Robert, thanks for sharing your perspective and insight regarding blogging. You laid out some very important questions I believe every organization should consider before starting a blog. Some of them you stated overtly, but some of the implied questions include, "How would a blog fit in with our existing communication media (website, newsletter, social media)?" "What content will go on the blog (vs on the website, newsletter, etc)?" Those are all the makings for a good, clear communications strategy.

rcnnolly.wordpress.com

In the past year the hits per month increased by anywhere from 100 – 300%. So from a simple numbers game, it works. But more importantly, I have a core of subscribers who regularly inform me that the information I blog about is useful to them. My blog is reasonably focused. I am not particularly interested in growing the readership, but rather providing a service and discussion forum around a specific issue. I want to share information with others who will benefit from that information but might not have as ready access as me. From a networking perspective, I have met lots of folks through my blog that have allowed me to more fully live into my research interests. It takes me about 2 hours per week from start to finish to create my weekly blog post. So for me, my blog answers the question "How can I best engage and provide information and a platform for discussion to my community of interest?"

I am the director of a small museum in Memphis Tennessee – the C.H. Nash Museum at Chucalissa. Our social media at this time includes a web page that is in need of upgrade but optimally is meant to be the mainstay or hub of our digital presence; a monthly e-newsletter that is meant to serve as an update on past, present, and future events/developments at the museum; and a FB page to which we post once per day on related events in the region, "did you know" type points, activities of our staff, volunteers, supporters, interesting photos and resources, etc. etc. Of late, we have a number of issues where we would like to provide information that is not practical in any of our other social media tools. For example, we are transferring artifacts from our repository to the states from where they were excavated, we are launching a program to rei-nvision our entire main hall and want visitor/stakeholder input, etc. etc. These are all topics that can be covered in a tight 500 word essay, that we don't want to bury in our website and are too long for our newsletter. Instead, we decided to launch a weekly blog beginning in January. Again, such a blog will answer the question "How do we disseminate information about x, y, and z and provide a platform for feedback and dialogue?"

I take the approach that before our museum starts a blog we are committed to either keeping it going as a quality outlet on a regularly scheduled basis, or not have a blog at all. That is one of the reasons we are taking a couple of months to discuss the process before launching. Who will be responsible for the weekly posts? How will the blog be maintained? etc. etc.

My .02

You're welcome!

Very useful feedback!

Thank you, Paul!

I agree that there is a huge difference between the Bible and a blog; however the ACT of transcribing and blogging are similar in that their purpose is to reach the masses and further the kingdom. We have always used technology (written books, printing press, radio, television, internet, etc.) to further the Gospel.

To your final point, there is a big reason I emphasize praying and inviting God into every facet of your church's web design & development process.

It depends on where you are and who your audience is. Here's what the data says: http://www.problogger.net/archives/2010/12/06/whe…

Personally, I would probably post early Wednesday at around 6 AM Eastern time. People are usually busiest on Mondays and have more time to read as the week goes on. People will have more time to read on Wed than Mon or Tue, but it also means the post will be relatively new still on Thu & Fri. I also think it's best to post early for those who like to read blogs with their breakfast or coffee.

Keep in mind you can share your blog posts on Facebook and Twitter more than once and at different times. So maybe you post to FB and Twitter immediately at 6 AM Wed, but then you tweet it again at 4 PM that day. And maybe you share it on Facebook again Saturday morning since Saturday is the biggest day for Facebook sharing.

Joseph, I think blogging, Facebook and Twitter are all extremely useful tools authors can use to connect with their readers. I think you've already learned a key lesson about blogging and social media – self-promotion doesn't work. Instead of thinking, "How can I use my blog to sell more books?" Think, "How can I help my blog readers and in doing so demonstrate my book could help them even more?"

By the way, you're comment reminded me of a post I wrote on my other blog, which I think you might find helpful – The Most Important Quality Great Writers & Book Marketers Share – http://ow.ly/7RQHf