1. Getting Started With Blogging A guide for creating Official Pages

2. Table of Contents Why Blog? Things to Think About Tips for Successful Blogging Terms of Use & Blog Moderation Policies Measuring Blog Effectiveness Comment Blogging & Guest Blogging Best Practices Resources for Further Reading

4. Blogs put a human face on the embassy or consulate and create an engaged connection with people in the host country.

5. Blogs are increasingly a news source for mainstream media.

6. A blog can improve the placement of your content in search results - especially if you link to your official Web site and other USG material to the blog.

7. A blog gives you an idea of what people in your country are thinking about.

8. If you don't know what blogs are or how they can be used, go to the 23 Things and read Thing 1: Creating a Blog.For USG Official Use Only

10. Write in the first person perspective and pile on the personality.

11. A blog is more an op/ed than a press release.

12. Make it real and immediate to encourage discussion and engagement.

13. Allow comments AND respond to them (BTW, two-way is what engagement means).For USG Official Use Only

14. Tips for Successful Blogging

15. Tips for Successful Blogging* Start by listening. Determine a goal for the blog. Estimate the Return on Investment (ROI). Develop a plan. Review and rehearse. Develop an editorial process. Choose a blog platform and design the blog. Develop a marketing plan. Remember, blogging is more than writing. Final advice: be honest. * From Groundswell, by Charlene Li and Josh Bernoff, Forester Research, Harvard Business Press, 2009

17. In order to find blogs to follow, you can Google Blog Search. It allows you to search the content of blogs using keywords.

18. Google Blog Search http://blogsearch.google.com/ (you can search for blog content in other languages by using Advanced Search.)

19. The following certified blogs are taken from the DoDLiveblogroll

20. Army Live http://armylive.dodlive.mil/

21. Navy Live http://navylive.dodlive.mil/

22. There are independent bloggers who blog specifically on military and security matters

23. Wired’s Danger Room http://wired.com/dangerroom

24. Foreign Policy’s The Best Defense http://ricks.foreignpolicy.com/

25. Small Wars Journal http://smallwarsjournal.com/

26. You can also search Twitter for trending topics: http://search.twitter.com

27. Read Thing 2: Searching For Blogs on the 23 Things. For USG Official Use Only

29. Reach existing contacts or find new ones?

30. Respond to news stories?

31. Connect with family or friends?

32. Provide a new prospective on life in the military?

33. Know your goal and topic areas before you start.

34. Some ideas:

35. Military missions

36. Living overseas

37. Military families

38. Humanitarian efforts

39. Health and fitness

41. Will you need IT support?

42. What about training costs?

43. Are you following OPSEC?

45. Will your blog have one or several authors?

46. Are you representing yourself, your troops, or your base, etc?

47. Include others in your decisions about your blog. More people knowing and collaborating about your blog will increase the chances on success.

48. Consider posting entries written by guest authors who have expertise in topics important to your audience.

49. How often will you blog? Will it be daily, weekly, monthly, etc?For USG Official Use Only

50. 5. Review and Rehearse Get ideas from what others do. You can find a blogroll of Defense-related and government-related blogs on http://www.dodlive.mil Write five to ten posts before you go live and explore topics you’ll cover. Actually writing good blog posts will change how you think about blogging.

52. If you assign a content reviewer, who will do it if this person isn’t available? This process needs to be flexible and lightweight. You may want to post quickly to respond to events and fast-breaking news.

54. If you use one of these free Web-based blog programs, remember to use a generic email address so it can be shared with others.

56. Target your content to a specific audience

57. Announce your blog with traditional methods, such as a press release and emails to your contacts.

58. Place a hyperlink on your official Web site to your blog.

59. Integrate your social media channels (Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, etc.) into your blog. When you post to your blog, let your readers know by posting it to your social media sites.

60. When you comment on someone else’s blog, link back to your blog.

63. Be transparent and open with your readers.

66. These terms provide guidelines about what type of content you will and won’t accept from your readers.

67. You can adapt language from terms of use from DoD Live and the Social Media DTM

68. DoD Live: http://dodlive.mil/index.php/disclaimer

69. Social Media DTM: http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/corres/pdf/DTM-09-026.pdf

70. If you decide to moderate your blog before comments can go live, you’ll want to document this policy as well.

71. The goal is to be transparent. Your readers don’t want any unpleasant surprises.

72. Be robust and tolerant. Just because someone disagrees with the blogger is not enough reason to take a comment off a blog.

74. You can also read the entire text of the DoD Social Media Policy by accessing http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/corres/pdf/DTM-09-026.pdf

75. DoDLive uses Wordpress as a base for its blogs.For USG Official Use Only Terms of Use Example

78. If you use Blogger.com, you can install Google Analytics

79. Google Analytics tells you which blog posts were accessed, how long your readers stayed, how they accessed your blog, and more.

80. How to do it: http://www.eblogtemplates.com/how-to-install-google-analytics-on-blogger/

81. WordPress.com has a rudimentary statistical package installed in the blog software, but will not allow you to use Google Analytics.

82. Ask your Webmaster at post if there is a possibility of using the same analytic software as the post’s Web site.For USG Official Use Only

84. Some general guidelines:

85. A comment blogger must include his/her name and professional position

86. Must adapt the language of the blog

87. Must not be overbearing or rude

88. Encourage staff or other troop members with relevant expertise to offer to write guest entries on your blogFor USG Official Use Only

89. Best Practices from the Field

91. See the blog at http://www.dodlive.mil/index.php/2010/06/making-registering-and-voting-easier-on-you/For USG Official Use Only

93. SSgt Thomas Ryan not only includes his picture, but writes with a voice that showcases his personality.

95. You can view this page and the rest of the DoDLive team at http://www.dodlive.mil/index.php/about-emerging-media-2/For USG Official Use Only

97. This example is from the DoD Live blog.For USG Official Use Only

99. Commenting back and forth humanizes the blogger and makes real engagement happen.

100. From Obama Today, at http://blogs.america.gov/obama/For USG Official Use Only

101. Resources for Further Reading

102. Policy Guidelines The Department of Defense released its official policy on new/social media in February 2010. The policy (Directive-Type Memorandum 09-026) states that the default for the DoD non-classified network (the NIPRNET) is for open access so that all of DoD can use new media. This is DoD’s first official policy on new media. For USG Official Use Only

104. Blogging Lessons For and From Journalism, from the Blog Herald

105. How to Avoid Getting Burned From Negative Comments, from The Viral Garden

106. How to Build Lasting Relationships with Your Readers, from Inspiration Bit

107. Marketing Your Blog: 10 Essential Tips You Should Know, from Hongkiat

108. InfoCentral Page on Blogs, from PD ToolkitFor USG Official Use Only

110. WordPress.com Support

111. WordPress.org help (this is for free software that is downloaded to your server)

112. WordPress.org SupportFor USG Official Use Only