The Internet has opened up a new world to writers that wasn’t available as recently 10 years ago. These changes include things like emailing agents, electronic submissions to magazines, content mills and ezines, not to mention the most popular tools available to writers, the blog.
It doesn’t matter whether they use Blogger, WordPress, Tumblr or another site, there are thousands, if not millions, of bloggers out there, each with their own point of view and writing style. Some are extremely popular, well written publications while others will make you hit the back button within seconds of visiting.
Here are the pros and cons of creating a blog.
Pro: Anyone can have a blog.
Many blogging platforms are free, making them available to anyone with Internet access and a desire to write. This has allowed creative individuals to express their point of view free of editor’s guidelines or having to submit their material to websites or magazines. Blog platforms also give writers creative control over how their blog is designed.
Blogs can be creative exercises or marketing tools; it’s up to the blogger.
Con: Anyone can have a blog.
One aspect that makes blogging wonderful is that it’s open to everyone. That’s also one of the downsides. Many blogs use harsh colors that bother the eyes, look tacky because they are predominately advertisements or, worst of all, are badly written.
The most common errors I have observed are failing to run spell check, no spacing between paragraphs, no paragraphs at all, over capitalization of words, using numerals when the number should be written out, poor sentence construction and no direction in the blogger’s writing.
Pro: You can create a blog effortlessly.
Just as free blogging platforms make blogs available to everyone, user-friendly features make setting up a blog effortless. In just minutes, anyone can create an account, customize their blog and start posting.
Con: Maintaining a blog isn’t effortless.
“If you build it, they will come” may be a famous line from the movie “Field of Dreams” but it also applies to novices’ beliefs about websites. Many a notive writer or businessperson thinks all you have to do is set up a website and the traffic will come pouring in. In reality, maintaining a blog means posting new content regularly, learning about search engine optimization, purchasing a URL, setting up social media pages and networking online.
It is a laborious, time-consuming process all in the name of building up traffic and perhaps being able to sell ad space.
Pro: Businesses can use blogs to talk about their services.
Blogs are an outlet that allows small-business owners to educate potential clients and customers about their products or services. It can be used as a marketing tool and as a way to increase traffic to a website.
Con: Not every successful businessperson is a good writer.
Just because a businessperson is an expert in their field does not mean he/she are an effective writer.
For example, not long ago I came across a blog post written by a professional makeup artist. The title of the post was “World AIDS Day”, the photo was of a hand with lovely, manicured nails and the text was so badly written I couldn’t tell what it was about, but clearly it was about neither World AIDS Day nor manicures. It was riddle with spelling errors and nonsensical phrases.
What can be learned here? The blog’s owner failed to check to see if her headline matched her post and that her photo matched her post. She failed to examine her work and didn’t bother to run spell check. She was also guilty of writing in such a conversational tone that she didn’t come across as creditable.
When deciding whether to set up a blog or not, ask yourself the following questions.
1. Do I know how to communicate clearly and effectively when I write?
2. Am I creative enough to consistently create new topics?
3. Do I have the time and commitment necessary to run a blog?
4. Do I know how to self edit?
5. Am I willing to hire help if I can’t write well and/or edit my own work?
If you need a blog writer or a blog editor, please contact me.
It doesn’t matter whether they use Blogger, WordPress, Tumblr or another site, there are thousands, if not millions, of bloggers out there, each with their own point of view and writing style. Some are extremely popular, well written publications while others will make you hit the back button within seconds of visiting.
Here are the pros and cons of creating a blog.
Pro: Anyone can have a blog.
Many blogging platforms are free, making them available to anyone with Internet access and a desire to write. This has allowed creative individuals to express their point of view free of editor’s guidelines or having to submit their material to websites or magazines. Blog platforms also give writers creative control over how their blog is designed.
Blogs can be creative exercises or marketing tools; it’s up to the blogger.
Con: Anyone can have a blog.
One aspect that makes blogging wonderful is that it’s open to everyone. That’s also one of the downsides. Many blogs use harsh colors that bother the eyes, look tacky because they are predominately advertisements or, worst of all, are badly written.
The most common errors I have observed are failing to run spell check, no spacing between paragraphs, no paragraphs at all, over capitalization of words, using numerals when the number should be written out, poor sentence construction and no direction in the blogger’s writing.
Pro: You can create a blog effortlessly.
Just as free blogging platforms make blogs available to everyone, user-friendly features make setting up a blog effortless. In just minutes, anyone can create an account, customize their blog and start posting.
Con: Maintaining a blog isn’t effortless.
“If you build it, they will come” may be a famous line from the movie “Field of Dreams” but it also applies to novices’ beliefs about websites. Many a notive writer or businessperson thinks all you have to do is set up a website and the traffic will come pouring in. In reality, maintaining a blog means posting new content regularly, learning about search engine optimization, purchasing a URL, setting up social media pages and networking online.
It is a laborious, time-consuming process all in the name of building up traffic and perhaps being able to sell ad space.
Pro: Businesses can use blogs to talk about their services.
Blogs are an outlet that allows small-business owners to educate potential clients and customers about their products or services. It can be used as a marketing tool and as a way to increase traffic to a website.
Con: Not every successful businessperson is a good writer.
Just because a businessperson is an expert in their field does not mean he/she are an effective writer.
For example, not long ago I came across a blog post written by a professional makeup artist. The title of the post was “World AIDS Day”, the photo was of a hand with lovely, manicured nails and the text was so badly written I couldn’t tell what it was about, but clearly it was about neither World AIDS Day nor manicures. It was riddle with spelling errors and nonsensical phrases.
What can be learned here? The blog’s owner failed to check to see if her headline matched her post and that her photo matched her post. She failed to examine her work and didn’t bother to run spell check. She was also guilty of writing in such a conversational tone that she didn’t come across as creditable.
When deciding whether to set up a blog or not, ask yourself the following questions.
1. Do I know how to communicate clearly and effectively when I write?
2. Am I creative enough to consistently create new topics?
3. Do I have the time and commitment necessary to run a blog?
4. Do I know how to self edit?
5. Am I willing to hire help if I can’t write well and/or edit my own work?
If you need a blog writer or a blog editor, please contact me.
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