The Path to Blogging
I have blogged for a year, since CA online book group decided to try it for discussion. Start-up was awkward so members continued using listserv, but I kept posting comments & book covers. In January the blog became a forum to discuss proposed bylaws changes. Members have not tried it but I convert their listserv emails to posts & comments. I am sure they would appreciate its efficiency if they could experience it, but busy folks have no time for even a brief learning curve. A good demo might convince them but I can’t figure out how to provide one. I’d like some suggestions!
Hmm… As you can tell, this blog has taken a hiatus, so it may not be the best example.
Copying things from the listserve to the blog makes it too easy for folks on the list to ignore the blog (but it does make the conversation accessible to those who aren’t on the list).
So I think a two pronged approach is needed -
1. Find folks willing to post and put the content on the blog first. [news.aauwnc.org has a great example in the state public policy chair — not a techie, in particular, but she’s been willing to jump into it.]
2. Find folks willing to read the blog. [We did a training session at the fall meeting that reached a few folks with how to use RSS and such (which was how I found *this* post, of course). But, frankly, we’re still using the blog as a collection point for the news - and we send out an e-newsletter every couple of weeks with the headlines.]
Public policy might be a way to start. Do you think Caroline would be willing to put her items on the blog? Perhaps a motivation would be if Amber could put the public policy headlines on the main site direct from the blog (like the What’s New at AAUW appears on www.aauwnc.org or the news.aauwnc.org sidebar). It’d still need a summary to the branch list every few messages or few days, but it might be easier for everyone.
See change.bbvx.org for various links to Web 2.0 topics and community building. It’s also got a list of other AAUW blogs (TX and NY have started using their blogger accounts in the last few months), including the careaders link.
Let’s talk more!
Comment by Nancy — April 1, 2007 @ 10:04 pm
As another example of an AAUW “blog” — www.bayless2007.org … Look at the RSS link on its bottom right.
Comment by Nancy — April 1, 2007 @ 10:05 pm
Nancy,
I like your suggestion that I find someone willing to comment/post on the blog, especially Caroline. I think about that during offline dialogs with her but I don’t want to suggest it at her busiest time which is probably now. I plan to bring it up in person at convention and maybe go with her to the internet pool for show-&-tell and sign up. (Unless a very good online opportunity comes along.)
BTW Don’t you get emails announcing posts & comments to this blog? I do from CAOnline blog.
Comment by Mary Rack — April 10, 2007 @ 9:22 am
I get e-mail if someone new registers or if a post is held for moderation. But since I think the whole point is to cut down on e-mail, I follow the blog traffic through RSSOwl. And I haven’t been really faithful about checking the several dozen feeds I’ve got configured… So many hours in the day…
Comment by Nancy — April 12, 2007 @ 6:13 pm
Over a year has passed since the last post/comments here. For the sake of the electronic trail I’ll comment briefly to say 1) I followed Nancy’s advise above and it worked fairly well, and 2)I will follow her instructions and move further discussion to her change blog.
Comment by Mary Rack — May 25, 2008 @ 1:48 pm