Private and confidential© 2014 Delphix. All Rights

Reserved

Private and confidential© 2014 Delphix. All Rights

Reserved

On Blogging

Adam Leventhalblog.delphix.com/ahl@ahl

Why write a blog?

● Blogging is valuable -- for Delphix, for the team, and for you● Blogging is hard, but not as hard as you think● How to maximize the value of writing● Everyone can benefit from having a blog

A brief history of blog*.com/ahl

Early problems

● Rambling● Breathless● Grammatical errors● At times incoherent● (Very painful for me to read now)

What was good?

● Content I was fired up to write● Customers were reading what I wrote● People were interested (mostly about DTrace in the early days)● I slowly got better as a writer● Helped organize my thoughts for discussions and presentations

More recently

Other benefits

● Your blog tells a story of what you’re about● What do you find interesting? What are you working on?

● Our blogs provide a picture of what engineering is about● Helps with hiring● Helps with your personal brand

1. Write what you want to write

● Write on topics that interest you● Frequency does not matter● Writing is a slog

2. Know who you’re writing for

● Know your audience● Who do you want to read your blog post?● What do they care about?● Why will they read your post?

3. Everyone needs an editor

● Writing is hard● Good writing is harder● Get someone you trust to review your post● Tell them what kind of review you’d like

4. Keep it simple, stupid

● Complicated writing doesn’t impress anyone● You are not John Updike (neither am I)● Overly fancificated language will just lose the reader● Run your text through a grade level checker (g: writing grade level)

● https://readability-score.com● http://writingtester.com

● Write so a 3rd grader could understand it

5. Finish it

● Stop fussing and post it● Don’t worry about SEO, links, Delphix language, other bullshit● Pictures are more attractive than blocks of text (so toss one in if you like)

6. And finally...

Tweet it!

On social media

● I agreed with you, it’s stupid● But no one is clicking reload on the Delphix blog● It’s a way to get your content shared● Engage with people reading your blog post

What to take away...

● Form a direct connection with people outside of Delphix● Customers, prospects, users, recruits● Be a voice for Delphix● Build a personal voice● Promotes organization, clarity● Writing makes you a better writing

● Right now:● Go create a blog● Go create a Twitter account

Private and confidential© 2014 Delphix. All Rights

Reserved

© 2014 Delphix. All Rights

Reserved

THANK YOUANY QUESTIONS?

Private and confidential