Discoveries Within the Blogosphere

To be honest, I was introduced to blogging as a requirement for a Strategic Communications class last year.  Once that was over, I stopped writing. Again this term blogging is a requirement for COM 6630, but this time around, I have a newfound interest in blogging that will continue well beyond this class.  This week, while learning more about blogging and citizen journalism, I learned more facts and statistics about blogging, but two things stand out.  This may sound odd, but simply learning what the word “blog” means was an ah-ha moment that I should have remembered from last year.  Knowing that a blog is simply a web log or weblog with mostly written content helped me to understand the forum better.  Virtually anyone who wants to can blog.  Then learning what a listicle was totally helped me develop more of an interest in pursuing blogging. Listicles are articles or segments containing lists and are popular in blogging. I cannot go a day without reading listicles online or listening to them on the radio. I was familiar with both but just didn't know what they were called. Blogs are a great way to communicate and I am going to use a listicle to tell you why I will further my blogging.  Five reasons why this strategic communicator will continue to blog. 

1.      Blogging is becoming a very popular forum for obtaining and dispensing news and information. Mena Trott, who is called the mother of the blog revolution, in her TED Talks segment “Meet the Founder of the Blog Revolution” said that blogging is changing the way we read news.  Like-minded people follow each other in search of information and/or entertainment of their choice.  Trott mentioned how MSNBC once posted vital updates about a hurricane that reached millions who wanted precisely that information.  I remember following a local weather blog when Hurricanes Herman and Hurricane Ivan neared the Gulf Coast recently.  Instead of searching through countless of other subjects, blogs can streamline information into precisely what you are searching for.  Another of this week’s TED Talks featured James Surowiecki in a segment called “The Power and Danger of Online Crowds.” Surowiecki stressed that countless numbers of people are “organizing, linking and commenting” on information throughout the Internet and generating amounts of information that is changing the world and the way in which we seek and share information.

2.      Professionally, blogging is an easy and inexpensive way to grow my customer base and promote information for my organization.  The searchinginejournal.com article entitled “5 Ways a Blog Can Help Your Business Right Now,” which is a listicle! first suggests that blogging can draw online traffic that can help you engage customers, convert customers and keep any customers you might already have. Businesses exists because of customers, and inexpensively promoting your ideas and/or information on a frequent basis that will help you attract new customers and help you keep existing ones should be a priority for any business.  If I frequently create interesting and engaging content with a target audience in mind, I can help my organization to attract and maintain an important customer base.  This would open many possibilities for myself and my organization. One article we read this week, that was also a listicle! stated many advantages that blogging brings to businesses.  “52 Incredible Blogging Statistics to Inspire You to Keep Blogging” said that blogging can increase traffic to your website, help you be seen as an authority, a resource and as a problem solver in your field. The more frequently you blog the more traffic you generate.  Also, blogging tends to attract a loyal customer base and if you are in sales, blogs help to generate purchases.    

3.      Blogging can be a useful tool to promote my hobbies and talents and can be used for entertainment purposes.  I have a passion for poetry and creative writing.  Personally, if I want to gain an audience to promote my writing, blogging would be a great forum and could possibly attract followers who have similar hobbies and interests. I have a hobby that I have chronicled through hundreds if not thousands of pictures.  Often I look at the pictures and wonder what I should do with them. Trott also said that people blog to tell personal stories through online journals or diaries.  You can also keep photo albums through blogging.  It would be great to share with the world my hobbies through pictures and personal stories.  I have never wanted to be famous or speak in front of large crowds.  I have, however, wanted to share information with others who would appreciate my passions.

4.      I could possibly earn extra cash.  Most literature this week stated that the more you blog the more you are able to attract an audience.  In an article from theblogstarter.com entitled “How to Start Your Own Blog” Scott Chow said that a blog is about sharing your knowledge with the world. If I dedicate time and creativity to blog about my hobbies or writings regularly and turn it into an interesting and entertaining website, it is possible to gain an audience and then gain advertising that could earn me extra income. I know it would require a lot of time and work, but as Chow said, anyone can blog if they have the passion for something, dedicate the time, and hang in there until your site takes off. It will take practice and perseverance, and I have both.  

5.      Blogging could also help me to make a difference in the world.  Surowiecki read profound blogging details about the deadly tsunami in Indonesia in 2004.  Trott also showed some touching moments about how blogging has chronicled humanitarian efforts as well as personal stories that affected and touched people around the world.  Often, I am touched by stories that need to be shared with the world in order to inspire people by letting them know that they are not the only ones going through a situation.  I have met incredible people who have shared information with me that could change lives. The easy and inexpensive accessibility of blogging that could possibly reach millions might just make someone’s day and therefore grow to change the world. 

 

I know that most people blog for free.  Most bloggers simply have a passion for something and want to link and share with others.  Knowing how information can touch people and help to make their lives better personally and professionally, I understand the popularity of the blogosphere.  I want to join and prosper. If I enjoy it, dedicate myself to my craft, and try to reach someone, then my purpose will have been served.