C) WHY: How a Blog Could Work for You
Kivi Leroux Miller December 13th, 2006
Why Does Your Organization Need a Blog
- What value is there in providing content more frequently to a particular audience or on a particular topic?
- What projects, issues, staff, or clientele seems particularly well suited for a blog?
- How would a blog fit into larger communications or organizational goals?
Gauging Your Readiness to Blog
23 Questions for Prospective Bloggers - Is a Blog Right for You?
Several Models for Nonprofit Blogging
1) Straight Advocacy: Trying to motivate action and effect change
See Darfur Actions Alerts and Accessible Airwaves in blogroll
2) Letting Supporters Inside: Make personal connections between staff and supporters with behind-the-scenes detail, personal experiences and emotional reflections
See IFAW Animal Rescue, Easter Seals Recreation Camp, Drug-Free America Parent blog, and Greenpeace in blogroll
3) Building Community: Helping volunteers, clients, or other groups come together under your umbrella
See Interplast, ACS Fabulous at 50, and March of Dimes NICU in blogroll
4) News and General Publicity: Getting your public information and news commentary out more quickly in a organized, straightforward way
See ASPCA and Nomination Watch in blogroll
5) Issue Expert / Professional Development: Covering a topic not specifically related to your mission, but of importance to you or your field more generally
See Confessions of a Nonprofit IT Director in blogroll
6) Events Coverage: Promote an event and archive what happened
See National Recycling Coalition and N-TEN in blogroll
7) Internal Reporting: Help keep staff informed about each others’ activities
See article excerpt on Austin Free-Net.
EXERCISE: Go back to your practice blog and write a post about the type of blog you’d like to create.