Blog Rules : A Business Guide to Managing Policy, Public Relations, and Legal Issues

"From the millions of people with a conviction or cause they're eager to share with like-minded readers, to the thousands of corporations looking for a more effective and reliable way to build trust-based relationships with their customers, it's no wonder that an astonishing 80,000 new web logs -- -- or ""blogs"" -- are appearing daily. Unfortunately, this includes employees who might reveal confidential company information, and even official corporate blogs that could potentially misrepresent company finances. Everyone, it seems, is blogging, and any organization that fails to take advantage of this exciting new platform, while also protecting itself from legal liabilities as well as critical or defamatory remarks, is sure to suffer the consequences. Blog Rules is a best-practices guide to establishing the blog-related policies and procedures your business needs. You'll learn how to: • Legally and ethically regulate employees' personal blogs that mention the company • Protect trade secrets and other proprietary information • Manage the legal and business exposure associated with corporate blogs • Respond swiftly and effectively to blog assaults against the company -- and much more. The book helps you control your message and your brand, showing you how to train and familiarize your people with the rules you've established, and how to protect your reputation from both internal and external sources. Featuring secrets, strategies, and success stories from real-life companies, including IBM and Stonyfield Farms, Blog Rules is the one guide you need to ensure that your organization is helped and not hindered by this revolutionary tool." According to Fortune magazine, online journals known as blogs--short for web logs--are "a force business can't afford to ignore." With 9 million U.S. bloggers currently operating, and an astonishing 80,000 new blogs appearing daily, companies must quickly devise ways to take advantage of this new tool while protecting themselves from legal liabilities as well as critical or defamatory remarks. To complicate matters, the threats aren't all external. Consider the employee who reveals confidential company information on his personal blog. Or even the official corporate blog that misrepresents the company's finances. Blog Rules is a best-practices guide to establishing the blog-related policies and procedures businesses need. Readers will learn how * legally and ethically regulate employees' personal blogs that mention the company * protect trade secrets and other proprietary information * manage the legal and business exposure associated with corporate blogs * respond swiftly and effectively to blog assaults against the company--and much more. With Over 40,000 New Blogs Created Daily, Blogging Is Changing The Shape Of Business And Personal Communications. This Companion To E-mail Rules And Instant Messaging Rules Covers The Legal And Business Risks Of Corporate Blogs, Employee Rights, Regulatory Issues And More, And Includes Best-practice Policies To Help Companies Use This Effective Tool Safely. Helps you control your message and your brand, showing you how to train and familiarize your people with the rules you've established, and how to protect your reputation from both internal and external sources. This book shows you learn how to legally and ethically regulate employees' personal blogs that mention the company.