Blogging to me is not something that’s done to simply see how many people you can get commenting or visiting. Although, it is also much more satisfying when people find your content interesting enough to comment and visit regularly. My view on blogging is that it needs to be something related to your own interests, and it should be something for yourself. A record of sorts. An online journal, if that comparision hasn’t been done to death. If other find it interesting, all the better, but that is not the main goal. Of course, this is my view, I know there are as many reasons and methods of blogging as there are bloggers.
So, that’s my view, how about what the web has to say about guides to blogging?
Lifehack has a guide for newbies. The main points from here are:
- keeping posts short,
- accommodating skimmers,
- figure out a way to keep up the blogging,
- and promote yourself and your site through links and comments on other blogs or forums
The purpose of a blog could be anything. You could comment on the politico-economic environment, post funny pictures, record productivity and tech tips, or let your clients know what your company is up to. The possibilities are limited only by server up-time, you time, and the time it takes to think up things to say.
There are some issues with blogging. The Electronic Frontier Foundation has some tips on how to blog anonymously, if your topic requires it. The main point is to be extremely wary of any identifying information. Even if you don’t mind your identity associated with your blog, there are some things that should never be done. Like publishing your email address, for example.
In future posts I’m going to discuss other forms of blogging – namely how companies are approaching it (embracing it more and more everyday), and the mixture of blogging, Instant Messaging and SMS – yep, Twitter.
