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...?