Arizona City/County Management Association 2007 Winter Conference Attack of the Blog Presented by Scott Neal, City Manager Eden Prairie, Minnesota, USA

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

DefinitionsDefinitions

Blog – “Web Log”

Post

Host

RSS

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

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.

Why do I blog?Why do I blog?

EEducateducate

PPromoteromote

EEnhancenhance

PPraiseraise

EEmpathizempathize

PPersonalizeersonalize


Educate Educate – – City ServicesCity Services


Educate Educate – – Public Policy Public Policy (national)(national)


Educate Educate – – Public Policy Public Policy (state)(state)


Educate Educate – – Public Policy Public Policy (city)(city)


PromotePromote – –Community Community OrganizationsOrganizations


PromotePromote – –BusinessesBusinesses


PromotePromote – –City of Eden City of Eden PrairiePrairie


PromotePromote – –BlogBlog


EnhanceEnhance – –Citizen’s Citizen’s understanding of understanding of local governmentlocal government


PraisePraise – – EmployeesEmployees


PraisePraise – – EmployeesEmployees


PraisePraise – – Elected OfficialsElected Officials


PraisePraise – – Local CitizensLocal Citizens


Empathy Empathy – – For local For local government, government, elected officials, elected officials, and appointed and appointed officialsofficials


PersonalizePersonalize – – “Putting the face “Putting the face on the faceless on the faceless bureaucrat”bureaucrat”







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

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

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?

My insightsMy insights

Biggest surprises . . .Biggest surprises . . .

Biggest disappointment . . .Biggest disappointment . . .

Most common comments . . .Most common comments . . .

Most common questions . . .Most common questions . . .

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

Thank you!Thank you!

Scott H. NealScott H. Neal

City ManagerCity Manager

Eden Prairie, Minnesota, USAEden Prairie, Minnesota, USA

Documents

Arizona City/County Management Association 2007 Winter Conference Attack of the Blog Presented by Scott Neal, City Manager Eden Prairie, Minnesota, USA