From One Engineer to Another

4Ps of Blogging (A Birth Announcement)

Saturday, June 25, 2005 by Rick Short [Rick Short]

Dr. Ron Lasky and I presented at the American Marketing Association's blogging seminar in Boston, MA today (image is of Dana VanDen Heuvel, myself, Toby Bloomberg, and Dr. Lasky). While there I spoke with IBM's Sher Taton (corporate HQ, Armonk, NY). She shared that she had been mentally developing "the 4Ps of Blogging" (four Ps, four P's, 4 P's), but that she was stuck. We discussed our views on exactly what was important and I was able to add the elusive 4th "P". We agreed that the collaboration was one of many great things to arise from this great seminar.

So, what are the 4 Ps of blogging?:

*point: if your blog doesn't have a specific point (purpose), then don't even start

*passion: if you don't have a burning passion about the topic, then don't bother

*personality: if you don't have the personality for blogging, then find something else to do with your time

*perseverance: if you won't be able to stick with it once the blogging becomes routine, after you've battled with writer's block, after numerous distractions beckon, then find a new hobby

There will be much more on this later, but I wanted to capture this awesome development on the very same day that it occurred. Yes! I have the passion.

Thanks Sher - what a great concept.

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Comments for 4Ps of Blogging (A Birth Announcement)

Saturday, June 25, 2005 by Sher Taton:
Hey Rick - thanks for getting this up so quickly. It was a really great conference and great collaborating with you. I do think this helps us identify who might be some good bloggers from our corporate world. I Googled 4 p's when I got home last night and I also noticed that Bill http://www.pheedo.info/archives/000069.html from Pheedo had done some thinking along the same lines but where as our 4 p's are in looking at the type of person that should blog his were looking more at the 4 p's of a blogging strategy. At any rate - a lot of good thinking and collaborating. Glad we had the opportunity to meet f2f. The conference was great and conversations with the attendees was really great!
Saturday, June 25, 2005 by Rick Short:
Agreed. The 4Ps of Blogging is a great tool to help people determine if they are good candidates for the activity, or if they've chosen the proper topic. Good luck with the IBM Corporate blog program.
Friday, July 1, 2005 by Steve Garfield:
Hi Rick, I like Bill's P's too: http://www.pheedo.info/archives/000069.html Sher says, "*point: if your blog doesn't have a specific point (purpose), then don't even start" Having a specific point is not required for a blog. Please start a blog even if you do not have a point. Not all blogs have to have a point. Marketing blogs, like those at weblogsinc, all have a point. That's how they gain an audience. But, what's great about blogs is that they don't have to adhere to any rules. As Bill says, blogs are personal. As long as I'm hearing the true voice of a person, the blog's content does not have to be specific. Maybe that's the point of a pointless blog.
Sunday, July 10, 2005 by Rick Short:
Steve, you are right. Our 4Ps are really focused on our B2B Marcom efforts, not on personal bloggers. ALL blogs do not require the 4Ps (and some will argue that NO blogs require them). Sher and I (and others responsible for representing our companies) have myriad responsibilities when leading our companies, and corporate bloggers, into B-land. Interestingly, some employees want to blog (officially) while they have no real point. Others have a very interesting role and perspective (a point) and don't want to blog (perhaps no passion). We've got to have some guidelines to help these people (and ourselves) determine who should be blogging for the company. So, I agree. No one rule fits ALL situations. Thanks for stepping up.
Sunday, October 9, 2005 by Chip Tarver:
Hi, Rick and everyone - Thank you for your invitation to drop by and add a post here, and thank you for your kind compliment on my free blog piece. Although deemed as the Tech Trend of 2005 by Forbes Magazine, blogs are loved by some, scorned by a few, and apparently misunderstood by many of 'the masses' ... In a phrase (as far as blogs are concerned) - "anything goes." Purposeful or not, with a well-executed plan (or the absence of one) ... it doesn't really matter where blogs are concerned. Blogs are the ultimate expression of free speech, as well. You can say what you want to say (whenever you feel like saying it) to whomever you desire. And as long as you don't violate any laws - you basically have 100% freedom and immunity when you say it. I started my first blog - "Chip Tarver's B2B Tips & B2B Techniques" (http://www.firstcontactsecrets.com/blog) - in December 2004. Now it's on page one, and usually position one, at most major search engines for its keyword phrase 'B2B tips.' (Blush) I now have 11 blogs on a variety of business and personal topics. (Your blog is an amazing marketing tool when you know how to make it work for you.) If anyone would like a copy of my free pdf titled "Exactly how to have your own free blog set up and hosted in three minutes or less -- the how-to guide you can't go wrong using" just drop by and grab a free copy at: http://www.free-targeted-traffic.com I also brand this free report with other people's name and call-to-action if you'd like to use this pdf as an opt-in bribe, free report, bonus, or whatever. Please let me know if I can help you in any way. Always all the best - Chip Tarver http://www.FirstContactSecrets.com/ http://www.FirstContactSecrets.com/blog http://www.FirstContactSecrets.com/publicity-blog/ http://www.Free-Targeted-Traffic.com/
Tuesday, July 17, 2007 by Brett:
Aah, your comments about your bucolic drive bring me back to memories of driving through Upstate New York’s fresh-cut hey fields, how sweet! Enjoyed your comments and followed your link to Steve McKees writings and Unforgettable Branding = Memorable Slogans. Thanks for leading me to some great lessons on tag lines. One of the icon in my industry (and customer) recent began using one that appears to work well and seems to meet the suggested guidelines: “Essential Components. Exceptional Value., which is used www.ab.com I’m inspired and look forward to creating our next tag line, thanks Rick!

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