How You Can Get Started Blogging Today
There was a time when being ‘groovy” meant being “in tune.” With today’s technology advancements and the rapid developments on the Internet, it’s hard to be “cool” and in the know. If you have never blogged, or feel lost with the term, don’t worry, you are not alone!
Blogging ranges from rudimentary to complex. Many bloggers with their own blogs write a journal of their life online for everyone, or maybe only select people to read. Some families use blogging as a way to connect loved ones and the miles between them are now measured by the space bar on their keyboard. At the other end of the spectrum, scientists, journalists, physicians and politicians use blogging as a way to share information at rapid speed.
What Is A Blog?
Basically a blog is a website that is built for interactive communication. A blog post, like the one you are presently reading is usually short and insightful and offers the readers a chance to comment on the post, and on one another’s comments. It can get controversial, and fights do break out! Blogs like this one at Tomorrow’s Workplace are moderated, and rude or outright verbal assaults are not allowed for public viewing, and are promptly deleted.
Comments are made at the end of a blog post under the heading Speak Your Mind. At the bottom of this post you will have the opportunity to post a comment. You can agree with the content, ask a question, disagree with the content, add a perspective or even, see the other comments posted, and comment on another person’s comment.
How To Get Started In the Next 5 Minutes
As with most things there are more advanced ways to participate in blogging, but if you have just begun to blog, here is what you need to know to get started.
- Visit our site often! (Bookmark the site in your favorites so it’s easy to find or put a link on your desktop.)
- Look at the left column on the home page where it says “Featured Articles.” The latest blog posts will be there in descending order; the latest one at the top of the page.
- Read the blog post.
- Instead of turning the page like you would a newsletter or a newspaper, allow yourself to have a verbal response. What do you think of what is written? What else would you like to know on the topic? What do you have to contribute to the material presented? Do you agree or disagree with the author, or maybe with another comment you have read below the blog post?
- Respond by going to the Speak Your Mind section.
- Fill in your name, or the name you want identified on the Blog. Insert your email address in the next box provided. Your email is not public! Only the moderator of the blog (myself) will be able to see your address, and contact you if you have asked a question of the team.
- Then make your comment. It can be as short or long as you like. You might want to simply say “Thanks guys for some great material,” or conversely, you may have a few referenced articles you might like to share. Either way, it’s about an ongoing conversation.
- If you would like to be alerted by email when a new blog post has been added to this site, sign up by inserting your email address in the upper right hand column of this page. (Your email address goes nowhere but here!)
Oh, there’s more. But you don’t need it all at the moment. Right now, you just need to practice and get involved. Find a blog post here that interests you and join the conversation! Start by adding your comments to this blog right below this last bit of text. If you do have any problems, go to the Contact Page and send me a message asking for help. All you need to do is ask. I am happy to get you in the “know.”
So get on board, get groovy, stay cool and chime in! Blogging is not going away any time soon, and you might learn a lot, make new contacts and find ways to enhance your own business model by jumping in and getting your feet wet. If it’s requested enough, I will add more blog posts to the TW site, suggesting advanced blogging opporutnities.
If you can spell (use the spell checker!) you can blog!
Harmony Thiessen, Business Consultant and Interent Junkie
P.S. Now comment! Tell me how long you think this was to read, or where you think I missed a point, or how great point 5 was – maybe it saved your marriage or changed your life! Or then again, maybe just say thanks or no thanks. (wink and a smile)
