Biznik’s big editorial shift
This morning, I sent the following email to the more than 500 authors who have had at least 2 published articles on Biznik. I’m reproducing it here for those of you who may wish to jump in and start publishing articles on Biznik:
First off, I’d like to thank you for the articles you’ve published on Biznik. The community gets richer with every published article, and I value your contributions highly. That’s why I’d like you to be among the first to know about a shift we’re making in our editorial focus, aimed at making Biznik articles more compelling and building a larger, more engaged audience for your work.
Beginning immediately, we are moving beyond the simple how-to article format and toward publishing more thought-provoking, timely and controversial articles. For example:
Health care – how important is it to small business? What would the impact of universal coverage be for you in your small business? Pro or con? We’d like to publish informed, well-written opinions on all sides of this and other issues important to entrepreneurs.
Advertising – is it dead yet? Or just beginning a new life? Do newspapers even matter any more? Or are we wasting our time and money advertising there?
Business models – What works? What works AND makes the world a better place? What’s exploitive? What’s just plain slimey and dishonest?
In addition to the serious stuff, I’d like to see oddball, edgy or simply entertaining articles based on your own experiences. One key requirement remains: every published article must have a tie to entrepreneurship. Beyond that – have fun with it, take risks, and have an informed point of view. Surprise me!
August 17th, 2009 at 4:09 pm
Thank you! I think this move will move the conversation to a new level which is a welcome change IMHO.
August 17th, 2009 at 4:16 pm
Great move towards creating more conversation — while articles have been helpful, they have not been oriented around sparking conversation and learning from each other. Articles that are all neat and tidy are interesting, but not engaging for a community.
I hope you will publish articles sitewide based on their contribution to creating dialog and exploration, not on their polish or completeness — a business journal site is better for that.
Thanks for the initiative
)
August 17th, 2009 at 5:09 pm
We took a look at the articles we were receiving, and asked ourselves: what is unique about them? What type of articles could we be publishing that are difficult to find anywhere else? So that’s what we’re looking forward to with this new direction. Indeed, the more likely an article is to spark dialog and exploration of a topic, the more likely I’ll be to publish it. Bring it, Biznik!
August 17th, 2009 at 8:34 pm
I would say… take it one step further. Allow Biznik sponsored political events. I was thinking a Bizniks for good health care event would be great right now. Affordable health care is so important to entreprenuers.
August 17th, 2009 at 8:46 pm
First, articles. Next, the world!
August 19th, 2009 at 6:45 am
It’s good to see the shift and I look forward to a little more variety in types of articles. Thanks.
DD
August 20th, 2009 at 10:43 pm
I looked up entrepreneur and it’s one who organizes, manages, and assumes the risks of a business or enterprise.
None of that stuff has anything to do with me, we hire people to do that if we can find people who are competent.
I talk about money.
So I sent the articles about health care. You are asking how health care relates to small business or business in general. It just doesn’t have anything to do with normal people.
It’s like asking what Wal Mart has to do with business. More to the point it’s like asking what the Defense Department has to do with business.
You would need to step out of the box to get eyes. You need eyes to expand.
I’m just sayin.
August 20th, 2009 at 10:59 pm
Thanks, I see the second article coming out in the morning.
Health care is one of my main issues. It is the single most important issue, globally, that we can have some control over.