Is it a Blog or is it a Document?

Dan Bruhn — Wed, 11 Feb 2015 21:39:17 GMT

A Blog answers WHY a technology should be used in certain circumstances or WHY a solution works. Blogs should be a top-level, personal, bird's eye view of a technology or solution that gives the audience a reaction to find out more - perhaps even to make a decision - speckled with a little "how" the solution or technology works.

1.	Features and Benefits write-ups as well as Case Studies (that are not confidential) are perfect candidates for a blog post.
2.	Articles that have Caught your interest you would like to Share - just add in a commentary
3.	Want to promote your video/document that you just published? Write an intro/teaser/summary of your content into a blog post and link to the content.
4.	Already have a blog? Use the ServiceNow Community blogs to republish or summary link to your blog posts.
5.	Vexed by a Circumstance you haven't been able to Resolve? Use the Blog to Ask the community to chime in. Write up your question surrounding your procedures and tactics that you've worked through... Let the community join in on a solution discovery.
6.	Blogs should have a personal tone, show your character and creativity!

A Document answers HOW TO resolve a technical issue, think instructional here. A document is a straight-forward, formal style content piece. Another aspect is Blogs are only available to permission-granted users, thereby sectioning off special content submitted and is spotlighted in a variety of mediums. Documents are open to all users. Blogs are not "editable" by the general audience, yet allows for comments. Documents are "wiki" style and open for collaborative edits and input.

How often am I required to Blog?

Best Practices of blogging is to be consistent in your publishing schedule, especially if you have gained your own audience. Does that mean you have to blog every day? No.

We want you to blog when you can. We do not want to place hard deliverables on you. We are more interested in allowing you the freedom to blog, when you can, so that you will continue to enjoy publishing blogs. The more people we have available to contribute, the less we need each person to contribute.

When writing the blog, should I create a draft first, to have it approved?

You can create and save drafts of blogs within your login. Write up your draft and save it. Then come back to it to edit. No one can "see" your draft except for you. Once, you are fine with it, click to "publish". If you want to schedule a specific date/time for your blog to be published you also have that option under the "advanced options".

As far has having a PEER review - that is up to you! We are not requiring Internal Peer Review, and Blogs will only have comments - not wiki-style contribution. We want to make things easy!

NOTE: The URL that is generated for your post is based on the Title, the date and the Location. Be sure not to change the title of your Blog Post once you publish it.

I have a Video. How do I determine to publish as a Blog (vLog) or as a Video?

Just as we defined the differences between a Blogs and a Document, we hold the same classification for Videos.

If your video is more INFORMATIONAL, (WHY should I?) - Then the Video should be embedded into a BLOG, even if you do not have lengthy text accompanying the video. This includes Entertaining Videos. But DOES NOT include Promotional Videos**.

If your video is highly INSTRUCTIONAL, (HOW TO) it should be uploaded into the Video Tab of the Technology area. And then create a blog to promote it! Be sure to insert a static screen-capture of your video to insert into your blog > Link the image to the Video URL. Use the blog to promote on Facebook, this will generate a thumbnail on FB that a great audience lure.

** Promotional Videos are classified as INSTRUCTIONAL; to publish in a Video Tab - because we are asking the audience to provide an action, such as sign up for a Webinar, Attend a Function, Donate to a Cause, etc. Additionally, by uploading into the Video Area, use of Video Widgets with a thumbnail preview can be used for promotional placement and are more visually appealing.

How long should my Blog be?

Blogs can be any length. Twitter is a "mirco-blog" 140 characters or less. Some blogs are almost a novel. Some videos are 2 minutes, others are 15 minutes. Your blog should be as long as it needs to be to accurately convey your topic's points. Best Practices would be to stay as concise as possible to maintain the audience's attention.

Or Split the Blog up into a Series and post them week after week... this also keeps bringing the audience back for more.

How can I promote my blog?

Great Question! We encourage shameless self-promotion. You can promote by including the URL of your posts on your own Social Networking sites. You can utilize the RSS feed of your username on websites, your own blog feed into Social networking sites, feed your twitter, add it in on your email signature...

https://community.servicenow.com/people/XXXXXXX/content?filterID=contentstatus%5Bpublished%5D~objecttype~objecttype%5Bblogpost%5D

Simply substitute your username after "people/". And where ever you post the link, ask your audience to subscribe... they can subscribe to RSS and/or email.

How will I be notified when someone posts a comment to my blog?

You will be able to receive email notifications on comments to your post. You will need to login to review your comments. A more effective way to receive notification is to subscribe via RSS to your blog. Note here, Best Practice is to respond to comments from your audience. This keeps the engagement level high with your audience. Sometimes a simple "thank you for your comment" is all that is necessary.

If I have posted a blog on another site, can I repost it within the ServiceNow Community?

Yes, by all means! Cross Posting content provides excellent Search Engine results as well as provides another action that a community member can pursue.

Can someone subscribe to my blog?

Yes. Community members can subscribe via RSS or email to your posts.

Re: Is it a Blog or is it a Document?

tltoulson — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 22:37:44 GMT

Thank you for this. It was something I have always been confused by. It all makes sense now!

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Is it a Blog or is it a Document?

Re: Is it a Blog or is it a Document?