By HEATHER CATHLEEN COX
Staff Writer
reporter@sbnewspaper.com
Heather Cathleen Cox
Some people charge for it. Some do it as a hobby. Though not as common, some even do it in groups. If you utilize a social media platform like Facebook, you probably do it too. “It” is called blogging.
Blogging is similar to journaling, but where a journal is typically meant for the writer’s eyes only, a blog is written to share virtually, or in blogosphere. Nothing is off limits in blogosphere. You can say whatever you want, and you don’t even have to include your real name. You can report anything you want to and be as political, religious or intelligent as your little heart desires, but if you want to get noticed in a positive way, you might consider implementing a few basic principles.
1. Articulate something original.
Your blog is an opportunity for you to tell a story. So before sharing, you should develop a worthwhile message. Think about it this way: you’ve got something to sell. Are you going to set up shop to resemble Nordstrom or is your shop more like a flea market?
After you select your storyline and angle, you must express yourself articulately. If you have a stellar concept but can’t articulate it, you may as well be serving guests a top-chef recipe in a Ziploc bag. Comparatively, you might be well-spoken and charming, but if you have nothing original to discuss, why would anyone read your words?
2. Identify and humor your audience.
Gauging your readership is not as difficult as you might think, but it will take some effort. Anyone can have a small following on Facebook, but the true test of a successful blogging career occurs when people who do not personally know you begin following you with consistency. Once you identify your audience, you should figure out what they like. Poll them and ask a unique question.
You can install analytics, a tool which identifies your audience and how engaged they are while on your page, on your blog. Google provides a free version which is simple to use. After you know who is stopping by your site and what they want to know, juxtapose this new information into your content – while maintaining your personal style.
3. Brand yourself.
To become a successful blogger you’ll have to call yourself something memorable that isn’t already taken. In a professional capacity, I always use my full name because at least two other women have established successful careers using the name Heather Cox. It was a bummer to learn I couldn’t use my name as a singer-songwriter because a former American Idol contestant named Heather Cox had already beaten me to the punch. However, a quick Google search yielded practically no one notable under the name Heather Cathleen Cox. With a little bit of compromise, I found a brandable name.
On the web, content is still king. Your actual handle is not nearly as important as your consistency with posting content. It doesn’t matter what you call yourself if you’re not dependable. As cool as it will feel the first time someone recognizes you by your brand, don’t let it go to your head. As an aside, close friends and family may not be as eager about your brand as is the general public, and that’s okay.
4. Be specific yet ambiguous.
If you only wish to discuss one topic in your blog (like gardening), you should make this clear to your audience. Explain your mission by saying something succinct such as: “I love to garden, and I want to share my secrets, tips and favorite garden variety items with you. Check back daily for updates.” Establish your credibility by saying: “Hi, I’m Stephanie, and I have been gardening for 18 years.”
Tailoring each blog entry for a limited audience, you can create categories like different types of soil, how to grow herbs or vegetables, seasonal flowers, etc. There’s nothing wrong with writing to a very specific crowd, just remember doing so might keep you from expanding to new subject matter.
There is room in blogosphere for the renaissance blogger, but if this is you, it will be your job to set the stage for such a feat. Pretend you’re an actor who took mostly “stupid humor” roles in your 20s, just for the paycheck. Unless you’re an exception to the rule like Jim Carrey, after you make a name for yourself as a “funny person,” when you decide to exercise your dramatic chops at 30, your audience might not appreciate the effort. Keep your future goals in mind from the get-go, and you will not unintentionally pigeon-hole yourself.
5. Peacefully address your haters.
Any time you’re generating content consistently, you’ll have haters. Though it will be tempting to blast them right back or ignore them, that’s not advisable. While it’s imperative that you address at least some hateful remarks, make every effort to delay your reply until you are in a place where you can differentiate your emotions from your vocabulary. You can even utilize your next blog as a platform with which to express your rebuttal.
By addressing a hater publicly, you allow your supporters an opportunity to connect with you on a real level. They can watch you handle an undesirable situation and can see that you are not some impenetrable someone in the great unknown. Furthermore, don’t hesitate to apologize when you do or say something idiotic. It will happen.
Whatever you do, remember that your words will be available for all of internet-ernity. People can and will use your content against you, so only say that which you know to be accurate and which you will happily stand behind long after hot topics have cooled – forever keeping in mind, your intellectual property can also be compromised and stolen. It’s up to you to police your stuff.
Even if you become a successful blogger, you do not become the reigning king or queen of anything just because some people have started listening to you. Respect your platform and audience by always infusing your words with integrity. Proverbs 18:21a says, “In the tongue is the power of life and death.” In other words, there is real power in words. So do what you say you’ll do and be consistently relevant. As food for thought, I will leave you with what I consider the key to successful blogging: Enjoy the blogging process, and don’t take yourself too seriously. When it feels like work, you’re missing the point.
Read this story in the Nov. 11 edition of the San Benito News, or subscribe to our E-Edition by clicking here.
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