Sometimes a company is locked into a certain way of thinking and communicating because it’s tied to a particular software package. I see this a lot.
One of the things businesses need to remember is that new tools are constantly emerging and that sometimes we need to try new things out. Just to get a new perspective on how things could work differently
For example, I still see a lot of companies emailing out their newsletter to staff. This in itself isn’t necessarily a problem. Email newsletters can really build your audience and engage recipients if managed appropriately.
However, simple blog software like WordPress locked away behind password access,located on the company server, can be an even better way of running a simple internal company newsletter.
Email isn’t designed for interaction and discussion. It’s a great way of notifying people of what’s going on, updating them on events, and passing on material. But you don’t really want to get into a conversation on email.
With a blog you can include pictures to illustrate your news, invite comments from staff and generate more collaborative engagement. Business blogs used for in-company news are very easy to maintain, easy to update and can look quite stylish. They also get you out of your inbox.
Thinking of Using a Blog?
My recommendation if you’re thinking of trying out how a blog can be used instead of an internal email newsletter is to buy some hosting with a service that offers one-click WordPress installation (I use Media Temple).
Then use a free theme that’s clean and easy to read – why not try Cleanr. To make it feel more like your own, use the company logo in the banner or company colours. After that you can concentrate on writing and updating.
Initially you would need to send out a link via email, say, every Friday to remind colleagues that the blog (or newsletter) has been updated. But after a few weeks people will learn to expect that the newsletter is now online.
Tip
The Members Only Plugin is a great way of keeping a WordPress site behind closed doors.
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