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

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

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...

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

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

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 

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/ )

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

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...!)

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!

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?!

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...?

any questions...?