Marketing Technology

Update: Nancy White, a member of the design and support team for the site, has some additional background.

I just heard about a blogging community that has been set up by the March of Dimes charity in the US (roughly equivalent to Tommy’s here in the UK).

Called Share Your Story, it invites people affected by premature births to create a blog on the website to… share their stories.

Forget character blogs, a-list bloggers or even corporate blogging communities – this takes some beating. You only have to read some of the posts to see how powerful collective blogging can be as a medium for both amplifying a message and bringing a cause to life. Both are things that charities need in abundance, and I still find it hard to believe that causes and even brands in the UK are not falling over themselves to be the first to do this over here. I’d be more than happy to help a good cause get something similar up and running.

It has all the benefits of a blogging community that I outlined well before we decided to create our own, and is by far the best example I have seen (including anything from the commercial sector) in terms of both design and execution. RSS feeds, comments and permalinks are all present, as are some “tips and suggestions for being a good blogger“:

• Choose a title that makes sense for others – you might want to include your name or the theme of your blog.
• Be yourself. A blog is a place to share your feelings and perspectives. Share stories about your life and observations in being a parent, or whatever you choose. Your blog is your home — you are free to use it in any way you wish.
• Update the blog regularly. This will keep community members coming back to read your blog and ensure that it remains at the top of the list of all blogs.
• Read other blogs. If you’re curious about where to get started, read other blogs in the Share Community. If you see something interesting, talk about it on your blog and share your perspectives.
• Leave comments on other blogs. Everyone likes to have people reading their blogs. A way to do that is to read other blogs and comment on their entries. This lets them know you are listening and will prompt them to read your blog.
• Use pictures. Uploading pictures to your blog is very easy and helps make connections to other Share Community members.

Well done to everyone involved. You should be really proud of what you have achieved. If I only have one criticism, is that I had to go to your main site to give you a donation.