Comments on: Employee Blog Rules. http://www.jimboykin.com/employee-blog-rules/ Internet Marketing, SEO, and Link Building. Fri, 25 Jul 2008 01:33:01 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Scott http://www.jimboykin.com/employee-blog-rules/#comment-531 Scott Mon, 02 Jan 2006 22:58:09 +0000 http://www.jimboykin.com/employee-blog-rules/#comment-531 You’ve asked good questions. To answer them, however, I think companies first have to answer a different question: Are we willing to make the leap to transparency? Blogs challenge organizations because they further hasten the spread of information. In my opinion, it is futile for companies to think that they can hide their competition from their customers forever, and that they can hide negative news from key stakeholders indefinitely. Before a company can set their formal blogging policies, they really need to think about their brand, and determine the level of public exposure they’re comfortable having that doesn’t come from the PR department. These answers will guide the blog policy which will be different for every company. For the most part, employee blog rules should prohibit them from portraying their company in a negative light by virtue of association. For example, if a bank employee puts up a blog supporting the illegal download of music and references that bank as his or her employer that may have a negative impact on the bank’s brand. That should not be allowed. I do think rules are needed, and I do think employee blogs should be allowed if only because employees will blog whether their employer condone it or not. I enjoy your blog Jim, Happy New Year! You’ve asked good questions. To answer them, however, I think companies first have to answer a different question:

Are we willing to make the leap to transparency?

Blogs challenge organizations because they further hasten the spread of information. In my opinion, it is futile for companies to think that they can hide their competition from their customers forever, and that they can hide negative news from key stakeholders indefinitely.

Before a company can set their formal blogging policies, they really need to think about their brand, and determine the level of public exposure they’re comfortable having that doesn’t come from the PR department.

These answers will guide the blog policy which will be different for every company. For the most part, employee blog rules should prohibit them from portraying their company in a negative light by virtue of association. For example, if a bank employee puts up a blog supporting the illegal download of music and references that bank as his or her employer that may have a negative impact on the bank’s brand. That should not be allowed.

I do think rules are needed, and I do think employee blogs should be allowed if only because employees will blog whether their employer condone it or not.

I enjoy your blog Jim, Happy New Year!

]]> By: Rl clifford http://www.jimboykin.com/employee-blog-rules/#comment-510 Rl clifford Fri, 30 Dec 2005 22:19:28 +0000 http://www.jimboykin.com/employee-blog-rules/#comment-510 If they are writing for the blog on paid company time then you have a right to censor them. If it is both personal and company time it could get sticky. At a minimum seperate the time so they get paid properly and cant hem and haw in the future. Other then that imho let them talk it up, as we know content is where it is at. :) Peace R.L. If they are writing for the blog on paid company time then you have a right to censor them. If it is both personal and company time it could get sticky.

At a minimum seperate the time so they get paid properly and cant hem and haw in the future.

Other then that imho let them talk it up, as we know content is where it is at. :)

Peace R.L.

]]> By: randfish http://www.jimboykin.com/employee-blog-rules/#comment-506 randfish Fri, 30 Dec 2005 22:09:22 +0000 http://www.jimboykin.com/employee-blog-rules/#comment-506 Don't harm the company materially or by reputation (that should cover most stuff) Don’t harm the company materially or by reputation (that should cover most stuff)

]]> By: Sebastian http://www.jimboykin.com/employee-blog-rules/#comment-504 Sebastian Fri, 30 Dec 2005 21:24:43 +0000 http://www.jimboykin.com/employee-blog-rules/#comment-504 <strike> 1. Feel lucky when posting. 2. Don't be evil. 3. Don't slam the competition but politely and honestly explain your point of view. 4. Don't publish the pay roll, the budget, and the balance sheet but talk about everything else. 5. Have a disclaimer linking to your CEO's blog - s/he sets the standards by example. </strike>
1. Feel lucky when posting.
2. Don’t be evil.
3. Don’t slam the competition but politely and honestly explain your point of view.
4. Don’t publish the pay roll, the budget, and the balance sheet but talk about everything else.
5. Have a disclaimer linking to your CEO’s blog - s/he sets the standards by example.

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