In December 2008, Forrester Research released the results of its Second Quarter 2008 study about information sources that consumers trust. You can view the study and some commentary here to see if you agree with the results, and where you fall along the spectrum. Reading all of the alarmist blog posts about the study brought me back to one of my original questions when I started writing for the Queensboro Blog. How do I make our blog interesting, Queensboro-related and beneficial to Queensboro and our customers? And without being boring? Without being repetitive? Without provoking the “That was boring, Katie-Kate” response from Jenn E.

The main problem most of the bloggers blogging about corporate blogging have with corporate blogs is that they think that the blogs are not “transparent,” and that they are all “roses and sunshine” with no substance. Or, worse, the blogs are boring and nothing more than veiled product pitches. Have you ever tried to blog about shirts every day? Try it. You’ll see how difficult it is to come up with meaningful, interesting or funny information that is related to the same products or services every day. Especially if that product is custom embroidered shirts. I have made it into a little game. In addition to standard business tips, information about apparel terms, and hints on how to make your logo great, I also see how many different things I can possibly relate back to shirts—news, pop culture, current events, travel, and magazine articles. A little bit of six degrees of shirts. Our customers also provide lots of interesting fodder for blogs. We have goat farmers, rock bands, and sailing champions among our customers.

Is That a Fake Bio?
If you go to the “About the Authors” page and read my bio, you might think it is fake! One of our graphic artists did and told me that it was shamelessly unbelievable. I am here to tell you, in no uncertain terms, that my credit card bill does, in fact, reflect my “strictly research” shopping habits. Do you want to know how easy it is to have cheesecake drop-shipped from NYC? I can tell you. Is it just as thrilling to buy a purse online as in person? YES! Do I wear fleeces, t-shirts, and jackets purchased from Queensboro with my logo 24/7. Uh-huh, even though I think my husband might enjoy it if I wore something else. That’s me, folks, and I really do like working at and writing about Queensboro. It is no coincidence that my favorite line from the movie version of “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” (I have also read the book.) is “She’s a phony, but she’s a real phony.” I guess, in my own way, I’m a “real phony.”

(Cue Alien Accent) I Come from the Planet of Sales
Another issue with corporate blogs? The bloggers are often in the marketing department of the companies. (GASP! Of course we all know that marketers are nothing more than product pushing robots with no souls. They can’t possibly have brains and thoughts and feelings. As such, how could they POSSIBLY write interesting blogs?) Well, I am in the marketing department. I can tell you that, from years of non-profit work, having to “sell” where I worked to potential visitors and donors, I eat, speak and sleep persuasion. It just comes naturally. In fact, sometimes I have to stop writing earlier in the day than I would like because everything I write starts to sound like a sales letter. “Dear Grandma, You’ll never believe the great plants I picked up from my local nursery. I’m not sure whose idea it was to breed an azalea that blooms year-round, but in my book, they’re tops! Not convinced? Well, it’s November 15th in Wilmington, and my whole backyard is still covered in pink blooms. Need any further incentive? Here’s a picture of my adorable dog Lucy with her favorite shrub.” (My Grandma always sends me pictures of herself next to her favorite, gigantic plant on any given day. I have Grandma with her prize Mandevilla, Grandma with her giant Begonia hanging basket, and Grandma with her ornamental cabbage. I love my Grandma. She gave me my green thumb!)

What I Don’t Tell You
Of course there are some things I’m not going to write about. I can’t tell you exactly what our sales are on any given day without checking with someone. I am not going to post intimate details about staff without their permission (I don’t think that’s even legal!). I’m not going to try to find mud to sling about (I like working here, remember? And I want to keep my job!). Also, to be quite frank, there isn’t much mud to sling. Of course, we all have our ups and downs here, but, on the whole, Queensboro is the least drama-filled workplace I have ever inhabited. For the most part, we all get along pretty well and are great friends with people across the departments.

Feel Free to Drop me a Line!
I see my job, as the official and most frequent poster on “Behind the Seams: The Queensboro Blog,” as bringing the behind the scenes look to our customers and providing helpful information about custom embroidery, promotional products, logo design and apparel to everyone on the world wide web. If it sounds like I am proud of Queensboro, and our products and services, it is because I am. If I sound like I enjoy learning new things about embroidery and apparel, it is because I do. I’m a horticulturist by training, so all of this is as new to me as it is to you. To me, it is a privilege to be the Official Blogger of Queensboro. I always welcome suggestions and feedback. Feel free to email me. My email is: kate “at” Queensboro.com. I look forward to hearing from you. Do you trust the Queensboro blogger now? I hope so. If not, well, stay tuned. Maybe I’ll change your mind. You can always order something from us to see for yourself that I’m not joking. (Oh, dear. That sounded like a sales pitch.)