The online world/blogosphere is filled with tons of amazing tips and advice on how to be a super-dynamic-the-bees-knees-type blogger. However, I am fairly certain that there is not nearly as much information about what to NOT do available for those of us whose blog is an important part of their livelihood.
After blogging actively for over eight years, I am sure I could muster up some useful tips and what-to-avoid-type tidbits of wisdom. But instead of boring you with volumes of information about funky apps or which web host to avoid, I will make it all short-n-sweet for you. I can sum up what to not do as a blogger in one simple phrase: Don’t be a Blogger Behaving Badly.
Here are Three Simple Blogging Etiquette Tips to Follow:
1. Always Act with Integrity
I think as bloggers we all have a certain amount of responsibility to conduct ourselves with integrity and work to be role models for those who are new to blogging. That integrity needs to also be accompanied by a big dose of common sense along with the need to treat others as we wish to be treated.
We’ve all witnessed virtual catfights on social media that would put the Real Housewives of New Jersey to shame, but in my world having integrity and common sense equates to behaving like civilized adults on and offline. Just as things can get heated quickly on social media, these situations also occur within the confines of our blogs as well.
2. Don’t React
For those times when you are on the receiving end of a blogger behaving badly (someone who feels compelled to be bold and brave within the confines of your comment section), I don’t recommend responding in a fit of anger.
As tempting as it is may be to leaving a scorching response to someone who has just blasted your work, remember your readership is watching and waiting to see how you handle the situation. When those occasions do occur, the best piece of advice I can give you about those who chose to attack via the comment section of a blog is this; don’t feed the trolls. Don’t buy into their bad behavior by responding in an equally inappropriate way, fighting back, or trying to sway their opinion. And if they are being vulgar or hateful, just quietly delete, BLOCK and move on.
3. Venting on Your Blog
This controlled response extends to your actual blog content as well. Your blog may be “your real estate,” but it is not the place to dump, unload, complain, or target someone or a business in an unkind way.
“Wait,” you may be saying. “I need to be able to ‘vent’ on my blog.”
Don’t get me wrong; venting is a good thing.
Venting is about blowing off steam and sharing your incredibly crappy day with those who “get” how you roll. Venting can occur when your day takes a turn for the worse after oversleeping, having to deal with a ridiculously rude client, discovering your tire is flat and then eventually realizing you just did your whole networking group presentation with your fly down. Done correctly, venting should be an intentional and temporary state.
On the flip-side, venting takes a turn into improper territories when you choose to use your blog as a vehicle to angrily and publicly share the name of the “rude client,” attack your networking group for not giving you a “head ups” about your barn door being down or blaming your flat tire on the crazy cat lady next door {insert her name here}.
Some people call that “venting” (not me) but at the end of the day, if it’s something you wouldn’t say to someone’s face in real life, then it has no place on the Internet much less your blog. These vicious and unkind displays of meanness that have no place in business will do nothing to further your business or reputation. If you do find yourself blowing off steam with your keyboard, that’s fine. But that sort of content is best left in draft or off the Internet completely. Once you release something into the “wild” of cyberspace, this is no going back. Baby, it’s out there.
Conclusion.
So the bottom line is (and this applies to all social media) don’t unleash your fury in a hateful way on others on your blog. There is a fine line between ripping someone to shreds and blogging about the frustrations of life. Yes, there are instances where wrongs need to be righted and readers need to be told a tale with a lesson. If you are feeling the need to go all Erin Brockovich and expose the environmental wrongs of the world on your blog, be darn sure that by doing so you’re not damaging your business’ future.
There are a time and a place for advocacy on your blog, and trust me, you’ll know when those times are. Until that time arises, stick to your focus and goal of providing useful and valuable information for your readers that aligns you as an expert in your field.
What blogging etiquette tips do you follow? Have you dealt with negative comments or harassment online? Drop us a note; we’d like to know how you dealt with the situation.
James
Blogging is a great way to express yourself with limits. Great article.
Holly Hanna
I agree, you shouldn’t say anything that you wouldn’t say to someone’s face.
Cynthia Coleman
I’ve learned that the best rule of thumb with social media, blogging or any public writing-is to not say anything that you would not say in a public place like a mall or park. You wouldn’t give out family or personal secrets in a mall or criticize someone there. It’s hard to take back words once they are written or spoken.
Reginald Chan
Hey Rebecca,
Came across this on Triberr. Great article and can’t agree more with the venting part.
I think it is fine to do ‘it’ on social media but control it a little would be great.
Thanks for sharing this article and have a great Friday!
~Reginald