“And let’s also add a blog to the new site design,” he said as if it were an afterthought, which I was sure it was. Knowing his propensity for delegating, I probed further, “That’s great. How often are you planning on blogging?” “Oh, I’m not going to write the blog myself, ” he said assuredly, “my secretary is going to take care of that.”

Unfortunately, I find myself having this conversation with Pastors and business leaders more and more often. What ensues is usually a long argument about what a blog should or shouldn’t be. Here are some thoughts on the matter:

Your blog should be your voice. It’s telling your story or the things you’re passionate about. No one else can do it for you. Are you sure you want your assistant speaking for you? If you have a corporate blog than, it’s a different matter. You can even use an editor to help make the posts smoother and edited for grammar. But you should own the ideas on your blog.

Don’t disguise a PR post or news feed as a blog. People are smarter than that. They will let you know by not coming back or following you. Remember a blog is a conversation not just the latest thing you’re trying to push.

Don’t fear negative feedback. Reasonable people can disagree and still respect each other. As far as the jerks and loonies go, just press “delete.” Not everyone appreciates my work, and some think I’m, let’s just say it nicely, “prostituting the gospel of Jesus Christ.” Unfortunately some anonymous commentators don’t use such polite language and I’m often forced to delete their entries.

Have fun. Be transparent. People connect with you first then with your subject matter. My pastor Pete Wilson,  of Cross Point Community Church, posted a video in his blog of he and his wife Brandi in a silly competition of who was able to hold their breath the longest. The video not only helps us get the whimsical side of Pete, but it also features the sweet, albeit competitive, personality of his lovely wife, Brandi. After watching this how can you not love these people? Watch it here.

The best blogs are a mix of personal and professional postings. Some people feel they need to dispense wisdom, wit and insight with every post. That’s OK, but the most interesting blogs to me are a mix of experience, passionate pursuits, insight, emotions, accomplishments and failures. I usually get the information, but I do in the context of one’s perspective that I’ve grown to understand and appreciate because of the human element found throughout each post.

How do you react when facing with a blog that you suspect is not written by its named author or is too self serving?