Below are best practices for blogging or 8 simple rules for credibly inserting yourself in the blogosphere. Many of these ideas were aggregated from some of the best minds in the blog biz - Robert Scoble, Jeff Jarvis, Pete Blackshaw and my boy Jason Calacanis

 

 

 

 

 

Blogger authority is defined by Key behaviors: how much the blogger posts new content, how much influence or respect they earn among bloggers and how many other bloggers link to them.  Intelliseek trust media report

 

 

 

 

 

1. Be transparent -  When you advertise in blogs or communicate through your own blog, credibility is essential and transparency is the only way to achieve it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. Support the conversation – For marketers to gain reach and influence in the blogosphere, support the conversations of key influencers, do not to try to own them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. Use a human voice –The vernacular of Attorneys and PR professionals has little place in the blogoshere. Blogs are a great opportunity to humanize your brand and connect with your target audience on a personal level.

 

 

 

 

 

 

4. Post fast and first - Be proactive and - Blogs are fast-paced, straight-talking enthusiast discourses on a subject. If all your content has to go through marketing, legal and various approval levels, it will lose its immediacy and its candor.

 

 

 

 

 

 

5. Confront criticism head on – If someone says something negative about your product, link to it and give your side of the story, before everyone else does. Same thing if something good comes out about your company.

 

 

 

 

 

 

6. Under promise – If you say you are going to address an issue by Friday, do it on Thursday.  Corporate habits and follow through are highly scrutinized in the blogosphere.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7. Talk to the grassroots first -  It is not only a good idea to go to your enthusiasts first to show you support them, but it can be one of the most efficient information distribution strategies you can execute.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8. Link out to key influencers– Know who the information gatekeepers are in your category and link to them, praise them when they get things right. These are the people you need to support you in a crisis and you need to support them before you need them.