how to do your own blog
I’ve been asked a few times about blog writing. How do you blog? What goes into a successful blog?
- Blogging is free: WordPress and blogspot are both free. For additional customer support, you can pay at Type Pad or Powerblogs.
- Decide whether you want a single person or group blog. I do a group blog because I don’t have to generate all the content myself. I also enjoy interacting with the rest of the crew.
- Have a “beat.” Most good blogs are like magazines. They have an audience and specific set of topics. At orgtheory, we do management, sociology, and related social science topics. We also toss in the occasional fun post. If you write consistently on topics you love, it’ll work.
- Have a point of view. Each one of us has a specific take on things and we let it come out.
- Update. This is the most important issue. A blog that isn’t updated at least once a week or so will wither. That’s why I like the group blog. With six bloggers, you can depend on fresh writing.
- Professional tone. People worry how blogging might affect how people see them. Fair point. I’ve found that common sense goes a long way. Be measured and calm in your writing. Be fun. But don’t be mean. And don’t write about confidential conversations (i.e., what happens in the dept stays in the dept). My experience is that a professional & fun blog isn’t a problem.
- Time management. Here’s what I do. When I have a fun idea, such as when I read an academic journal or book, I make a note, or write it down. About once a week, a few of these ideas will turn into blog posts. It takes about as much time as watching 1 episode of a TV show. I really don’t have time for more than that.
There you go. Here is an older post on blog benefits. If you have other questions, or “how to” ideas, drop them in the comments.
Update: Kandarp asked about how we bring traffic to the blog. I think it’s just through word of mouth and links from other blogs. I also think people find us through google searches. For example, “stakeholder theory” brings you to Brayden’s and Teppo’s posts. I don’t think we do any advertising aside from just putting links on the web page. We also get the occasional “big hit.” Both Brayden and Sean were picked up by super blogger Andrew Sullivan. How he heard about them, I don’t know.
I also recommend Joseph Logan’s comment. Definitely worth reading.
[...] HowTo: blog By Guru Fabiorojas has some tips! [...]
HowTo: blog « Entertaining Research
June 23, 2009 at 2:54 am
You forgot “link to and comment on Orgtheory and Scatterplot so that others will know your blog exists.”
John
June 23, 2009 at 3:44 am
It is the nadir of your life if an orgtheory link validates you.
fabiorojas
June 23, 2009 at 3:49 am
I agree with almost everything you say Fabio. But how to drive people towards your blog? For example, I stumbled upon your blog through Google Reader’s list of ‘Recommended blogs’.
Kandarp
June 23, 2009 at 7:15 am
Mine turned five last week, and someone asked me if I’d learned anything in five years (I hope so, even if just a little). A tidy ten thoughts emerged in the comments:
1. Be nice to people. They usually remember it.
2. Stick to what you know.
3. Admit what you don’t know.
4. As Bob Sutton often says, argue as if you are right and listen as if you are wrong.
5. Find people whose stuff you like and promote them. In addition to giving them their propers, you become a trustworthy curator.
6. Keeping a pragmatic, evidence-based view on politics keeps you from being seen as a partisan hack.
7. Try to respond to all comments, especially those that disagree with your posts. You can learn a lot from the challenge.
8. Try to create “a-ha” moments in posts rather than repeating the news. That’s where your personal value shows up.
9. Don’t be afraid to wade into subjects you don’t know well. Admit what you don’t know and try to learn as much as you can.
10. Read a lot off-line. It tends to make you a better reader and writer on-line.
Reading orgtheory each day via RSS has been a very good stimulus to my own writing in the public policy and foreign affairs space. A lot of it translates across decision-making processes.
josephlogan
June 23, 2009 at 7:43 am
Dudes,
When people ask you about blogging, you’re supposed to refer them to that fabulous, innovative and ground-breaking workshop at the upcoming Academy of Management in Chicago. You know, that workshop on Blogging for Management Scholars? The one that features — wait for it– Brayden King AND Teppo Felin? It would feature Joseph Logan too if he’d deign to cross the Atlantic.
Could you please get with the program and do some shameless self-promotion….?
CV Harquail
June 24, 2009 at 1:13 am
Dudes,
When people ask you about blogging, why don’t you recommend that they attend that fabulous, innovative, cutting-edge workshop at the Academy of Management in Chicago, the one on Blogging for Academics?
You know, the workshop with those famous orgbloggers, like Brayden and Teppo, (and would feature Joe Logan if he’d deign to cross the Atlantic)!
Come on you guys, how about a little shameless self-promotion already!
CV Harquail
June 24, 2009 at 11:58 pm
CV: You may be the first person to ever say orgtheory needed more shameless self-promotion!
fabiorojas
June 25, 2009 at 5:48 pm
CV may be the first, but I would second the motion.
josephlogan
June 25, 2009 at 6:00 pm