For those of you in corporate IT, does it feel like Chicken Little is frequently on the loose and running around your department? It seems like there are so many stories about how IT is failing the organization. Or perhaps I just don’t read many of the good stories. I’m hopeful I am on the right track to finding the silver lining (to mix my metaphors, as I’m wont do do) in B2B content about technology with this story from BMC Software.
BYOD: Some reasons to be cheerful
With the use of the qualifier some, the title doesn’t scream positivity but I’m willing to grant the author a little leeway there. The topic of bring your own device (BYOD) isn’t always, or ever, a black or white kind of issue. The author is prompted to write this post as a counterpoint to a newspaper article about how companies need to have rules about BYOD policies. And I think he does a fine job of addressing the points in the original article and sharing his own opinions.
Herewith, my thoughts about why readers can be cheerful about this content.
Analysis
- Length
700+ = It’s longer form content, like magazine articles in days of old (you know, the 80s), and I’m good with that. In this case, the story he tells is worth the space. - Style
From this article, I’d guess the author doesn’t take himself too seriously and I appreciate that, especially when reading about technology topics. Plus, anyone who can incorporate the words handwringing and foreboding into an article like this is a writer I want to read. And let’s not get me started on how much I like that he ended with that most British of informal interjections: Cheers. - Format
Good use of not boring subheads. Also like the call to action at the end–he leads you to the water and asks you to drink. (Yes, I guess I just made you, dear reader, a horse in this metaphor. Hope you don’t mind too much. I’m feeling cheeky.) - Salesy quotient
Low
This article is written to educate its audience and establish thought leadership. The one mention of a BMC product is nonchalant; and in no way does the article read like the author had to stretch it around a need to include that product name. Indeed, you could take out the mention and the article would read just fine. The reference is only three words long and set apart between commas, for Pete’s sake. - Educational quotient
High
It is a good discussion of some of the challenges of BYOD policies.
What do you think about this article? Do you feel it is as educational as you’d want it to be? Is my analysis close to your thoughts about this content? Still angry with me for that horse-related metaphor?
Photo courtesy of LukeW