about the presentation and content of lawyer weblogs. Yet, until revealed
some very prominent lawyer weblogs in a blogroll labelled “LexBlog network,”
although they have no connection of any sort with lexBlog. See Ben Cowgill
be surprised by the answer),” March 16, 2006.
“questionDudeS”
In a Comment in reply, Kevin seems to suggest that the situation caught him
by surprise, and says:
“It was an oversight that a blogroll was labeled a network as
opposed to lawyer or other blogs.”
Two years ago, Kevin’s “oversight” led him to leave out (see this prior post)
the core notion in Rebecca Blood‘s conclusion that weblogs really do build
reputations quickly — the need for hands-on self-education:
“By maintaining a weblog that is tightly focused on a particular
subject, these weblog editors educate themselves by searching
the Web daily for news and information pertinent to their area of
expertise, exercising judgment in weighing the relevance or impor-
tance of what they find, and articulating their thoughts on links that
they decide to include, either by summarizing the article or by analy-
zing the material presented. It is what experts do, and this practice
will speed anyone’s progress to that end.”
Similar “oversight” apparently caused Kevin to leave out of his lexBlog promos,
back in 2004, the fact that all third-party materials on a lexBlog weblog would be
marked as being provided from a different source. (see our post and the conces-
course, it is not the least bit clear to me that merely sticking a copyright symbol
with another entity’s name after such third-party content will, as Kevin asserted,
“make clear that the [lexBlog] lawyer did not write it.” Will the target public know
the difference? (For more, see Ben Cowgill’s post this evening on chasing a rabbit,
March 16, 2006).
When it comes to marketing his products, then, it often appears that Kevin needs
far more “oversight” — “Watchful care or management; supervision,” in order
to avoid such embarassing oversights — “An unintentional omission or mistake.”
(American Heritage Dictionary, 4th ed., 2000) Perhaps hiring a marketing/ethics
consiglieri might be a good idea — someone who can draw Kevin’s attention to
practices or claims that are likely to be seen as misleading or deceptive.
One place for the new consiglieri to start might be the marketing of lexBlog’s
lexPremium service, which begins by asserting that providing third-party content
will:
Solidify reputation as trusted expert
This is the plan that will utterly solidify your reputation as a trusted
expert in your field and locale. With our Premium service, you’re
launched to the forefront of your area of practice, perceived as a
leading authority by the public, colleagues, the media and clients.
This is the same issue raised by the truncated Rebecca Blood quote
in 2004. It’s building reputation on the cheap — it’s selling the appearance of ex-
pertise.
“tinyredcheck” All of this puts me in mind of Homer, Horace and Pope. Like
Horace, I know that “Even the worthy Homer sometimes nods.” But,
“Those oft are stratagems which errors seem, Nor is it
Homer nods, but we that dream”
None of us knows what’s in Kevin’s mind or heart. You’ll have to decide for your-
selves whether Horace or Pope gives us the better guidance about lexBlog.
p.s. In a comment at his weblog, Kevin states today that “LexBlog has achieved the
success it has because we’ve acted ethically, honestly and with integrity at all times.”
trusting the dog
to guard the gate…
chrysanthemum
Appreciate the comments David but Ben should look closely at what LexBlog is doing for it’s clients before attacking the integrity and ethics of me and my company.
I have an occasional lawyer contact me about LexBlog’s LexPremium package where we offer to do content on a blog sponsored by the firm. I tell them it would cost more and do much less for them than a blog on which they publish content. As a result we have no clients for whom we are publishing content as described in the LexPremium section of our website. In those cases the firm should properly say they are sponsoring the blog as opposed to publishing it, much like a law firm may sponsor a program on NPR et al.
I am a huge follower of Rebecca Blood. I read her Weblog Handbook to the point where it got my heart racing when I read the sections you’ve cited. I thanked her for the guidance and inspiration she gave me. I told her that with that inspiration I hoped to help lawyers across this country help people by providing practical information and insight.
Blogs are truly a discussion. Any good company welcomes constructive discussion as to the strengths and weaknesses of its service and products. That’s the Cluetrain Manifesto. However, any reasonable person would find the the attacks and charges leveled at LexBlog by one person with an exe to grind this last week as going to far. I appreciate your effort to raise valid points for discussion and stay away from those personal attacks.
Comment by Kevin O'Keefe — March 17, 2006 @ 12:28 am
Appreciate the comments David but Ben should look closely at what LexBlog is doing for it’s clients before attacking the integrity and ethics of me and my company.
I have an occasional lawyer contact me about LexBlog’s LexPremium package where we offer to do content on a blog sponsored by the firm. I tell them it would cost more and do much less for them than a blog on which they publish content. As a result we have no clients for whom we are publishing content as described in the LexPremium section of our website. In those cases the firm should properly say they are sponsoring the blog as opposed to publishing it, much like a law firm may sponsor a program on NPR et al.
I am a huge follower of Rebecca Blood. I read her Weblog Handbook to the point where it got my heart racing when I read the sections you’ve cited. I thanked her for the guidance and inspiration she gave me. I told her that with that inspiration I hoped to help lawyers across this country help people by providing practical information and insight.
Blogs are truly a discussion. Any good company welcomes constructive discussion as to the strengths and weaknesses of its service and products. That’s the Cluetrain Manifesto. However, any reasonable person would find the the attacks and charges leveled at LexBlog by one person with an exe to grind this last week as going to far. I appreciate your effort to raise valid points for discussion and stay away from those personal attacks.
Comment by Kevin O'Keefe — March 17, 2006 @ 12:28 am
Kevin, Thank you for writing and for your civil tone.
I want to make one point: You say “Ben should look closely at what LexBlog is doing for it’s clients before attacking the integrity and ethics of me and my company.” If you mean that Ben has gotten the facts wrong by not looking closely, I agree. However, if you’re saying that doing something good or productive means that a business gets a free pass when some of its activities appear misleading or deceptive, I must disagree. That seems to be the approach of a lot of politicians who are caught with egg on their faces for some misdeed — they point to all their public service and accomplishments as if that should give them immunity from criticism or consequences.
As you know so well, weblogs are a powerful tool for spreading information AND for keeping other webloggers, government and business honest. That means that we all need to be as squeaky-clean as possible, if our workproduct is on the internet.
Comment by David Giacalone — March 17, 2006 @ 11:37 am
Kevin, Thank you for writing and for your civil tone.
I want to make one point: You say “Ben should look closely at what LexBlog is doing for it’s clients before attacking the integrity and ethics of me and my company.” If you mean that Ben has gotten the facts wrong by not looking closely, I agree. However, if you’re saying that doing something good or productive means that a business gets a free pass when some of its activities appear misleading or deceptive, I must disagree. That seems to be the approach of a lot of politicians who are caught with egg on their faces for some misdeed — they point to all their public service and accomplishments as if that should give them immunity from criticism or consequences.
As you know so well, weblogs are a powerful tool for spreading information AND for keeping other webloggers, government and business honest. That means that we all need to be as squeaky-clean as possible, if our workproduct is on the internet.
Comment by David Giacalone — March 17, 2006 @ 11:37 am