Basic Blogging Blog Definition History Web Log Weblog

Basic Blogging

Blog Definition & History • Web + Log = Weblog aka Blog • Per Wikipedia: “A blog is a user-generated website where entries are made in journal style and displayed in a reverse chronological order. ”

1997 – Jorn Barger creates Robot Wisdom

Birth of the Blogosphere • 1999 – Weblog tools like Blogger are launched • “The bandwagon-jumping turned into an explosion” (Rebecca Blood). • Free services = Easy access • A community evolves

The Read/Write Web • No longer a read-only web • No more static web sites • The reader becomes the writer • Readers participate in the conversation

PEW Internet & American Life Project • Who is Blogging? • 8% of adult users keep a blog • 54% are under 30 • 37% write about life • Male/Female evenly divided

What are they blogging about? (PEW Continued) • • • Life experiences (37%) Politics and government (11%) Entertainment related (7%) Sports news (6%) General news/current events (5%)

PEW Continued • • • Business (5%) Technology (4%) Religion, spirituality, faith (2%) Hobby or health (1%) Other misc. topics: opinions, volunteering, education, photography, causes/passions, and organizations

Blog Types • Journals: A memoir in progress • Filters: Mixes outside content with commentary • K-blogs: Knowledge blogs – pass on information • Combination: Mixture of any of the above

Journal Blogs • • www. dooce. com Personal diaries Record of life A memoir in progress Favored by women, especially teens • The most popular blog type no matter age or gender

Filter Blogs • Little original content • Links to other web content • Filters or culls information • Possibly comments on this information www. jewelry-weblog. com

K-Blogs blogclassinfo. wordpress. com/ • “K” refers to knowledge • Aka knowledge-blogs • How-to oriented • Information based • Intention of learning • Repository of information

Combo Blogs • Often personal blogs • Mixes all types • Filters news or information • Documents personal experience • Passes on knowledge www. jewelryandbeading. com

Gender/Age of Bloggers vs. Types From “Women and Children Last: The Discursive Construction of Weblogs” Susan C. Herring, Inna Kouper, Lois Ann Scheidt, and Elijah L. Wright, Indiana University at Bloomington

Blog Parts and Pieces http: //www. hwyblogs. com/hiw-blog-parts. php http: //blogclassinfo. wordpress. com/2007/05/17/blog-parts-pieces/

Blog Header • (1) This includes the title of your blog, which is the same or similar to the blog’s URL (web address). Along with a title in the header, very often there will be a subheading as well: • For example – Problogger: Helping Bloggers Earn Money

Blog Calendar • (2) Some bloggers include a small calendar on the sidebar, but this is not at all required. It’s just one of the many extras often available for bloggers to include. • The calendar can be included in various areas on the blog.

Blog Archive • (3) Archive of past posts is one of the elements that make a “blog” a “blog. ” • Allow readers easy access to previous posts • Normally organized per month • Reverse chronological order

Blog Search • (4) A search box allows readers to search for specific key words • Concept similar to a search engine for your blog • Use key words and phrases

Article Categories & Recent Articles • • • (5) Categories - Similar to monthly archives Organized per category Categories created by the blogger Readers can select per category of interest (6) Recent Articles- Lists the most recent posts Again in reverse chronological order

Favorite Links • (7) Favorite sites are hot linked and added as a list. • Aka Blog Roll • Selected by the blogger • Normally related to the blog topic • Located in the side bar

RSS Feeds • • • (8) RSS stands for Real Simple Syndication Sharing of content Notification of updates Use an aggregator aka feed reader Bloglines. com

Blog Article Title • • • (9) Each post (article) needs a title Blogs made up of multiple posts Headline like a newspaper Use of key words SEO considerations

Blog Content & Permalink • • (10) Content is the text inside a post. Content = any writing on the web Your clever prose (11) Permalink is a hot link to an individual post • Page for each single post

Comments • (12) Comments include feedback from your blog readers. • Readers “comment” to your post • Leave open for anyone • Or require approval for each comment • Creates a conversation • Often includes other links

Blog Lingo • • Blogosphere: blogging community Dashboard: blog control panel Indie Blogger: independent Page view: number of clicks Ranking: how high on search engines Stats: statistics Strikethroughs: deleted info

Locating Blogs • • • Blogsearch. google. com Technorati. com Feedster. com Blogpulse. com Other blogs

Blog Etiquette • • Link Love Link inside text Add links to blog roll Include links in comments • Give links • Get links

Posting Comments • Have something to say • Part of the conversation • Don’t spam • Generates traffic

Give Credit • Don’t plagiarize • Internet content isn’t free content • 20/80 ratio • Link to sources • Filter blog strategy

Flaming / Shouting / Anonymity • • • Pick a fight – be prepared Think before posting Whole Wide World Caps are out “C. and I had lunch”

Profile • Add “About Me” or “Profile” page • Avoid personal info • Photo or picture • Hobbies • Career • Interests • Create personal connection

Niche Blogging • Fill a content void • Need knowledge or interest • Narrow topic • Available audience? • Enough information?

Blogging Preliminaries • • Blog purpose Type of blog Blog host Blog topic Title and subtitle Public or private Blog revenue