THE BLOG on BLOGGING:
ELEMENTARY, MY DEAR WATSON
So, you’ve decided to blog. Let us ponder your options.
OPEN THE POD DOORS, HAL
Why do you
want to blog? What do you have to say or
share that isn’t already being said or shared by the other 200 million bloggers
out there? Who is your audience? Is it a family-and-friends-only journal or a
me-only diary? Maybe it’s an advertisement for a product/creation/business, and
you wish to attract awareness/admirers/customers? Is it an exercise in
creativity and you are searching for an audience or an outlet for your opus? It
is crucial you decide this before you blog.
I HAVE ALWAYS DEPENDED ON THE KINDNESS OF
STRANGERS
Study other
blogs and glean information that will help you decide how to best set up your
site and its operation. See what works and doesn’t for your purposes. Come up with a quirk or innovation that will
make it different from the many others.
If what you
envision is beyond your technical savvy, then enlist/hire/beg for help. Will it
have links, photos, interactive options? Tabs?
Several pages? Have you considered banners, head shots, color schemes,
fonts? Will your blog open onto a full screen, or will your product/text be
positioned to the left or the right?
Remember you
want to make a good first impression, so don’t broadcast it until it looks and
feels right to you. You can always upgrade it or give it a face lift, but your
first launch should be your best font forward.
One more
thing, consider topics and taboos, subjects you will and won’t do, and decide those
with care.
LOUIS, I THINK THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF A
BEAUTIFUL FRIENDSHIP
Where are
you going to post this blog? Choose a
server that will match your needs the best.
Will you link to Twitter, Pinterest, Facebook, etc.? How often you post
will depend on the purpose of your blog.
Will you post when the muse amuses you or will you set up a strict schedule?
Set your own guidelines but then announce and follow them.
Remember if
you seek a constant readership, you will need to be constant as well. A reader’s time is valuable and fickle. If you treat your blog with abandon, the
reader will also.
NOBODY PUTS BABY IN A CORNER
Whether it
is a me-only blog or you seek extensive readership, once it goes live on the
Internet, it is “out there.” It is a web log, after all. It is also a visual résumé, forever attached with its
magnet to the refrigerator door of Cyberspace.
Regardless
of that daunting thought, here is your chance to stretch your creative muscles,
perfect your skill, show off your talent(s). If you write, grapple with the grammar,
insinuate yourself into the syntax, and lunge loquaciously into the
language. If you are a visual artist,
post pictures, venture out there with vlogs, and tinker with technology.
Establish
your platform, your stamp, your voice.
LOVE MEANS NEVER HAVING TO SAY YOU’RE SORRY
If you’ve truly
considered what you will blog about and who it will reach, then you are aware
of the importance of privacy and ethics.
Unlike a private
journal or diary that only becomes public upon your death or the prying eyes of
nosy family, a blog is accessible to anyone who can maneuver about Cyberspace.
Not only will your creation be public but so will you. Readers will claim you. You
will find yourself pinned on Pinterest.
You might
enjoy the attention, but your family and friends may not. Don’t belittle,
betray, or blather about them without their permission. Don’t post a picture if you want to protect
their anonymity. If you do, disguise their names.
Also
consider if what you have posted – text or picture – represents you well. Do you want to become known for that? Always be
aware of your theme and message.
Would you
rather be famous for a blook deal or infamous for a lawsuit? Remember you still
have to show up for Christmas dinner with the relatives, and you might have to
face the ex(s) at the grandkids’ birthday parties sooner than you think.
Wow--great, concise, fabulous info! I'm the worst at keeping up my blog, because I never have inspiration and time collide. BUT--I bought a little agenda book, sat down for an hour, and scheduled topics, series, etc. to post 2x/week for the next 6 months. Look for me on Tuesdays and Saturdays!!
ReplyDeleteI am honored by your comments. I am learning as I go, but this is what I have learned so far. I appreciate your suggestions -
DeleteLove the way you came to the point. Everything you said is so true......got to be consistint. And find out what interests YOU. Thanks Raquel
ReplyDeleteGood article and advice.
ReplyDeleteGreat tips Raquel... to the point and very practical! I'm just now getting back-on-board with my blogging regimen... isn't everyone :0)
ReplyDeleteBlessings to you!
Thanks Rach-I finally took the plunge myself. My blog is a work in progress, but I'm happy with my start!
ReplyDelete