Blog, even when you have nothing to write about…
At Greystone we are a pretty lean company that gets an extraordinary amount of work done. There are lots of things we could probably do better, but given our size we really accomplish a lot. This is in large part because we have a great team of dedicated and talented individuals working here. Most importantly, everyone is ready to pitch in and do whatever needs to get done at the time. Keeping up this blog is something we all agree is important… we believe in the power and value of blogs, and make recommendations to our clients all the time that they should have a blog of their own. However, when it comes right down to it, Greystone is not great at blogging. The Greystone blog is one of those things which our busy schedules make it tough to get done and days and weeks can go by without anyone writing or posting anything to our blog. That’s why a few weeks ago we created a weekly schedule and assigned everyone a week to post something to the blog. So far, I’m happy to report that we are only a week behind. :) I won’t tell you who at Greystone hasn’t finished they blog post yet, but the pressure is on!
So, this week is my assigned week and as I rack my brains thinking of what to write I am coming up with a blank. There is no excuse, there are lots of exciting things happening that I could write about… many exciting client projects happening, healthcare reform recently passed, it’s March Madness time, and I even jumped out of a plane at 14,000 feet last week. I’m sure one of those things are worthy of at least one blog post. Many of my Greystone colleagues will tell you that when they come to me and ask about blog ideas, I will spout off five good ideas quickly. But, when it comes down to putting my own ideas together, I draw a blank.
I’ve talked to many, many individuals responsible for the online presence at hospitals and health care systems nationwide, and I know this is the same thing that keeps you from starting and maintaining a blog. Many of you feel that overwhelming sense you won’t have anything to write about after the initial list of ideas is done. But, I’m here to tell you, don’t let that stop you! Practice makes perfect. Look, I just wrote an entire post based on the fact that I had no idea what to write about.
If you are stumped for ideas and looking for ways to keep the blog going, try the Greystone approach and rotate the responsibility for blogging amongst many individuals in the organization. They don’t have to be responsible for the Web site, or even in the marketing or public relations department. By spreading responsibility, you are creating a personality for your blog that is more closely aligned with your organization’s culture. Plus, this is a great way to give a greater breadth to your blogging, and voice. Your employees will either appreciate the opportunity to get their words out there, or they will understand how hard it really is… Now to start to think about my next post, before it’s actually my turn again. Any ideas?