do's and don'ts for political bloggers

Bente Kalsnes Communication Advisor, Origo.no

@benteka

DO´S AND DON’TSFOR POLITICAL BLOGGERS

LESS SHOUTING…

MORE DIALOGUE…

BLOG POST ABOUT DON’TS FOR POLITICAL BLOGGERS

THANKS FOR THE INPUT:

DON’TS

1. Don’t lie, be open.

2. Don’t be impolite. Manners count, online as well.

3. Don’t leave comments unanswered. Pick some and respond.

4. Don’t let you blog look like a collection of Letters to the editor.

5. Don't write pieces that are journalistically 'complete' (i.e. leave room for readers to allow them to complete thoughts).

6. Don’t underestimate your readers. They are (at least) as smart as you are.

7. Don’t act like someone else. Be yourself. Be brave.

8. Don’t use ghost writers. If you have to, why bother with a blog?

9. Don’t hide your sources. Link to them.

10. Don’t use sarcasm. No matter how clever and witty you are, tons of people will misunderstand.

DO’S

CONTENT IS STILL KING!

DEFINE WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF YOUR BLOG. TELL IT TO YOUR READERS.

READ THE COMMENTS ANDDECIDE WHICH TO RESPOND TO.EXPLAIN YOUR DIALOG POLICYTO THE READERS

LEARN FROM YOUR READERSAND TREAT THEM WITHRESPECT.

BE CREATIVE! COMMUNICATE WITH MORE THANWORDS; IMAGES, VIDEO, ANIMATIONS,DATA VIZUALISATIONS,ETC.

SPREAD YOUR CONTENT TO MANYPLACES AND PLATFORMS (BUTREMEMBER TO ADJUST THE MESSAGETO THE PLATFORM)

GIVE YOUR READERS”ASSIGNMENTS”;ENCOURAGE SPECIFIC FEEDBACK (COMMENTS,IDEAS, LINKS, IMAGES,ETC)

GET FANS AND CHEER ON EACH OTHER.HELP EACH OTHER SPREAD THEMESSAGE AND THE ATTENTION.

USE YOUR BLOG AND SOCIAL MEDIANETWORK TO BRAINSTORMPOLITICAL IDEAS.

FOLLOW RELEVANT CONVERSATIONSOTHER PLACES, COMMENT, LINK TOTHEM AND WHY NOT BRING THECONVERSATIONS ”BACK HOME” TO YOURBLOG?

SURPRISE US! WRITE ABOUT

SOMETHING DIFFERENT FOR

A CHANGE.

IF YOU MANAGE:

WRITE SHORTER, EASIER, FUNNIER.

THAT’S ALL, FOLKS!

@benteka