Writing Lessons & Advice: Blogging
Blog, blogging, blogger...these are commonplace words that have gained traction in society within the last twenty to thirty years. As such an integral part of the twenty-first century, I wanted to give them some attention so writers young and old might get better acquainted with the medium, and maybe even become better bloggers themselves.
What is it?
“Blog” is a shortened form of the term, weblog, an early term for online content. The earliest forms of such content allowed users to “log” the details of their life, much like one would write in a diary. Today of course, a blog can encompass all forms of content: photos, writing, videos, and audio recordings. A blog can either be a personal project or connected to a business or organization, but in either case, they are often run with a purpose of engagement or outreach. By extension, blogging would be the regular act of writing, recording, editing, and/or publishing content for an online audience and one who regularly maintains and publishes such content is a blogger.
What can blogs be about? The personal, diary-style blog is still common, but they can also encompass commentary on so much more. Just about anything can be a bloggable topic, though common niches focus on travel, food, lifestyle and hobbies, health and wellness, shopping, fashion, beauty, entertainment, relationships, specific businesses or industries, news, or education. These articles from the blogging/website platform Wix give further details into what the popular types of blogs may entail:
How is it done?
For the most part, blogging is as simple as the definitions make it to be. One writes or creates content for the intent of sharing. The equipment for blogging is minimal and involves things you likely already own, like a computer, a cell phone, or tablet on which you develop your content; and internet access and social media for getting your content to your audience. One other thing you will need is a blogging platform, the place on the world wide web that hosts your content. Blogging platforms are a dime a dozen; one is even called Blogger. Here are a few other platforms I like if you are looking to make one of your own:
Basic membership/accounts are free with all these websites.
What else can be done with it?
Once you have a blog account and content ready to publish, you will need them to be seen. So sharing your blog and content on social media is ideal as well. A lot of platforms have features that will easily or even automatically post your work to Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or elsewhere. Others often have tools for establishing email lists, ads, or search engine optimization (SEO). Promoting your blog takes a little more time, effort, and maybe even money, but it’s a crucial step to take if you want to build a career in writing/blogging. Good news is that even a minimum of effort can yield some level of return in views, visits, interactions, etc.
Starting your own blog is an ideal first step in developing your writing career. You can maintain it like a portfolio to show potential editors and to help readers/followers either get to know you better or find your other work more easily.
Networks like Contena and others exist for the purpose of connecting writers to opportunities for contributing to existing blogs, companies, or organizations. You might even keep your eyes open for submission calls or want ad postings either in print or on social media. This is actually a step into the world of freelancing, where your contributions may be on a per-job or per-task basis. Be vigilant for scams or frauds posing as working opportunities though!
Blog, blogging, blogger…are twenty-first century forms of writing. The long-preserved act and art still have a strong place in modern technology and society. Even at that, anyone can engage in this medium, whether for business or pleasure. As always, put your best foot forward by proofreading and following basic writing conventions!
Hope you’ve learned a little more about what a blog is and how to use them!
If there’s a topic you want me to cover in the future, you’re welcome to reach out to me on the web chat features or socials! Also, if you have a blog, you are welcome to promote it in the comments or messages!
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