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Arizona City/County Management AssociationArizona City/County Management Association2007 Winter Conference2007 Winter Conference
Attack of the BlogAttack of the BlogPresented by Presented by
Scott Neal, City ManagerScott Neal, City ManagerEden Prairie, Minnesota, USAEden Prairie, Minnesota, USA
February 7, 2007February 7, 2007
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DefinitionsDefinitions
Blog – “Web Log”
Post
Host
RSS
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Facts about my blogFacts about my blog
““Blog from City Hall”Blog from City Hall” Started March 2003Started March 2003 515 Individual posts as of 515 Individual posts as of
February 27, 2005 February 27, 2005 WordpressWordpress 4,000 subscribers; readers in 4,000 subscribers; readers in
70 different countries on 6 or 7 70 different countries on 6 or 7 continentscontinents
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Facts about my blogFacts about my blog
Profiled in Profiled in Public ManagementPublic Management, , Governing Governing
and and Public CIOPublic CIO magazines; newspapers in magazines; newspapers in
Minneapolis-St. Paul; Atlanta; Indianapolis; Minneapolis-St. Paul; Atlanta; Indianapolis;
Charleston, SC; Nattick, MA; and Charleston, SC; Nattick, MA; and
Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, UK; and Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, UK; and
a BBC special report on the future of a BBC special report on the future of
e-democracy in Great Britain.e-democracy in Great Britain.
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Why do I blog?Why do I blog?
EEducateducate
PPromoteromote
EEnhancenhance
PPraiseraise
EEmpathizempathize
PPersonalizeersonalize
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Why do I blog?Why do I blog?
Educate Educate – – City ServicesCity Services
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Why do I blog?Why do I blog?
Educate Educate – – Public Policy Public Policy (national)(national)
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Why do I blog?Why do I blog?
Educate Educate – – Public Policy Public Policy (state)(state)
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Why do I blog?Why do I blog?
Educate Educate – – Public Policy Public Policy (city)(city)
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Why do I blog?Why do I blog?
PromotePromote – –Community Community OrganizationsOrganizations
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Why do I blog?Why do I blog?
PromotePromote – –BusinessesBusinesses
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Why do I blog?Why do I blog?
PromotePromote – –City of Eden City of Eden PrairiePrairie
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Why do I blog?Why do I blog?
PromotePromote – –BlogBlog
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Why do I blog?Why do I blog?
EnhanceEnhance – –Citizen’s Citizen’s understanding of understanding of local governmentlocal government
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Why do I blog?Why do I blog?
PraisePraise – – EmployeesEmployees
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Why do I blog?Why do I blog?
PraisePraise – – EmployeesEmployees
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Why do I blog?Why do I blog?
PraisePraise – – Elected OfficialsElected Officials
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Why do I blog?Why do I blog?
PraisePraise – – Local CitizensLocal Citizens
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Why do I blog?Why do I blog?
Empathy Empathy – – For local For local government, government, elected officials, elected officials, and appointed and appointed officialsofficials
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Why do I blog?Why do I blog?
PersonalizePersonalize – – “Putting the face “Putting the face on the faceless on the faceless bureaucrat”bureaucrat”
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Why do I blog?Why do I blog?
PersonalizePersonalize – – “Putting the face “Putting the face on the faceless on the faceless bureaucrat”bureaucrat”
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Why do I blog?Why do I blog?
PersonalizePersonalize – – “Putting the face “Putting the face on the faceless on the faceless bureaucrat”bureaucrat”
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Why do I blog?Why do I blog?
PersonalizePersonalize – – “Putting the face “Putting the face on the faceless on the faceless bureaucrat”bureaucrat”
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Benefits of the blogBenefits of the blog Additional element to your organization’s Additional element to your organization’s
communication strategycommunication strategy
Personal touchPersonal touch
Adds transparency – internally and externallyAdds transparency – internally and externally
Leverages my timeLeverages my time
Connects employees with City governmentConnects employees with City government
Adds acclaim for our organizationAdds acclaim for our organization
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What do you need to do a blog?What do you need to do a blog?
Computer and internet serviceComputer and internet service
Observation skillsObservation skills
Writing skillsWriting skills
PersonalityPersonality
MotivationMotivation
TimeTime
Digital cameraDigital camera
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Issues to considerIssues to consider
Who will blog within your organization?Who will blog within your organization?
Who owns the blog?Who owns the blog?
Will you allow open comments from Will you allow open comments from readers?readers?
Will you share personal information?Will you share personal information?
How will you promote the blog?How will you promote the blog?
Will you change posts? Will you archive?Will you change posts? Will you archive?
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My insightsMy insights
Biggest surprises . . .Biggest surprises . . .
Biggest disappointment . . .Biggest disappointment . . .
Most common comments . . .Most common comments . . .
Most common questions . . .Most common questions . . .
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Scott’s Seven Iron Laws of BloggingScott’s Seven Iron Laws of Blogging Have the right motivationHave the right motivation
If your motivations are pure, the politics of the blog are goodIf your motivations are pure, the politics of the blog are good
Write what you knowWrite what you know Citizens Citizens areare interested in the little things interested in the little things
Be honestBe honest You may have to eat those words somedayYou may have to eat those words someday
Be Be authenticauthentic Keep professional communications experts away from your Keep professional communications experts away from your
blogblog
Look for topicsLook for topics They are all around youThey are all around you
Use photographsUse photographs They really are worth 1,000 wordsThey really are worth 1,000 words
Think with the end in mindThink with the end in mind
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Thank you!Thank you!
Scott H. NealScott H. Neal
City ManagerCity Manager
Eden Prairie, Minnesota, USAEden Prairie, Minnesota, USA