Friday, January 21, 2005
Draft 1.4, 1/21 Busy now til Sat p.m.
Draft 1.4 1/21
Note: to AD. I have gotten a lot of help from one of the Amazon books, Rebecca Blood, The Weblog Handbook, and she will be properly credited. Been reading this all week and some web browsing.
Review and overview.
I am not expecting you to keep up with my pace. You have a full time dayjob and I do not.
feel free to edit or contribute in any way. We are both learning.
revisions
(3) What can weblogs be used for?
(4) Why a weblog?
Here posted: paragraphs 3& 4 in our 9 paragraph plan, plus # 8 & 10 (new, = for conclusion)
(3) What can weblogs be used for? Almost anything. Early bloggers were excited about the web and its potential. They embraced this global network for news, information and entertainment. They surfed, created heated, funny, and irreverent discussions. They connected with humor and lively conversation. They provided news links to current news from a diversity of sources. Some are still functioning this way. The weblogging community has now exploded into hundreds of uses. Weblogs have become personal journals, daily logs, notebooks, complaint logs: conversation topics, teacher aids, dialogue blogs, business blogs, customer service blogs, company blogs, team building blogs, career promotion blogs, collaborative writing blogs, etc.
Rebecca Blood in The Weblog Handbook puts it this way:
Most people love to talk about their interests and themselves. Salespersons learn quickly to determine your "hot buttons." Basically, a weblog is a coffee house conversation between several or more persons, in writing, with yourself as headwaiter or, if the conversation is little rowdy, as bartender. One characteristic of personal blogs is they tend to be about inner world ruminations or running commentary on one’s work or personal life.
(4) WHY SHOULD I BLOG.
The number one reason is appreciating our differing gifts (Romans 12:6), that is, we are talented, original and each has something to say. Being part of the Mystical Body means that our communities are stronger when we participate and share our gifts to help and heal the whole. The task of the future is not to access more information, but to develop ways to enhance our understanding and mutual cooperation, to empower people and their connectedness, while screening out the rest of the stuff that doesn’t matter. For an increasing number of people, weblogs provide a useful filter and spur to these activities
Although there are many kinds of web logs, there are probably three main motivations for starting and keeping one: information sharing, personal expression and outreach, and reputation building. Any of these can be your primary aim. No matter what you write about, your avocation or vocation, dayjob, nightjob, your day, your business, your ministry, your take on national or foreign affairs, you are sharing information. As you research and write this, your competence in your subject of choice grows. You summon yourself to know a subject better. You become more reflective and often more balanced as you consider what you have written. When you take time to do this, to say clearly what you want to say, this makes you not only a better writer, but more authentically centered yourself. Furthermore, you can't do this without noticing what you are thinking, without building awareness of your less-conscious self.
Evaluating sources of information helpos one become a more critical thinker. You may even become an expert in a certain field. Your weblog can translate into appreciation from distant readers, and greater visibility for some career advancement or simply playful hobby pursuit. If you enjoy spending some time online most everyday, you may be a good candidate for weblogging.
But if you use your PC only to check your email and buy an occasional book, or you spend your working day with a computer, you will probably be better off spending time with your favorite hobby. When a weblog is an extension of something you already do, such as web browsing, writing, joumaling, reading, or networking you are likely to find the time spent rewarding. If you love reading, connecting with others and exploring new ideas, the new user- friendly weblog sources may be a welcome new online home-place for you.
6 How to get started AD--suggest these be kept short on technical details w. lots of references to web sources.
7 How to get help AD--Here is place for you to talk a little about your work and ref.your consulting web site.
______
8 How to promote your blog. (by both? --early draft by PB)
What will make your web log stand out? We can give the same answer for all kinds of blogs: point of view, good linking and good writing, and the life experience of the writer. It is your unique contribution of interests, outlook, values, frames, humor, zest for life and prejudices that will make your web log compelling. One of the best advertising for your blog is word-of-mouth. Most blogs offer the built-in ability for your readers to email a link to an individual post directly to someone they think might be interested. As with any web site, there are also several steps you can take to increase the visibility of your blog. Sumbitting the address to search engines and the proper use of "worm food" to ensure your site is listed correctly. Worm food refers to the correct use of META tags, especially the DESCRIPTION and KEYWORDS META tags. These two tags should be in your template file, so that they are included on every post. The description should be a short 20-25 word description of your blog, and should include 3-5 of the keywords you want to be linked to your site. When people type in those keywords in search engines like Google, you want your site to be included in the ones returned. The same applies to the keywords tag. This tag is a list of keywords, 15-20 of them that are potentially what people will enter into a search engine when looking for content like you provide on your blog pages.
9 How to maintain it. (both, nothing here yet)
10. Wrap up or Conclusion:
The Larger View.
Some day your grandkids may crawl up in your lap and ask, "Grandpa, Grandma, Where were you when the Blogging Revolution came along?" Well, maybe they won’t really, but if they did, wouldn’t you like to be ready to say, "Kiddo, I was there! I was a blogger! In fact, I might have even been one of the first bloggers in our family!" Some enhancing stretch is allowed for vintage story tellers. But you’d better hurry! There are an estimated million bloggers already, and many more joining daily.
Web-blogging -- creating online journals that range from the too intimately personal to the smooth mature professional -- is certain to stay. Blogging Made Easy courses are proliferating. Like it or not, we're in the middle of another revolution in online networking, a new means of gathering and disseminating information.
So if you haven't imagined yourself yet as the Blogging Tribe, you should reconsider. As a mechanism for publishing information, whether personal opinions or official announcements, nothing's more efficient than a Weblog, or as easy to establish.
__
Note: to AD. I have gotten a lot of help from one of the Amazon books, Rebecca Blood, The Weblog Handbook, and she will be properly credited. Been reading this all week and some web browsing.
Review and overview.
I am not expecting you to keep up with my pace. You have a full time dayjob and I do not.
feel free to edit or contribute in any way. We are both learning.
revisions
(3) What can weblogs be used for?
(4) Why a weblog?
Here posted: paragraphs 3& 4 in our 9 paragraph plan, plus # 8 & 10 (new, = for conclusion)
(3) What can weblogs be used for? Almost anything. Early bloggers were excited about the web and its potential. They embraced this global network for news, information and entertainment. They surfed, created heated, funny, and irreverent discussions. They connected with humor and lively conversation. They provided news links to current news from a diversity of sources. Some are still functioning this way. The weblogging community has now exploded into hundreds of uses. Weblogs have become personal journals, daily logs, notebooks, complaint logs: conversation topics, teacher aids, dialogue blogs, business blogs, customer service blogs, company blogs, team building blogs, career promotion blogs, collaborative writing blogs, etc.
Rebecca Blood in The Weblog Handbook puts it this way:
Passion is the purpose of a weblog: passion for a profession or hobby, passion
for telling stories, passion for punditry, even a passion for civil, well
reasoned debate. The things you care about, the things, you can’t figure out,
and the things you find interesting– all are colored by the extent to which you
care; if you don’t care, you might as well not publish at all. (Blood, p. 131)
Most people love to talk about their interests and themselves. Salespersons learn quickly to determine your "hot buttons." Basically, a weblog is a coffee house conversation between several or more persons, in writing, with yourself as headwaiter or, if the conversation is little rowdy, as bartender. One characteristic of personal blogs is they tend to be about inner world ruminations or running commentary on one’s work or personal life.
(4) WHY SHOULD I BLOG.
The number one reason is appreciating our differing gifts (Romans 12:6), that is, we are talented, original and each has something to say. Being part of the Mystical Body means that our communities are stronger when we participate and share our gifts to help and heal the whole. The task of the future is not to access more information, but to develop ways to enhance our understanding and mutual cooperation, to empower people and their connectedness, while screening out the rest of the stuff that doesn’t matter. For an increasing number of people, weblogs provide a useful filter and spur to these activities
Although there are many kinds of web logs, there are probably three main motivations for starting and keeping one: information sharing, personal expression and outreach, and reputation building. Any of these can be your primary aim. No matter what you write about, your avocation or vocation, dayjob, nightjob, your day, your business, your ministry, your take on national or foreign affairs, you are sharing information. As you research and write this, your competence in your subject of choice grows. You summon yourself to know a subject better. You become more reflective and often more balanced as you consider what you have written. When you take time to do this, to say clearly what you want to say, this makes you not only a better writer, but more authentically centered yourself. Furthermore, you can't do this without noticing what you are thinking, without building awareness of your less-conscious self.
Evaluating sources of information helpos one become a more critical thinker. You may even become an expert in a certain field. Your weblog can translate into appreciation from distant readers, and greater visibility for some career advancement or simply playful hobby pursuit. If you enjoy spending some time online most everyday, you may be a good candidate for weblogging.
But if you use your PC only to check your email and buy an occasional book, or you spend your working day with a computer, you will probably be better off spending time with your favorite hobby. When a weblog is an extension of something you already do, such as web browsing, writing, joumaling, reading, or networking you are likely to find the time spent rewarding. If you love reading, connecting with others and exploring new ideas, the new user- friendly weblog sources may be a welcome new online home-place for you.
6 How to get started AD--suggest these be kept short on technical details w. lots of references to web sources.
7 How to get help AD--Here is place for you to talk a little about your work and ref.your consulting web site.
______
8 How to promote your blog. (by both? --early draft by PB)
What will make your web log stand out? We can give the same answer for all kinds of blogs: point of view, good linking and good writing, and the life experience of the writer. It is your unique contribution of interests, outlook, values, frames, humor, zest for life and prejudices that will make your web log compelling. One of the best advertising for your blog is word-of-mouth. Most blogs offer the built-in ability for your readers to email a link to an individual post directly to someone they think might be interested. As with any web site, there are also several steps you can take to increase the visibility of your blog. Sumbitting the address to search engines and the proper use of "worm food" to ensure your site is listed correctly. Worm food refers to the correct use of META tags, especially the DESCRIPTION and KEYWORDS META tags. These two tags should be in your template file, so that they are included on every post. The description should be a short 20-25 word description of your blog, and should include 3-5 of the keywords you want to be linked to your site. When people type in those keywords in search engines like Google, you want your site to be included in the ones returned. The same applies to the keywords tag. This tag is a list of keywords, 15-20 of them that are potentially what people will enter into a search engine when looking for content like you provide on your blog pages.
9 How to maintain it. (both, nothing here yet)
10. Wrap up or Conclusion:
The Larger View.
Some day your grandkids may crawl up in your lap and ask, "Grandpa, Grandma, Where were you when the Blogging Revolution came along?" Well, maybe they won’t really, but if they did, wouldn’t you like to be ready to say, "Kiddo, I was there! I was a blogger! In fact, I might have even been one of the first bloggers in our family!" Some enhancing stretch is allowed for vintage story tellers. But you’d better hurry! There are an estimated million bloggers already, and many more joining daily.
Web-blogging -- creating online journals that range from the too intimately personal to the smooth mature professional -- is certain to stay. Blogging Made Easy courses are proliferating. Like it or not, we're in the middle of another revolution in online networking, a new means of gathering and disseminating information.
So if you haven't imagined yourself yet as the Blogging Tribe, you should reconsider. As a mechanism for publishing information, whether personal opinions or official announcements, nothing's more efficient than a Weblog, or as easy to establish.
__
