I
like to think that I am now an established blogger, but the decision to join
the blogger was a personal one, and one that turned out to be important. It is
a journey that started with my love of coffee. I got to know a few bloggers at
the Cosmic Cup in Easton, including Lafayette students, Rachel Engh (my good
friend Marybeth's former roommate), and, of course, Lauren Kindle, who runs a
very fun, professional blog about both her artwork and the art scene in Easton.
My
initial reason for blogging was to engage in an enjoyable activity that would
improve my brain's creativity and focus. Now I blog for the purpose of making
interesting social connections and earning extra money in the future. I own my
own lawn care business, but I want to make extra money on the side, especially
when the weather gets colder.
When
I was surfing the net, trying to find the most appropriate blogging
application, I settled on Blogspot, which is the domain extension of
Blogger.com, owned by Google. I prefer Blogspot due to its conversational
writing, good photographs, intimate personal journalism and links with other
bloggers. The blogging on Blogspot is conversational, because the blogs often
take the form of online journals, which is what I want to eventually transition
to.
Blogspot
is also great for its photographs. Most of the bloggers on Blogspot use neat
photographs and background imagery. In fact, professional photographers also
use Blogspot, much like they would use Instagram or their own web domain.
Travel blogs and lifestyle blogs also post some pretty cool photos. I hope one
day to have a large quantity of my own exciting photos posted to my blog.
I
want to use Blogspot to create my own intimate form of journalism. With today’s
social media environment, everyone is a star. I want to give my unique
perspectives on issues and matters that affect us all. I also want to make use
of Blogspot's tools for linking with other bloggers. Blogspot offers a blog
surfing tool that connects the reader to a massive network of blogs from all
over the world. I love to get people from other countries and continents to
follow my blog.
Over
time, however, I hope to branch out with my blogging to new and useful
applications. Ultimately, I hope to buy my own online domain name. This would
work as an effective tool for gaining viewers and lining up advertisers. People
think of there being "the" Internet, when, in reality, there are a vast
number of Internets out there.
Once
I started blogging, I took to exploring the farthest reaches of the
blogosphere, both to improve my blog and to try to connect with many of the
other bloggers out there. For example, I used the Blogspot web ring to find
many other cool blogs. I learned many of the social norms that accompany
blogging and observed the typical behavior of the average blogger.
The
typical blogger often makes a few common mistakes. Often, they disappear from
view for weeks or months on end. This is not good for that blogger's
viewership, or for the continuity of their blog. There is a strong social bond
between blogger and reader, and social bonds need to be lasting and not
fleeting! Other bloggers are guilty of too many grammatical errors, not having
a good working knowledge of the English language. And, finally, some people
blog about things that they shouldn't - they complain about co-workers, bosses
and family members, and end up hurting themselves in the process!
Books
on blogging can also be invaluable guides to the new blogger. One night, while
I was hanging out at Barnes & Noble, I discovered this very cool book about
blogging. It is called Blogging for
Dummies. The title may sound lame, but it is really quite enlightening on
the subject. I have been fascinated with it ever since and refer to it as the
"Blogging Bible." It is detailed, informative, useful and over 700
pages long!
Much
to my satisfaction, I have discovered that blogging can be translated into
online marketing, for the purpose of earning residual income. Who doesn’t want
to make money online? Through AdSense, I will eventually be able to make a
hefty sum, as long as everything works out. I also hope to do some advertising
for local small businesses. A lot of bloggers make extra money this way, and
that is why it is important for a blogger to make connections with a number of
local small business owners.
Through
additional sources, including major magazines and newspapers, I have read about
how people market themselves on social media, including Facebook, Twitter and
Instagram. I, for one, hope to achieve personal and brand exposure. I strive to
eventually become what is called a "social media influencer," which
is a current trend endorsed by companies throughout the United States. Others,
including my friend Iris from The Wise Bean, make a living through content
writing for ad agencies, although that field of work is not for me, since I
don't have that much of a marketing/technical background.
At
this point, I am in the process of reaching out to other bloggers, while still
keeping my blog focused on people just like you. There is a need in the
blogging world to continually increase one's viewership. In fact, if you're not
growing, you're shrinking! To avoid compromising my principles, I will only
promote the products and services of businesses that I like, especially of
friends that I'm networked with. I also plan to continue blogging about issues
central to both my life and to the routine experience of the
"everyman."
I
definitely have my future plans for blogging and these, I hope, will make me
extra money to help me support myself financially. I therefore hope to sell
out, without selling out! I will need to remain authentic, in order to remain a
social person and to stay emotionally connected to my audience. I'll create a
winning product that will enrich the lives of everyone involved!
