Mw2008 Blog Workshop Why Have A Blog Ellis

why have a blog?
how is blogging different to “the website”?
what motivates anyone to have a blog?
why a museum blog?
what makes a good blog?
some examples of different uses

blogging vs. “the website”
typically “the website” is:
“ official”
formal
marketing-driven and branded
impersonal
typically, “the blog” is:
“ un-official”
informal
away from brand pressures
personal

sadly..
it is also the case that:
“ the website is hard to change so I set up a blog”
“ I don’t need to ask the IT department”
“ Our blog is ‘under the radar’ ”
“ We control it and can change what we want”
these aren’t good reasons for having a blog...
...but they are often the reality!
which is why some people use blogging software as a CMS...

why have a blog at all?
problems with IT aside...
we want to communicate
we have something to say

why a museum blog?
blogs are great at the niche or long tail
museums are great at the niche or long tail ...
there is a compelling mystique about museums:
“ why do they collect that and not this?”
“ what made them choose that exhibition?”
“ why is this particular object special?”
“ how do they make their money?”
museums want to connect with audiences..
..and blogs allow you to communicate with your most loyal and enthusiastic visitors

so what makes a “good” blog?
blog with passion and because you want to!
have a personality , a defined tone of voice
find a niche (or at least well-defined) area of interest
build your community: two-way engagement
create well written, intelligent posts
don’t just regurgitate , but find a new angle
link a lot, and read the links you lunk to 

some examples
Brooklyn Museum ( http://www.brooklynmuseum.org/community/ ):
embracing the audience
crossing barriers between real and virtual
entwined with everything they do: “community” is a part of the whole
personal: the director’s apartment! ( http://themoment.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/04/03/now-screening-brooklyn-views-the-home-of-arnold-lehman/ )

more..
Fresh and new(er) – Seb Chan / Powerhouse: ( http:// www.powerhousemuseum.com/dmsblog/ )
technology focussed..
a way of showcasing and “launching”
a “sounding board” for discussion
strikes a good balance between institutional and personal

more..
English Cut (not a museum, but a great blog!) ( http://www.englishcut.com/archives/000125.html )
It’s about a tailor!
It’s “behind the scenes” – all the things you wanted to know but never asked
Personal, engaging, different
...and has caused considerable stir, not to mention traffic (and hence business...!)

more...
Bowers Museum ( http://bowersmuseum.blogspot.com/ )
a way of showcasing the “object of the week”
gives focus to posts
...and a defined “check back in X days”
...but not enough commenting or linking!

conclusion
varieties of different approaches
personal aspect is what makes these tick
..finding out about the people behind the formality
perhaps that is what people want from museums?!

thanks
any questions...?

Mw2008 Blog Workshop Why Have A Blog Ellis

by Mike Ellis on Apr 18, 2008

Accessibility

Categories

Tags

Upload Details

Usage Rights

Statistics

Mw2008 Blog Workshop Why Have A Blog Ellis — Presentation Transcript