innovation,
Anonymous
That's Telekom story is an interesting one. I wonder how the company formally responded? Anyone have a link to an English language story version of this?
Anonymous
I didn't find an english article. Rene Obermann responded on Wednesday, he wrote an email that was sent to all employees. It was published on Spiegel Online (only in German) too.
He responds to the former arguments and emphazises on a personal involvement in strenghening the company. But I doubt many employees will follow his arguments.
Some additional information on Telekom restructuring (in English).
I totally aggree with your guidelines. And it's really important to not force blogging in the intranet. Blogging has to fit into the corporate culture.
But companies should think about heading to a corporate culture where blogging fits. Then decent blogging could be a way to accompany that way to a new culture.
I find your guidelines very valuable so I translated them to german, posted them on my blog (address provided in the URL) and commented them from my point of view.
Thought you might be interested in a feedback that some people over here in Germany share your thoughts.
Many thanks for your post Frank. Does yoru organization blog? What is your experience with blogging on the intranet. Do send along the link to your post in German… Cheers, Toby
Unfortunately my organization doesn't blog. The company is not yet ready for that step but I'm working on it.
In Germany we have a great community of bloggers in the internet, but there aren't much corporate blogs within intranets. Corporate blogging lacks a well-founded reputation, still many company leaders think of students writing their diary or of exotic freaks. But that's changing. I guess Germany is about 1 – 2 years in behind of the way blogging is accepted in US or Canada or France. In the meantime there are a lot of informal meetings and round tables discussing newer ways of intranets or coprorate communication.
I took your title for my post: Intranet Blog: Should you blog the intranet?
I'll try to translate my comments to English tomorrow so you can read it in your language.
Best regards, Frank
I used some german phrases and kept it quite informal so I hope my translation back to English is not too strange – the other way around is easier for me 🙂
* Ensure you or your executive(s) have something to say, and write in a conversational manner
(If don't have something to say then something's wrong anyway. You may continue to send boring texts as press releases to the press but don't do it that way with your employees)
* Ensure your employees have an interest and appetite for reading a blog
(If they don't have: Hunt for some evangelists and use them to lure the others into the trap)
* Develop a content focus (e.g. strategy, innovation,
That's Telekom story is an interesting one. I wonder how the company formally responded? Anyone have a link to an English language story version of this?
I didn't find an english article. Rene Obermann responded on Wednesday, he wrote an email that was sent to all employees. It was published on Spiegel Online (only in German) too.
He responds to the former arguments and emphazises on a personal involvement in strenghening the company. But I doubt many employees will follow his arguments.
Some additional information on Telekom restructuring (in English).
Hi Toby,
Nice post and a good stream of comments. I am very involved with internal blogs at my company (+100.000 empl.)
Recently I wrote two posts on which I would like your opinion, on one of which got a nice comment of James Snell of IBM!
+ http://www.shapingthoughts.com/2007/03/20/requested-some-advice-on-an-internal-blogging-case
+ http://www.shapingthoughts.com/2007/03/21/war-for-talent-corporate-culture-and-social-software (on culture change and the rol of internal blogs)
Looking forward to your reaction, or that of others.
Best regards,
Marcel
All you need to blog is an adjustable bed, a laptop and of course creativity.