 "B" to the "L" to the "O.G.G.I.N.G"
Theo Boshoff
We have spoken about blogging before, and now we get some info from the guys at MWeb, about tips on blogging and what the bare necessities are to enter the blogosphere.
The whole idea, in a nutshell, is to be creative and put down your thoughts, and as MWeb puts it "record the interesting things that happen in your life", and post it on the internet to share with others.
Carolyn Holgate, GM of MWEB Connect, says that the new bloggers are mothers. Yip, they are the ones blogging about family life and their daily tasks and how they deal with all their problems. To a lot of people this might sound boring and uninteresting, but these mothers actually have a huge following that is growing by the day.
Carolyn also says that blogging is on the increase in South Africa. Is this a sign that as South Africans we no longer just sit back and keep our mouths shut, like in the past? Are we finally stating our views in the hopes of making a difference?
So how do you start a blog? First and foremost, you need access to the internet. Then you need a blog provider, of which there are quite a few at the moment. Carolyn, of course, suggests signing up with MWeb Blogspace - you don’t have to be an MWeb subscriber - and instantly 800 000 readers will have access to your blog.
The set-up on MWeb Blogspace (http://blogspace.mweb.co.za ) is easy and, according to Carolyn, a quick step-by-step process will get you blogging in no time.
"The most successful bloggers keep their copy short and stick to what they know,” Carolyn says. “If you’re nervous about your first entry, write an introduction and tell readers what you are planning to discuss on the blog."
Just having text on a blog can be very boring, so you can also add visuals to it, making it much more interesting. You can also include links to things you are blogging about, so that people can see it for themselves - if it is somewhere on the web, where it most probably will be.
Carolyn also says that if you do decide to blog, you will need to do it regularly or your followers will not return to your blog. She suggests you schedule time in your diary to do it daily or weekly.
Many blogs provide an optional RSS facility that allows readers to subscribe to receive alerts when you update your blog.
One key thing you have to remember if you are a private blogger, says Carolyn, is to not mention your full name, address or telephone number, as a safety measure to protect your privacy. You don't want death threats and people knocking down your door if you say something they don't like, now do you?
Carolyn finishes off by saying that blogging should be fun. We recommend you sit yourself down, think if you have the time and stamina to keep it up and choose topics carefully, before you take the step. Go check out our Top Blog section to see what people are saying on the blogosphere.
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