I've been obsessing over the provisonal title for this book. Topic: corporate blogging. Audience: savvy but non-techie managers of big companies corporate managers, senior executives and solopreneurs who want to know what blogging is and how they can use it.

Why am I obsessing? As a way to procrastinate, of course. But also... I've been walking through a lot of airports lately and studying the

I've been obsessing over the provisonal title for this book. Topic: corporate blogging. Audience: savvy but non-techie managers of big companies corporate managers, senior executives and solopreneurs who want to know what blogging is and how they can use it.

Why am I obsessing? As a way to procrastinate, of course. But also... I've been walking through a lot of airports lately and studying the wall of business books.  Visually, your cover has gotta have a one-word or two-word title. Though long sub-titles after a colon are OK. So... Blink. Freakonomics. Winning. God (is my) CEO. (Good to) GREAT.

And my, er, brilliant choice, B L O G (colon). Sub-title: How Smart Companies Are Talking To Their Customers and Employees.

Then of course, you need a corresponding URL for your book. That's why I've registered www.BlogSmartCompanies.com. Seth Godin ignores the short title thing,…

Article in yesterday's San Francisco Chronicle talks about the evolving phenomenon of corporate blogging guidelines. As always, the key is to "be smart." Yahoo has just published its blogging guidelines, available for download here (3-page PDF). The #1 rule:

"Any confidential, proprietary, or trade secret information is obviously off-limits  for your blog per the Proprietary Information Agreement

Article in yesterday's San Francisco Chronicle talks about the evolving phenomenon of corporate blogging guidelines. As always, the key is to "be smart." Yahoo has just published its blogging guidelines, available for download here (3-page PDF). The #1 rule:

"Any confidential, proprietary, or trade secret information is obviously off-limits  for your blog per the Proprietary Information Agreement you have signed with  Yahoo!.  To obtain a copy of your agreement, please contact your HR manager..." 

Also noted:  "If a member of the media contacts  you about a Yahoo!-related blog posting or requests Yahoo! information of any  kind, contact PR."

Thanks to Fredrik Wackå for the link to the SF Chronicle article (in which he's quoted). Take a look at his useful comparison of corporate blogging guidelines.  He reviews common points in the guidelines published thus far by IBM, Yahoo, Hill & Knowlton, Plaxo, Thomas…

The Electronic Frontier Foundation has published a Legal Guide for Bloggers that looks to be a useful resource. The EFF calls it a "basic roadmap to legal issues you may confront as a blogger." (And reminds us that the guide is not a substitute for legal advice.) The FAQ on bloggers and intellectual property rights is particularly helpful. It covers fair use and copyright:  i.e. including short

The Electronic Frontier Foundation has published a Legal Guide for Bloggers that looks to be a useful resource. The EFF calls it a "basic roadmap to legal issues you may confront as a blogger." (And reminds us that the guide is not a substitute for legal advice.) The FAQ on bloggers and intellectual property rights is particularly helpful. It covers fair use and copyright:  i.e. including short quotations in your blog from another blogger is fine. As is including thumbnail GIFs like the cover above. There are sections on privacy and on bloggers as journalists. "Coming soon" is a section on labor law or blogging in the workplace. Thanks to Italian blog Blogs4Biz.info for the link.

From an interview I did today with GM's Gary Grates, VP Communications for North America, for the book:

"Bob Lutz, our 73-year-old vice chairman, was on a plane coming back from Europe when he started writing a response to some posts about GM he'd read on other blogs. He said, 'What do I do with this?'"

Grates told GM's communications techies to drop what Lutz had written about the new

From an interview I did today with GM's Gary Grates, VP Communications for North America, for the book:

"Bob Lutz, our 73-year-old vice chairman, was on a plane coming back from Europe when he started writing a response to some posts about GM he'd read on other blogs. He said, 'What do I do with this?'"

Grates told GM's communications techies to drop what Lutz had written about the new Saturn design into the Movable Type template being readied. And Fastlane was born (on Jan. 5, 2005)...

(GM's Web techies had been pushing for a blog and the compay had already hired a PR agency, Haas MS & L, to design it.)

Apocryphal? I think not. Speaking with Grates today I was struck by his comfort level with the extemporaneous, reactive and in-the-moment nature of blogging -- scary stuff for most big companies…

I'm one of those people who can't remember the words to a song. It's awful... lots of tunes floating around in my head but I don't know what they are.  I was reminded this week of how powerful good lyrics are. "Dance like nobody's watching... " could be the byword of good blogging. I.e., write from the heart. Take a few risks. Don't focus on what others will think of you. Although that's awfully

I'm one of those people who can't remember the words to a song. It's awful... lots of tunes floating around in my head but I don't know what they are.  I was reminded this week of how powerful good lyrics are. "Dance like nobody's watching... " could be the byword of good blogging. I.e., write from the heart. Take a few risks. Don't focus on what others will think of you. Although that's awfully hard to do. I always have a moment of panic when I hit "publish." Will it sound OK? Have I made a fool of myself??

"Dance like nobody's watching... " comes from country singer Kathy Mattea's 1989 song, "Come From The Heart."  The other lines go: "Sing like you don't need the money... Love like you'll never get hurt." I Googled this to be sure it's right!

You knew I'd ask... so tell me. Click Comments below and let 'er rip. Do you like the draft sub title: "How Smart Companies Are Talking to Their Customers and Employees"? Other suggestions??

You knew I'd ask... so tell me. Click Comments below and let 'er rip. Do you like the draft sub title: "How Smart Companies Are Talking to Their Customers and Employees"? Other suggestions??