FCW Insider: Some tips to bloggers

So I've been working on a post for some time about some baby steps for those interested in stepping into the world of collaboration. Some people are just freaked out by it, whether it is called Web 2.0, collaboration, information sharing -- or Personally, I don't think this is all that scary -- and it can be empowering -- but I understand the concerns. So -- in violation of my own hint below -- I'm working on a post about how to take baby steps. But, before I get to that, I thought I would talk about blogs for a moment, given that the focused, in part, on blogs.First, a justification of blogs. Former FCW news editor Jason Miller and I had regular spirited debates about blogs. He writes them all off as frivolous banter about somebody's life or thoughts. Without trying to exaggerate his views, he -- and many others -- see blogs as being more about Paris Hilton -- or Hillary Clinton -- then about...well, anything real. And without a doubt there are frivolous blogs out the -- the of the world. There is certainly a role for them and I'm sure they play some role in collaboration in their own way, but...they are more fun then anything else.I think blogs are part of of the collaborative landscape because they start a conversation -- a conversation among many different parties in a transparent  way that can be transformative. My general take with blogs is that they are simply a step in this process. I don't think they are an end in and of themselves, but...they are a step. Frankly, I'm not sure they will be around in five or 10 years, but they are an important part in transforming the way we share information. After all, blogs are the great leveler. And I'll -- suddenly, one can share information across a much broader platform -- very easily. Anybody and everybody can be a publisher. And blogs are transparent. You share the same information with your boss, with your employees, with your partners, with your competitors, with your overseers. It is a big step is the notion that all of us are smarter then any one of us. And, for government, it is an enormous step in transparency, communication and openness.Blogs can also start a conversation. With any luck, blogs can generate comments -- wisdom of the crowds.So I think blogs can be an important step in information sharing and collaboration -- what we have come to call Web 2.0.So, in , we had a few stories:The has a sidebar about getting started. FCW senior editor John Zyskowski includes these suggestions:I have been blogging for... well, for awhile now. In fact, we are coming up on the three-year anniversary of this blog. To be honest, it didn't start off very well. (Here is a -- yawn! -- and the weren't much of anything, to be honest. I know -- as opposed to the magic that this blog is today, right?)FCW is using blogs for all kinds of things... we offer ... a place to talk about your money that we call ... ... insights about ... ... and even a place where we -- print and online. Again, our effort at transparency.So I think there are many uses for this tool and we are trying it out.But I have learned a thing or two about blogging over the years. So, if you are a blogger or a wannabe blogger, here are some of my tips.* Have a notion... I wanted to pull one from above because I think it is very important -- and it isn't all that different from what we try to do as journalists -- know your audience. Who are you writing this for? It makes a big difference.* That notion will change... My experience is that blogs evolve. And how you use them will evolve.* Post regularly... If a blog is going to work, you have to post regularly. Find some regular interval and make the time. But realize that this does take time. The corollary to that is... * Integrate your blog into your life... This one is important. If it is going to work and be sustainable, you need to work it into your life. So, for example, if you are working on a security policy, blog about it. What better way to show people that you are pondering the issue -- and get others insights. The same can be true about whatever you are working on. Ponder how much time you spend on documents and -- god help us -- e-mail messages responding to one issue or another. Rather then just sending an e-mail message, turn it into a blog post and send others the link to that post. Blogs are an opportunity to be real -- and I think people will appreciate the work you do and the challenges you face much more.* Don't let perfection get in the way of the good... We hear this so often, but it is particularly true in the blogging world. Blogs are iterative. I often kick myself because I'll think about some post several times. Well, just break it up into pieces. Don't write the great American novel. Write the OK chapter or the not-bad paragraph. It is about sharing thoughts -- and the people who are expecting perfection in a blog have come to the wrong place and, frankly, should go somewhere else.* Appreciate comments... Even critical ones. Yes, bosses. It isn't always easy, but... relish in the discussion. It is going on. It's it better to be a part of that discussion rather then having it go on without yo ? (And in the government world, comments can be hard to come by. Know your audience and realize that feds have been burned before for speaking. It takes time.)* Time management... The one thing you will hear from any blogger is frustration about time. And you need to realize and understand that this does take time. I have found that it works best if I have a time that I blog -- each and every day. (Pre-, that was the morning. I'm still searching for that time again.) Some people have done multiple-user blogs to defray the time cost. * Don't discount what you do... This one frustrates me the most -- and I've heard it from CIOs. They say, 'Who would want to read what I work on?' And most government folks will probably have this notion. Have you looked at some of the blogs out there? If you build a community of even a few hundred people and get a few new notions of a better way of doing your job or creating a policy, it could be worth it. This community works on important issues and important programs. Please don't discount that.* Just do it... Again, I am going to mirror what is above and NAPA's Frank DiGiamarino's wise words -- just do it.* Share... Share your lessons learned, share your ideas, share your thoughts. Be open to what might happen.I'd welcome others thoughts...about blogs...from bloggers with ideas about how they make it all work... from readers about what they find valuable in a blog. I'd prefer for you to post your insights here for everybody to see them, but you can also .Meanwhile, just do it!