Many bloggers from time to time find themselves 'stuck', or lacking a source of inspiration for their blog, and get into a bit of a slump creating new content.
It happens to me quite often.
Most blogs have a particular angle, or Point of View, and sometimes after dozens or even hundreds of posts on your topic of choice you can easily find yourself at a loss for what to write next. Hasn't it already been written, maybe even by you already?
Sometimes taking a fresh approach, examining a new subject, or mixing up your writing style a bit can help give you a shot of creativity and inspiration.
So in this spirit a few fellow HR Bloggers have decided to participate in a little 'blog exchange', a simple idea where two bloggers are paired up with each other, and each submits a 'guest post' to their partner's blog, hopefully done in more of less the style and using the 'normal' subject matter of the host blog.
So each blogger gets a chance to stretch a bit, potentially writing about something new, and perhaps altering their style a bit, and hopefully most of all having some fun.
Getting to the point then, here are the bloggers that have agreed to participate in the blog exchange:
Steve Boese - Steve Boese's HR Technology Blog - Twitter user name - sbjet
Lisa Rosendahl - HR Thoughts - Twitter user name - lisarosendahl
The HR Maven - HR Maven - Twitter user name - thehrmaven (The Maven really knows how to brand)
Trish McFarlane - hr ringleader's blog - Twitter user name - Trish_HR
designtwit -Fusion Frames- Twitter user name designtwit
Steve Urquhart - Talent for the 21st Century - Twitter user name workforce101 and Talent421
Beth Carvin - Nobscot's Weblog - Twitter user name bncarvin
ImJustAGoyle - ImJustAGoyle - Twitter user name imjustagoyle
Margaret Murphy - MYFUTURE MYSELF - Twitter user name murphymargaret
Lois Melbourne - Aquire Blog - Twitter user name loismelbourne
Since the original thought was from one of my Tweets (lucky me), I was nominated to choose the pairings, so here goes:
HR Thoughts - Talent for the 21st Century
Steve's Tech Blog - Fusion Frames
Aquire Blog- the hr ringleader's blog
There were also a couple of folks who expressed interest in 'playing' but are not currently blogging, but would be interested in guest posting.
Ben Eubanks - Twitter user name beneubanks
I have a standing offer open to Ben to guest post on my blog, and I encourage other bloggers to consider opening up some 'guest' slots for new HR professionals and students.
For the actual writing and publishing of the posts, here are a few steps that I think make sense, feel free to ignore these completely if you disagree:
1. The 'pair' should contact each other via e-mail or Twitter DM to go over how they want the process to go and review any specific details that they care to discuss (length of post, timing, etc.)
2. Each blogger should spend some time reading their 'hosts' blog, looking at the content and style etc.
3. An agreement should be made for a target date to publish the guest posts
4. I think the 'pair' should try to publish on the same day, I think for the best impact and exposure that makes sense.
5. Once the posts are published, make sure to announce them on Twitter and use the hashtag #blogexchange in the Tweets, and the other participants in the #blogexchange should RT for further exposure.
I think that is it. I am not 'in-charge' of this little project, I just agreed to help organize. I don't plan on badgering anyone if the guest posts don't get done quickly. It is up to each blogger to make sure that the guest posts get written and published in a timely fashion.
Thanks everyone who agreed to participate, and let's have some fun!