Have you ever heard of other people talking about their “blogs” while you could just smile and nod?
Yes, the word “blog” is a rare word, encompassing the ideas of mosquito-infested swamps, and you can hardly imagine why people would crave so many visitors.
But they are eager. Despite the bad name, blogs are the hottest thing in social media from cell phones. Blogs are websites where almost anyone can post information on almost any topic as often as they like. Blogs can be given a single true topic, or they can be the equivalent of a personal diary in which people record their personal thoughts and observations about the world. Blog content is limited only by the idea of a blogger, or “author”.
If you find the idea of your blog appealing, and you have a computer connected to the Internet, here are some suggestions to help you both keep the blog going and create an audience that you can share with:
First, choose a topic for your blog that you will enjoy communicating with, and edit your story. Your opinion on the matter is correct, as long as it is based on something subtle. There will always be those who know as much, about a topic as you do, and if you want a reliable blog, you need to be able to support your statements.
Add humor and personal information to your article if you can. Writing a travel blog about places you've been to, as well as the colorful locals you've met, will make learning a lot better than posting facts and statistics taken from travel sites and TV shows. Provide tools that will appeal to both new travelers — such as how to avoid pockets — as well as the past — as the best places to be found elsewhere.
Do not limit your blog to your own experience. Keep it up-to-date with information that may affect those who like your topic. While your knowledge can give people an important insight, be aware that your ideas about what happens to you or about a particular product are, in fact, mere ideas. Provide people with accurate information on which to base their opinions.
Keep up to date with your latest blog. On the Internet, news can wear off in a few hours, and what happened last month is ancient history. Telling people who are thinking of a trip to Thailand that Thailand was overthrown last September will not help them decide on a trip next month. However, a review of the peaceful state of affairs in Thailand today will do.
Reviewing your blog will require commitment from you. You will need to set up regular search and writing time for new news, and submit them. There will be times when not much is going to happen, and there will be times when you can not type fast enough. But two or three times a week is not too much to post something new. Or just tell your students that not much has happened, share a few thoughts, and tell your students when they will come in next time, anyway. Your audience will keep coming back as long as they know you are there.
Keep your blog as simple as possible, unless you feel like you do not fully understand your topic. You want to attract as many people as possible, and nothing will get those who just liked the topic head on faster than the technical and mathematical jargon. You can provide complex information, as long as you make an effort to put it into terms that are easy to use.
Find the name of your blog that you will remember, and use the editing feature of your blog to post it in a large, colorful language. “My Hiking Blog” will probably sound interesting to mom and dad only and because you never text or call them while you are out. "Climbing in the Clouds" will appeal to those who are facing the Earth's heights, or who are seeking.
Always, say, at the end of each month, archive your blog posts. Your blog editor will allow you to do this in less than a minute. Entries will still be available to new blog readers who want to discover it, or those who want to refer to your previous posts. Also list keywords for your saved activity so that new traffic can find its way to you.
Lastly, make sure your blog is professionally presented. You have a spell checker, so use it. Proof of reading your copy and correcting any system errors or punctuation marks before submitting your work. If you are not sure if you are using the word correctly, get help from an online dictionary. Respect your students as smart, well-informed people who can use their time elsewhere.
These suggestions may make your entry into the blogging world a success, but it is up to you to commit to building and retaining audiences.
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