ComMetrics Value Check
ComMetrics Blog Impact index: a composite index based on several mezo indices including the ComMetrics Health Check. The latter is a composite index made up of the:
=> Service check, InfoSharing check, Value check (you are here), LinkLove check and the Trust check indices.
The Value Check (you are here) addresses issues regarding the value of content to the targeted audience including writing style, being humble and doing some investigative work to scratch the surface or going beyond the obvious (e.g., summarising a 1-page New York Times article in 2-paragraphs without adding much new insight to the matter) and so forth. Below we explain the questions and scoring in more detail.
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Indicators scored
This section has four questions which are:
7) Writing style: How you write indicates how real you can truly be.
- 0 = other
1 = very bad – content reads as having been carefully vetted by corporate communication or politician’s PR staff / similar to or same as Press Release or rehash of one
2 = average – writing style not personable, corporate speak not striving to elicit responses/comments
3 = very good – blog is written in human voice – personable – author(s) take(s) a stand on issue(s)
9 = missing data – reasons as no sufficient data found on blog or data not entered yet
8) Content relevance to target audience: What does the blog talk about? Is it useful to the target audience?
- 0 = other
1 = very bad – talks primarily about the company, its products, etc. (e.g., politician’s blog talks about him or her and little about wider issues)
2 = average – discusses wider industry/policy topics
3 = very good – discusses > 50% of issues from the target audience’s perspective (things they care about such as how user experience with a product can be improved – tips & tricks, checklists)
9 = missing data – reasons as no sufficient data found on blog or data not entered yet
9) Humility: how human and real is this blog, or is it giving lip service? Is the blog talking at viewers/readers/listeners or part of the wider community?
- 0 = other
1 = very bad – rarely if ever discusses the shortcomings of the company or its products (also applies in case of politician or individual – being humble means nobody is perfect
2 = average – admits shortcomings while trying to deflect or defend against criticism – known as playing spin-doctor
3 = very good – admits when wrong & discusses openly the possible shortcomings of the company, its products or services, decisions made, the expert/politician, and demonstrates/discusses publicly how this will be improved…
9 = missing data – reasons as no sufficient data found on blog or data not entered yet
10) Investigative blogging – adding value: Blogger investigates the issue beyond scratching the surface.
- 0 = other
1 = very bad – either has little if any links or else primarily to internal – corporate resources or previous blog posts on same url
2 = average – <50% of instances author provides reader with link to the original source (e.g., university for download), sometimes link to secondary source provided, such as newspaper story or press release
3 = very good – >66% of the cases, the content includes a link where reader can get more insights about issues by, for instance, downloading a research or white paper (e.g., university or research lab) (PS. often white papers are too sloppy to go beyond scratching the surface = communities are harmed by what they do not know).
9 = missing data – reasons as no sufficient data found on blog or data not entered yet
Scoring
The maximum score to be obtained is twelve points while the minimum score is zero.
What is your take, what worked for you? Please share your thoughts with a comment below!
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