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Writing guide l Why you should blog
Blogging can be as much for personal enjoyment and fun than it is for a steady income or personal achievement. As an aspiring journalist (kind of), I see the value in online blogging. Some of the best ideas have originated from blogs and it is definitely a great way to deliver a message to an audience; both well targeted and alert. It can create a high level of engagement and provoke responses from all over the globe. Yet it all came from the comfort of your home, office or space.
Different types of blogging
Enjoyment – first and foremost blogging can be about expressing yourself online. It is one of the best places to voice your opinion and receive almost instant feedback. You can create small communities online depending on your likes/dislikes or interests. Blogs can also be combined with your other ‘stamps’ online such as Pinterest, Google+, Flickr, Facebook and Twitter. So within the space of someone reading your blog they can connect to the other sites you express your personality and identity on.
Reviewing – if you are fortunate enough you can be paid to review products online. This can be great publicity for your own blog as well as for the company asking for the review. Usually you will be given the opportunity to try a product and then write a balanced review [though the company will obviously be hoping for a positive review]. If you are headhunted, or you a find a particular company you love, you could be reviewing a number of products; from the latest innovative hair and beauty product to a newly released film or novel.
Guest blogging – guest blogging is the perfect opportunity to gain more exposure as a person and for your website. It creates a larger ‘web’ of your presence online. Perfect. It can also be an exciting way to acquire new readers and build relationships with other bloggers. It is also (here comes the SEO part) great for search engines such as Google and Yahoo. You will also be in a new community online which is great for extending your knowledge and interests (also known as personal development).
Online portfolio – whether you are a student finishing college or university, or perhaps an expert marketing assistant an online portfolio can continue to showcase your writing skills and the ability to adapt for web. It can be a second CV in addition to your electronic (or possibly paper) copy. Being online shows you are in touch with technology and you can also demonstrate to a future employer your range of skills, for instance with photography, InDesign, Photoshop, WordPress, Flickr etc. The list really does go on!
Paid blogging – it is a dream job to be paid for blogging yet that is right, it shouldn’t just be a dream. If you create enough chances (usually to do with your great writing skills) this can soon become a reality. Or alternatively there are full-time jobs working as a ‘blogger’ for a company or within their social media and marketing department. In Journey’s words “don’t stop believing!”
Top five tips for blogging
- Find four bloggers that you like and follow them on a regular basis. Take note of the articles they are producing and how they acquire an audience.
- Sign up to Google Alerts and find trends which you enjoy writing about. For example you could sign up to the latest film releases and write a weekly film review. It is a great way to find content which will receive hits quickly in a short amount of time. Bear in mind these blog posts may not be evergreen content so always think why you are adding the content to your blog, ask yourself, what is the purpose of this post?
- Write in your own style. Individuality really is key and this is sometimes forgotten in the World Wide Web.
- Promote your blog posts via all your social media channels. However remember to target these websites differently. Keep your audience in mind. No doubt (and it goes without saying) people using LinkedIn are using the site differently to that on Twitter.
- Above all else have fun and enjoy writing whatever your style may be or personal preference. I still hand write notes before I go anywhere near a computer, so don’t be afraid to express yourself the way you want to. Blogging can open up a ‘new world’!
I am available as a guest blogger for your site, so if you like my writing style or think I can do something for you please contact me. If you are a business or company with new products I am available for reviewing. I have previously reviewed products for the health and beauty industry and written critical pub and restaurant reviews for Sussex Food and Drink Guide 2013.
Please leave a message below if you would like to get in contact or if you have any questions/thoughts regarding this blog post (or any others). I appreciate hearing from you.
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Twit-twoo, calling all Twitter novelists!
Do you love digital media? Do you love social media websites? Do you love the beauty of writing and being completely submersed in your creative world? Then you have to enter this fantastic festival that I stumbled across: Twitter Fiction Festival. If you want to be part of the Twitter Fiction Festival then submit your ideas online now. The competition closes on the 15th November 2012, so get your twitterific ideas submitted as soon as possible.
The Twitter Fiction Festival runs for five days from 28th November 2012. The festival will be running online and has been born out of the Twitter hashtag #twitterfiction. This is a fantastic opportunity for writers to push the boundaries of publishing and storytelling. A great way for writers to test their writing skills in the online universe and platform, Twitter. Five days of stories and tales from all corners of the world.
Have you ever had to reduce the word count, or delete a few words here and there? Do you like the idea of a story limited by characters? Some writers may feel restricted by the small box on Twitter. However some authors have already made their mark using Twitter; Jennifer Egan is a perfect example. Egan used Twitter to post her short story, “Black Box”. She posted a tweet a minute for one hour each day, over an eleven day period. 8,500 words separated by the limitations of Twitter. Was this a good way to tell a story? Well, her story was carefully crafted and polished but received mixed opinions.
In my opinion, Twitter opens up new and exciting possibilities to a story while the 160 character tweet limit ensures structure and format. Discipline for the writer. It also offers the possibility for photographs to be added alongside the text, bringing a more visual and realistic element to the storytelling. The audience is also unrestricted and this is great news for authors of all genres. The real-time broadcasting will also make the festival vibrant, fun and engaging. We can all absorb the same story, at the same time. Who said the internet can’t bring us together?
Could it even be targeted at younger readers? Gather the children, the slippers and huddle around the warm fire, oh and your laptop!
@PrincessFi Once upon a time in Twitter land…
@HandsomePrince Tell us a new story o’ PrincessFi #snoringboring
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Fashion website review: Jane Shilton
Jane Shilton offer a wide range of shoes (for both sexes) and handbags. Whether you are after a pair of comfortable sandals for your holiday or a handbag for an evening out or snazzy high heels, JS will most definitely have something to suit you.
Their website makes online shopping really easy and enjoyable, with clear categories and a simple design. They offer a gift card option which makes for a perfect present especially when time is limited. As a reliable company they are always engaging with their customers, with their website’s news feed and their social media, Twitter account (@JANESHILTON). On Twitter, they offer regular tweets to update consumers on company progress, run exciting product competitions and offer new product information (updates or changes).
Jane Shilton is based in London but does not limit its trade to the UK. They have presence worldwide from Europe through to China, Hong Kong and Singapore. This is good news for everyone (worldwide). They provide high quality, long-lasting shoes and handbags, and are highly recommended as a trustworthy company.
To stay one step ahead, see their latest shoe arrivals.
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