Authentic legal blogging builds relationships
Miraz Jordan (@miraz), a freelance technology writer from New Zealand, had witnessed the world where bloggers were concerned with catchy headlines and web traffic. It was not until she was asked to do a piece on the New Zealand Presbyterian Church’s use of blogging that she discovered authentic blogging.
The bloggers Jordan interviewed for her blog article had far different concerns. Though not religious herself, Jordan was struck by each speaking of blogging in the sense of relationships, community and authenticity.
When we communicate with genuineness and authenticity we build relationships and strengthen our community. We humans can’t seem to help but communicate, by any means available to us.
One popular way is to write a blog.
The key to a good blog, reports Jordan, is the genuine expression of the writer. The blog should represent who they are and what their concerns are.
There are lessons for lawyers and law firms in this sort of authentic blogging. Focusing on attention, audience numbers, and web traffic will not get you the connections and relationships you’re after.
Blogger Mike Crowl told Jordan that blogging with authenticity leads to endless connections.
Blogging has led to some interesting connections around the world that would never have happened otherwise. People come out of nowhere and comment on something you’ve written.
Those comments can come on your blog, by email or via social media. The bottom line is connecting.
Rev Martin Stewart told Jordan of the relationships developed through authentic blogging.
A blog is a vehicle for relationship — or at least one level of relationship … I have a range of congregational members who access it…
Blogging has allowed me access to other blogs and the wonders and tragedy of internet life thus I am influenced and affected — but the upsides are that there is a community within the congregation who connect a bit through my ‘agency’ and things I post are the occasional topic of conversation. I have some deeper friendships with some people because they feel they have a better sense of what I am on about because of the blog.
Sure, you’re not blogging to connect with church members. You’re blogging for business development by building relationships and enhancing your word of mouth reputation in your community.
Reputation and relationships come from genuineness and authenticity.
Jordan’s piece, though not on legal blogging, includes plenty of stories from bloggers who connected with their audience in a meaningful way through authentic blogging. I hope you enjoy reading some of the stories as much as I did.