RSS Feed and Blog Etiquette
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Word Count: 772
Author: Sharon Housley
Email: sharon@notepage.
Article URL: http://www.submityo
The article is preformatted to 60CPL.
RSS Feed and Blog Etiquette
Citizen journalists and writers have become common place on
the web. Perhaps you are considering blogging, but are
unsure of how to enter the world of online journaling. As
the medium has grown, I thought it might be a good idea to
put together some general guidelines for new bloggers and
reminders to veteran bloggers about blogging practices.
There is no Emily Post in blogging that offers etiquette
advice, or a Miss Manners that details appropriate
behavior. That does not mean there are not acceptable and
unacceptable actions that bloggers should take. In order to
efficiently communicate as a blogger on the Internet, it is
critical to understand the unwritten rules of blogging
etiquette.
If you copy another blog's post should you link to them?
Yes, blog manners dictates that you make every effort to
credit the original source of the blog post, this should be
done through a link. The link should not contain the
"nofollow" tag. Generally speaking the commentary about the
quoted post, should be at least as long as the post that is
copied.
How much can you quote of another persons blog post?
Fair use allows for posts or portions of posts to be
quoted, but it is generally good practice to only quote
what is necessary to retain the context of the post. When
posting an excerpt from someone else, it is imperative that
the context of the post remain intact.
If someone complains about having a blog post copied, what
should you do?
The appropriate course of action would be to remove the
offending post and replace it with text that explains why
the post was removed. Even if you feel the post was simply
fair use, and not a copyright violation, net courtesy
dictates that you respect the wishes of the original poster
and remove the content.
Why should you credit your sources?
Always credit the sources of your information. Attribution
is important, it not only extends your credibility but it
also will help build your channel for future content.
Sources seeing that you give appropriate attribution will
often reward you with additional information in the future.
How do I validate information?
As a blogger, reputation is everything. All items should be
confirmed prior to posting. Consider using two sources to
verify that information is accurate prior to posting. Also
always use credible sources. Second sourcing and relying on
credible sources will ensure that posts are accurate.
I made a mistake, what should I do?
If you have a change of heart, or posted something that is
not 100% accurate, apologize to your readers and correct
the information as soon as possible. Not only is it the
right thing to do, but often feeds or blog posts are
syndicated and unless a correction is made the words could
perpetuate unchecked. If the mistake occurs in a blog post
in addition to posting an apology, go back to the original
post and strikeout the incorrect content and add a comment
indicating why the post has been changed.
How should my posts be formatted?
Break posts into readable chunks. Generally the best posts
are broken into multiple paragraphs. Be careful not to
alienate readers by using ALL CAPS, this is considered
"shouting" online and is thought of as very rude.
Do I have to use proper grammar in by blog?
Proper grammar matters, grammar and spelling may be
inconsequential when instant messaging with your friends
but blogs, immortalize your words, the Internet is becoming
an archive for the past. Appropriate grammar should always
be used when blogging or posting to an RSS feed.
What does off the record really mean?
Always respect your sources. If you are told something "off
the record" do not report about it, post it or share it
with anyone.
What exactly is copywritten?
Any creative works are copywritten. In the US and many
other countriesm, even if the creator does not apply for a
copyright, the creative works are protected by the
copyright laws the moment the creative work is created.
Unless the creator waives those rights, the creative cannot
be reproduced or modified without the creators permission.
Copywritten work includes images, text, music, or software.
If posting a controversial piece, is it appropriate to
include the opposing view?
It depends on the style of your blog or RSS feed, but in
general, it is best to include an opposing view point on
any controversial items. Let your readers view both sides
to the controversy, they will respect the balance your
provide.
Following basic netetiquette when blogging and posting to
RSS feeds will build credibility and a following of loyal
readers.
About the Author:
About the Author:
Sharon Housley manages marketing for FeedForAll
http://www.feedfora
publishing RSS feeds and podcasts. In addition Sharon
manages marketing for NotePage http://www.notepage
wireless text messaging software company.
