It's fantastic to see such a hive of activity on our company
blog as more employees share their thoughts. There's a wealth of information
around Conchango so it's good to see people express themselves online and publish
their personal thoughts and opinions. I enjoy reading blogs because they feel
personal - someone who is passionate about a topic has taken time out to
express this.
Everyone has a different writing style. Some people write short references whereas others
write in-depth and well-researched posts. I'm a rambler who starts with an idea and then
drifts off-piste, hopefully returning 4 or 5 paragraphs later to the original
point of my post. Sometimes my ramble is so disjointed that the scribbles are
consigned to bloggers graveyard. But that's my way.
This is my writing style and it’s no more right or wrong than
anybody else’s style. Our company blog
is an open forum to express oneself and to publish content that other people
would be interested in. Whether this
takes 10 words or 800 words, is serious or amusing - it doesn't matter. There is some hesitation from people to
kick-start their blogging career because of misplaced preconceptions that posts
must be detailed and well constructed thinking.
The only important thing is that they are interesting and relevant.
There is basic blogging etiquette but certainly no strict
guidelines. Bloggers should use good grammar, spelling and punctuation. It's important that our posts are relevant
and current. There are plenty of sources
out there so readers are generally interested in up-to-date news. That's not to say the content needs to be
newsworthy - I tend to post about observations from project and everyday
experiences. Others bloggers review sites
products or technologies, make profound statements, offer tutorials, or make
announcements such as the launch of our new
Conchango website.
The subject matter in our blog is diverse and represents the broad skills and
interests at Conchango and varies from technology to business and creative to
recruitment etc
Why do I blog? As a grumpy old man I use the blog as a kind of
therapy by getting user experience frustrations off my chest. I liken blogging
to Speaker’s Corner in Hyde Park. OK, my
posts are incomparable to the ramblings by some of our greatest and most
intellectual whackos down at Speakers Corner, but both offer a soapbox for a
person to express themselves and both offer the listeners or readers the
opportunity to respond.
Other people blog for different reasons, from creating a
personal journal to the enjoyment of sharing stuff. Some people blog for
marketing or promotional reasons whereas many people do it simply as a hobby (yes, it
does get addictive)
Many readers have a short
concentration span or are pressed for time so I try to write posts that come in at around the 500 word mark.
But I've been equally engaged by less than 100 or greater than 1000 word posts.
What's my point... well, this post is to welcome all new contributors to this blog and to
encourage even more to join in. If anyone is hesitant about blogging because
they're nervous about what they say or how to say it then think again and get scribbling.
P.S.
Conchango are recruiting! If any of my ramblings interest you and you
are passionate about User Experience then we'd like to hear from you.
Why not contact me and let's have a chat?
Listening to: La Vie En Rose by Edith Piaf.