Morbid Romantic

Book Review & Personal Blog

I just read an article called How to start blogging, which I want to share with all of you because I feel that the information given is good advice for anyone looking to start a blog or just starting out in the blogging community. I realize that most people who read my blog already have blogs of their own, but it is never too late to redefine why we do what we do and how we do it.

I think that the first statement to determine the focus of your blog is a good one. In deciding what sort of blog to have, one needs to narrow their focus to appeal to an audience. This focus can be as narrow as a topic or as broad as your standard personal blog in which someone can write about anything or everything. But it is important to remember that your blog subjects determine interest and readership. And, as suggested, “Stay focused on why you started blogging.”

As the article astutely points out, blogging takes a period of study. I like that the article suggests that before beginning a blog, you should study other blogs in your topic area. This is a good way to find out what successful bloggers in your area of interest are blogging about and how they do it. Of course it is always good to try to approach blogging from an original and interesting perspective, which the article leaves out mention of. If you want to truly contribute something to the blogging world, as well as become successful at it, you have to find your individual niche. You don’t want to be a carbon copy of what has been done and done repeatedly.

The article suggests keeping a feed reader as a way of maintaining your various subscription. This is a wonderful idea and something often overlooked when one starts out running their own blog. It is far easier to maintain a reader than it is to bookmark a hundred sites and visit daily. A reader keeps everything condensed, organized, and easy for viewing. They are essential for any starting out blogger, especially those in their initial period of study. On the same note: blogrolls. The idea of a link for a link is a great exchange of audience and traffic. Keep one!

Unfortunately, the various blogging platforms suggested are a bit outdated. People no longer really use Movable Type and Type Pad is not overwhelmingly popular. The article would be better and more relevant were it to update itself to meet the current trends in blogging. It says nothing of Blogger, which is very popular, and only mentions the ease and convenience of Wordpress in passing. Still, it gives enough information for bloggers to know that they will have to put a lot of thought and consideration into what they choose.

Most of all, I like the advice, “Instead, as a new blogger, start slowly.” This is really key to blogging. Sure, you can post 10 times a day and comment 100 times, but you WILL burn out. If you want to write ten posts a day, feel free to, but save some to post later. You will be grateful for them one day when you have an off day and have nothing to write. Blogs that are successful are updated a lot.

Overall, the article is very clear and succinct. While it does not provide answers, it raises questions and issues that require thought and decision. If anything, the article allows upcoming and new bloggers a quick look into what will go into their new venture so that they can approach it in a manageable way.

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