Michael Gove becomes the latest MP to start blogging. He will succeed if he makes the blog an essential source of information about education. Too many political websites are all about the party or the candidate. They need to be issue-driven or community-focused. Our advice to Michael: Invite teachers, headteachers, parents groups and others to all be guest authors on your blog. Make it an essential site for those interested in education. By inviting others to contribute you'll find it easier to maintain and more people will link to it and promote it.
Regular blogging is the most important ingredient of a successful blog. It's also the hardest thing to achieve. Some MPs have tried to start regular blogging - Ed Vaizey springs to mind - but find it difficult to maintain the regular posting that is necessary for a reasonable audience.
Group blogs like CentreRight.com and Cornerstone give MPs the opportunity to communicate to Tory audiences - many times larger than they'd reach at a supper club event, for example - without personally needing to post something daily. Seven Tory MPs are now blogging at CentreRight: Douglas Carswell, Nigel Evans, Mark Field, Liam Fox, Greg Hands, David Lidington, and David Willetts. Douglas and Greg, in particular, have become regular contributors.
The best three dedicated blogs from Tory parliamentarians are John Redwood, Nadine Dorries and Richard Spring.
PS Do take a look at Robert Colvile's articles, currently appearing on Platform. He's writing a series of articles on the impact of politics and the internet.
If someone with a brain like his invests some time into it it'll be required reading. I'd personally be more interested in his commentary on Islamism etc but a focus on education makes sense.
Posted by: Anthony Broderick | February 20, 2008 at 20:23
He needs to improve his layout. Less links and much more original writing.
Posted by: asquith | February 20, 2008 at 21:05
No comments allowed.
Won't work.
Posted by: john | February 20, 2008 at 23:43
Not surprised he hasn't allowed any comment or input from readersof his blog,which is a mistake.
Posted by: R.Baker. | February 21, 2008 at 08:54