Everywhere we look these days we see mentions of blogs, bloggers, blogospheres, blogging and so forth. Are you wondering what all the hype is about and whether you should be blogging?
Blogs can be anything you want – practical journalism, an online personal diary, op ed commentary – the options are endless! The term ‘blog’ is derived from ‘web log’ which harks back to the early days of blogging, where simple online journals could be used to narrate anything people wanted. Similar to paper journal people have kept through the ages, the online version could be used to record everyday life details such as what they had for dinner, to how they were feeling that day. Blogs, like everything computer based, have evolved to be easier to use and more accessible to people from all walks of life. Now people have realised they can easily share their feelings and thoughts on any topic with the world!
The medium of blogging has exploded in popularity. You may have heard people talking in non internet media about the impact of blogging on modern culture. Social bookmarking is another often mentioned new phenomenon which incorporates blogging. The types and quantity of blogs on the web grows daily. From blog content matter such as gossip & celebrity news which have huge readerships. Discussion, commentary & community building for an infinite scope of special interest subjects from video games to gardening are popular also.
Blogging is not necessarily a frivolous past time though, some of the most accurate information about the Iraq War comes from people embedded in the Middle East who use their blogs to instantly share their unique perspective and first hand information with the rest of the world. Many businesses use their blogs to advertise special offers, product announcements and other events for their business.
So now that you understand what blogs are, and where they came from, it’s back to the original question.
Should you blog?
You may have heard of bloggers commanding audiences which number in millions of readers and others who have turned the simple exercise of blogging into multi-million dollar income. Who wouldn’t want a piece of that? All you have to do is establish a free blog, write a couple of posts, and you’ll be relaxing with the rich on the beach – right?
Not so fast – a few things to consider first.
While it is true there are people who have achieved great success by blogging, and there is certainly no reason you can’t achieve the same success, the odds of instant wealth are not in your favour. The number of blogs has been estimated at around 50 million and growing each day. In reality, the chances of your blog reaching superstardom without a LOT of dedication and effort and some luck are small.
Don’t let this discourage you from exploring blogging, just be aware that blogging is not necessarily a one way ticket to the good life. Whether your blog hits it big, blogging and journaling can be very rewarding and exciting.
Anyone can blog, basic writing skills and courtesy definitely help, but you can use blogging to develop these skills. The beautiful part of blogging is that you can write about whatever you want, in whatever style you like. There are no set in stone rules, and you do not need to be a technical wizard.
So now that you know you want to start a blog, and that you can do it the next step is to think about what and why you want to blog. Some of the basic reasons people blog follow.
Blog for income
Blogs can help you make money through a number of means. PPC (pay per click) advertising is a great way to get started – businesses pay you to show their ads on your blog when they receive traffic from visitors to your blog. Product review services compensate a certain amount of money for each of the products you review on your blog. Or set up an online shop to market an e-book in an area you have expertise in. You could use your blog to distribute and promote the e-book.
Blog for career opportunities
Practice and develop your writing skills, host writing samples or showcase design and art skills. Combine your blog with a free photo sharing website and you have an effective photography portfolio, instantly available worldwide to prospective clients. In time where everyone seems to be connected to the internet, there is no simpler way for an employer to learn about you – keep it professional though!
Blog to share your passion
Perhaps you are a model train fanatic or die hard sport team fan – whatever your passion this is great focus for a blog. Provide the latest information and news about your preferred ‘niche’. Build a community of like minded people or even become an expert resource to others.
Blog to document your life
The well known online diary hasn’t been replaced. People use blogs as ways of tracking exercise and diet, or to ‘scrapbook’ their family lives, instantly share memories and photos with far flung family and friends. Blogs are a fantastic way to keep a record for looking back to in the future.
You should now have a better understanding of what blogging is, reasons for blogging and some inspiration for how you can start blogging. The possibilities are endless, and there is no reason not to have a few blogs about different areas which interest you. Whatever you make the focus of your blog, just get out there and get blogging!
About the Author: Online business is growing rapidly but there is still such a large number of businesses missing out on this opportunity. Kaplang is a unique design firm that provides quality services for web design, web development, search engine optimization and all other web solutions. Make sure your business stands out from the crowd when adding an online presence to your new or existing business. http://www.kaplang.com
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February 17th, 2010 at 9:12 am
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