Comments on Martindale-Hubbell blog : Good tool in wrong hands? | Real Lawyers Have Blogs

steven.parkes@freehills.com (Steve Parkes) — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 19:30:46 -0800

I'd also suggest they take a look at their website terms and conditions. Currently those terms state you are not allowed to link to their blog without prior, formal permission. Which kind of defeats the purpose, and benefits, of the blog in the first place?

--snip--
Linking to the Web Site. You may provide links only to the homepage of this Web Site... If you wish to provide links to a section within the Web Site, you should forward your request to Provider at MHpublisher@martindale.com and Provider will notify you if permission is granted, and if so the terms and conditions of the permission.
--end snip--

firm@harrismoure.com (China Law Blog) — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 20:32:02 -0800

I like your suggestions, particularly the no registration one. I went to their post and was all set to answer the question, then saw I would need to register and I fled. If you want comments, keep 'em open. If you want to avoid cranks and spammers, moderate your comments. It's that simple.

kevin@lexblog.com (Kevin OKeefe) — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 21:03:17 -0800

Spot on regarding the terms and conditions Steve. I saw that you needed to check a box agreeing to those terms to comment on the blog. The terms and conditions are 20 paragraphs and two screens long. I have never seen anything like that on any blog in any industry.

Same thing for me on registration Dan. More than once I was going to comment on the blog and stopped when I saw the long registration form.

nickholmes@infolaw.co.uk (Nick Holmes) — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 02:03:17 -0800

Kevin, I could add points about categories, archives, navigation etc, but I think the short answer is that they should use a specialist blog platform rather than their own CMS - that would answer almost all your points at a stroke. Too many established sites who've invested in a custom CMS figure they should use that CMS to create a "blog". Invariably it doesn't work; it doesn't function or feel like a blog, as standard blog features such as you mention are often missing; and, being just part of a corporate site, it lacks distinctiveness and personality. Another reason these blogs don't work is simply that they're corporate rather than personal blogs. Even without blatant advertising, we know they're there to push the company line.

bsims@trwlawyers.com (Bryan Sims) — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 09:34:55 -0800

I jumped over to the "blog" to take at look at the registration requirements. I can't believe that they actually think someone will fill that out, just to comment on the blog.

Step 1 in creating a corporate blog is making sure that the person in charge of it has actually read a blog before.