Blog Policies

To maintain a professional blog, whether for your business or as a networking tool for yourself, there are certain guidelines or policies that should be followed. Although there is not one set of policies that are set in stone for all blogs, there are quite a few similarities in those of major corporations. GM has adopted the following policies for their company blog.

1. We will tell the truth. We will acknowledge and correct any mistakes promptly.
2. We will not delete comments unless they are spam, off-topic, or defamatory.
3. We will reply to comments when appropriate as promptly as possible.
4. We will link to online references and original source materials directly
5. We will disagree with other opinions respectfully.(1)

In my own personal experience as a small business owner, and blogger, I would ask myself the following questions before I would publish anything that would reflect on me or my business.

1. Would I want a customer/ potential employer to read this?

2. Am I representing myself/my business in a positive light?

3. Could anything I'm posting be taken out of context and potentially offend my readers?

4. Is what I am posting relevant to the subject matter of the blog?

5. Visually is there any content that may be considered inappropriate or unprofessional?

(1)GM fast lane blog, accessed on September 26, 2009 at: http://fastlane.gmblogs.com/about.html

Assignment 1

In this day and age, when most people obtain information from the internet, a professional blog can contribute to presenting a positive face to your target community. According to Internet World Stats, 73.9 percent of the population of North America are internet users. Since the year 2000 there has been a 132 percent increase in the number of internet users.(1) Statistically speaking, if you want to get a message out, the internet is a great way to do it. Although it is over simplistic to say that if you start a blog it will improve your image, it is one tool that if used effectively can not only improve your image, but bring in new customers, and provide valuable information to your readers.

(1)Internet and user population stats for the Americas, Accessed at:http://www.internetworldstats.com/stats2.htm, September 15, 2009.