I am new to the art of
blogging. I struggle with the
logistics of the website where I create my blog. I know that the blog is an excellent way to deliver a
message with the potential of reaching millions of people, or none at all. The goal for me is learning to make the
blog attractive to an audience.
Reading other blogs, popular and obscure, helps me understand what works
and what does not. Critiquing
other blogs and receiving feedback from other bloggers is another way to build
a better blog.
To
make a blog interesting the writing must be real. Some tips from a fellow blogger’s blog include being
passonate and pushing the envolope, also wrting often, adding links, and
comments on other blogs (http://www.jannakin.blogspot.com). Also pointed out by this fellow blogger
is that controversy also makes successful blogs (http://www.jannakin.blogspot.com). I am really good at controversy, so
maybe I have a good tool. Jannakin
offers an excellent blog introduction.
The blog background is visually appealing. There is a great deal of potential in this blog. I will enjoy watching it develop.
Images
bring the written word to life. A
blog with images catches my eye so I learn from this to add images to my own
blog. The Knight Reaction opens
each post with an image (http://theknightreaction.blogspot.com). The images are well chosen to match the
written work. The images also
compel readers to pay attention to what they are about to read. The background, color and font in this
blog are not distracting from the message of the blog. A personal picture of the blogger gives
personality and allows the reader to connect with the writer. When I read I always create a visual
image of how I imagine the narrator; having a picture of the writer makes
visualization of the storyteller personal. “The Knight Reaction” is an excellent blog to view when
collecting ideas for creating a blog (http://theknightreaction.blogspot.com).
“And
So It Begins” is the blog title of another fellow blogger
(http://teeontaymoore.blogspot.com/).
I love the color scheme, which consists of varying pink shades, but then
pink is my guilty pleasure favorite color. Pink has such a happy cheerful
vibe to it that I can't help smile; “And So It Begins” is the same way. I
feel hopeful and happy when I read this blog because the blogger’s enthusiasm
shines through and puts me in a good mood. The thing I would recommend
for improvement is to watch for changes in font throughout the blog. A
blog should have the same font throughout the entire entry, not necessarily
through the whole blog. If fonts do change in the middle of an entry, a
specific reason for the change should be evident, like in the Wizard of Oz when
Dorothy exits her black and white Kansas farmhouse to the vibrant Technicolor
of Munchkin Land. Fun blog!
I look forward to reading more as new entries are added.
“Communications
Studies Portfolio” is written by another fellow student and fellow blogger
(http://communicationstudiesotani.blogspot.com). I can definitely tell from reading this blog that the writer
is a communications major. The writing in this blog is clear and concise
and the blog has a sharp professional appeal. The one thing I would like
to read is more of the personality and unique voice to come through. The
blog is assignment oriented and very well written as such. But I would like
to know a bit more about what makes the writer tick and what the inspiration
is. Who is the man behind the curtain? However, not all blogs offer a glimpse inside the real
personality of the writer.
“Communication Studies Portfolio” is very informative and makes a great
educational blog (http://communicationstudiesotani.blogspot.com/). The blogger has started to add entries
with more personality and I always enjoy watching the growth that comes with
change. This is a great blog.
After
reading and evaluating the blogs of my classmates I feel that my own skills are
improving (http://kirstensoler.blogspot.com). I also still have a lot
to learn. Since my goal is to
attract an audience I want to take inspiration from blogs that catch my
attention. Photos and images
really catch my eye. I like a
background with visual appeal without distracting from the written word. If I use photos and images I want to
make sure they are appropriate for the topic and appealing to the
audience. I must post
frequently. One entry per week is
not going to be enough to draw the attention of a large audience. If I am passionate about my topic and
writing the audience will catch my passion through my words, making my blog
more exciting. I need to know and
understand the audience I am trying to reach. Is this a professional or academic looking blog? Or does it pop, bedazzle, and wow the
audience. Am I writing for business
professionals or visual artists, or makeup artists? What I write determines the type of audience I will attract,
so what type of audience do I want to attract? Am I pink, blue, khaki, or loud in the background? Do I know how to create what I want to
create or do I need to improve my technical skills and computer know-how in
order to deliver my message the way I want it delivered?
Blogging
is new for me, but I am excited about the new medium I am discovering for
delivery of my message. The
options for writing are limitless.
I can create a different blog for each side of my personality. I can deliver a professional image with
a blog geared toward attracting employers, I can make a sparkly blog for makeup
and beauty, and I can make a quirky obscure blog for my thoughts and musings
directed at a different sort of audience.
I look forward to practicing my newly learned skill and developing more
skills. As I learn more I get more
ideas for new creations. I may
actually have to slow myself down and not create too many new blogs because I
can see this to be rather addictive.
References
http://communicationstudiesotani.blogspot.com/
http://www.jannakin.blogspot.com/
http://kirstensoler.blogspot.com/
http://teeontaymoore.blogspot.com/
http://theknightreaction.blogspot.com/
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