To Edit or Not to Edit?  That Is the Blogging Question.

Posted by: Amy Hooker, Director of New Media Feb 25, 2009 1 Comments

Sure, it’s never a bad idea to have someone take a second look at something you’ve written—a fresh set of eyes can catch typos and point out passages that are potentially confusing. But when it comes to blog posts, tweets, and social media conversations, time is of the essence. An insightful, relevant blog post can become less so as the news grows stale and other voices chime in. Likewise, a clever, timely tweet can become a confusing annoyance when delivered out of context.

Think about it this way. When done well, a blog or social media interaction isn’t just like a conversation—it IS a conversation. If a white paper or report is like a formal presentation at a conference, a blog post or social media interaction is like the conversation that takes place in the hallway between sessions. There’s no red pen-wielding editor there. There are only the good decision-making powers of the person who is speaking and the realization that his or her organization may be judged positively or negatively based on the impression he or she makes.

How do you make sure your staff is ready for blogging? It’s simple. You make sure that they understand some general rules of ethics and that they know what’s okay to discuss and what’s off limits. Then you trust them to do the right thing — and to err on the side of caution if they have any qualms whatsoever.

A good blog editor is a person who sets clear expectations and guidelines and then makes him/herself available for bloggers who ask for help.

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Amy Hooker

Director of New Media

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