metaViper

The advent of blogging has created an immense opportunity for traditional companies in the form of free buzz. It’s a way for corporate decision makers to connect directly with their employees and customers with casual dialog. Of course, the expectation is that when people share their opinions a company will take action based on their feedback.

One way to work through this without the same level of expectation is by encouraging employee blogging. This will help build a good online presence especially if employees are happy where they work. However, if negative blog posts are surfacing about your company that’s an indication there are internal problems in need of quick attention.

Essentially, blogging holds a company accountable to the public. Treat employees and customers fairly and this will work positively.

That said, it’s important to give would-be bloggers a few tips, which essentially become the company’s blogging policy. The points below are written from the perspective of an employer, please feel free to copy and modify them to fit your needs.

Are there important points I’m missing? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Blogging Policy Template:

Many people participate in blogging for business and pleasure. metaViper recognizes that your time outside of work is your own and that topics you choose to blog about during that time are independent of company domain. That in mind, we would like to recommend a few good practices:

1. If you identify yourself as an employee of metaViper it’s important to distinguish your opinion from the company’s.
2. Blogging about metaViper is encouraged with the first premise in mind.
3. In fact, here are a few things you might be interested in blogging about: metaViper’s focus on quality content, our relaxed culture that encourages diverse and collaborative independence, or some of our most recent articles.
4. Personal blogging at work shouldn’t interfere with your job. Microbreaks are important but make sure your work gets done.
5. Information posted to the blogosphere is public and will be accessible for years as part of your online breadcrumb. Remember this when sharing your opinions.
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Going green is prime time buzz right now and more businesses are looking at their sustainability practices, questioning what they can do better and how to cash in on the trend. The automotive industry is very visibly working through this transition and there are now many hybrid options available.

 Been thinking about buying a hybrid but not sure how to decide between them? Research now will pay off later, here are some sites that will help.

Think of a site that’s missing? Put it in the comments.

• GreenHybrid boasts a “Real Hybrid Mileage Database” chart front and center, which graphs out mileage data entered by its users. Very active forums, a buying guide, current news, and appropriately placed ads make this a great place to begin your research.
• HybridCars provides some great news articles (including some speculation about the next generation Prius). A gas mileage calculator will help determine whether or not buying a hybrid makes sense financially. There’s also some great writing on the history and culture of hybrid technology.
• Hybrid Center presents a sophisticated comparison engine to mash up features between the models. Their buyer’s guide is also detailed and will help determine cost differences between a traditional and hybrid vehicle.