New Year. New Bloggers' Block.

Sorta.

So there we are, a few bloggers under one rooftop at PubliGestion. We dubbed our blog "Bloggers' Block", a merger of six very distinct blogging voices: Olivier (Ob) our Marketing Director, Pong our Head Graphic Designer, Jacquemine (JL) one of our Account Executives (we needed to add at least one person from the "other" side), Richie (RM) our Producer, Keriko our friend from space (he comes in peace), and myself - Veronique (VC), our Digital Marketing Strategist. Ultimately, Bloggers' Block is a team effort and every single member of the PubliGestion team contributes in his or her way.

You may be wondering why we are suddenly introducing who is behind the blog. Well, this year, we're going to do things a little bit differently. Rather than posting every monday, we will post every wednesday. It's the middle of the week. You need a break from your reports, we need a break from our clients (we love you!), but we both need to share and consume knowledge. BTW, don't be surprised if we post twice in a week sporadically - life isn't about the walls and rules which constrain us ;). 

We promise you though that our voices won't change. Our blogs will be consistent as usual, but this year, note that there will be 6 distinct POVs sharing a common vibe of advertising, design, Haiti, inner peace, and all things net. En d'autres mots, a little something for everybody. We will be full of surprises, and it'll never be the same perspective - basically what you always loved about us. What we will keep on doing in the same way is that we will continue to jump in on topics together. At PG, we give out ideas for free because it's all about sharing the wealth that is le-savoir-faire. And on Bloggers' Block, you'll always get six for the price of free. 

PubliGestion, forever.

Can your intern write your blog?

If your intern is an English major, or a writer with a proven track in writing engaging and consistent content that is search engine optimized…hmmm, maybe? However, rule 101, remember that your blog has to be coherent. By coherent we mean logical and consistent. In a field of infinite blogging possibilities, great blogs revolve around subjects  its bloggers know best. The secret is to always theme posts that are part of your field of lexicon. That way readers know what to expect from you, and keep on coming for more of the same good stuff.

If you always blog about hot dogs, don’t diversify and talk about the new breed from the American Kennel Club. You know?  Before deciding to have a blog, remember this: good blogging takes time and commitment.  If your company is serious about creating an essentially great blog, begin with the end in mind.  

Not to toot our horn, but our social media team would like to remind you that a great blog (and we’re starting to think our blog isn’t too bad) must have many brains, but a distinctive pen.  With training and practice, your intern may be able to write your company’s blog. So, to Nathalie (our new intern), if you are willing to jump the ink, we’d love to train you! From the way you talk about your weekend escapades, you must be natural born storyteller. :-)

Blogging 101: Don't lose your reader

I’ve been reading a lot of Seth Godin lately, and honestly…that guy is nearly as smart as Einstein, but in our world of marketing and selling things. I’m not sure Mr. Godin could come up with the Theory of Relativity, but just like Einstein’s theory enriched the world of astronomy and physics, Mr. Godin’s daily blog has enriched the world of marketing and communications, well my world at least...by its simplicity.

He Keeps It Short and Sweet. His blog entries are never too long. He doesn’t lose the reader, and thus came my inspiration for this blog entry: How Not To Lose Your Reader. Here are some tips, and hopefully, you’re still reading.

Here at PubliGestion, we believe CONTENT is king, or queen… but we believe that the content in your blog should represent your brand, your company lifestyle and each and every employee within your organization. That authenticity makes you the needle that stands out of the haystack.

Tip 1: Design, design, design. Make sure your blog looks professional and trustworthy. Who wants to read a blog that looks like a 90's Frankstein web 1.O?

Tip 2: Entertain, but don’t overdo it. If you own a dentists office, yeah, you could blog about root canals, but don’t get into terminology your reader may not understand.

Tip 3: Educate on what you know. Don’t talk about the land if you're a little mermaid, for example. Or, don’t say you’re a web designer if all you can do is HTML on notepad.

Tip 4: Don’t spam. Who wants to receive 10 emails per day about your blog anyway? Okay, maybe your mom, but that’s about it. Don’t make your readers run for the hills.

Tip 5: Have a goal in mind. Have a strategy. Don’t just wake up one morning and say: “My company needs a blog.” Blogging is like marriage, it's a commitment. Are you ready to post regularly and on time? Be smart about your blog—plan, conquer and love it!

Remember, stand out and be BOLD.

If you have more tips and how-to's, leave them below. ;)