BLOGGING

What is a blog?
• The word blog is actually a shortened form of its original name,
"weblog."
• These weblogs allowed early internet users to "log" the details of
their day in diary-style entries.
• Blogs often allow readers to comment, so as they became more
common, communities sprung up around popular blogs.
• Blogs can be personal, artistic, academic, or professional. It is a
unique form of online publishing that creates opportunities for
producing knowledge, sharing research, building social networks,
developing professionally, or documenting personal growth.
How Blogging Works
• Blogging is as simple as obtaining a website and publishing original
content on it.
• Tech-savvy bloggers can buy a domain name and build the website
themselves.
• Those with less HTML knowledge can create an account with sites like
WordPress that simplify the web design and publishing process.
• Blogs are usually simple websites.
• Older pieces may be archived in separate sections of the site, and
there may be a separate page with contact info or a bio, but the blog
itself is usually just a single page that can be scrolled through—similar
to the news feed on social media sites like Facebook.
• As with a Facebook news feed, a blog displays the newest content at
the top of the page.
• Another unique feature of blogging is interlinking. This occurs when a
blogger links to another person's blog within their own blog post.
• For example, if a music teacher maintains a blog, and they write a
blog post about how to form a chord, they might link to a musician's
blog to show an example of the chords in action.
Blogging vs. Traditional
Websites
• Blogs are updated frequently. Whether it's a a food blog sharing new
recipes, or a business providing updates to its services, blogs have
new content added several times a week. Websites might occasionally
have new information, but for the most part, they offer static
information that rarely changes.
• Blogs allow for reader engagement. Blogs and social media accounts
often go hand-in-hand because they serve a similar purpose of
connecting an audience and the content creator. Some websites may
incorporate features that allow for conversation, but generally
speaking, a blog allows for more conversation and interaction than a
traditional website does.
How to Compose a Blog Post
• Great blogs are vibrant and visually interesting, but they are also
thoughtful and purposeful.
• Every post matters for generating and holding attention.
• Consider the following principles when composing:
• Make a point: While posts do not require a formal thesis or claim, it is
important to have an argument, opinion, or purpose in mind when
you compose.
• Be concise: Use precise language and coherent syntax to make your
posts easy to read.
• Post often: Blogs should be updated regularly to hold readers’
interest. Actively generate new and interesting content on a daily or
weekly schedule.
• Consider inviting guest bloggers to appeal to diverse readers,
broaden your blog’s scope, or refresh your own perspective on the
project.
• Proofread: Careless mistakes and errors can distract readers and
make you appear less credible as a writer.
• Create visual interest: Consider which aspects of your content would
pair well with visual elements such as photographs, figures, or videos.
Break up large chunks of text with visual elements to make your blog
more readable.
Using Multimedia
• Audio and visual interest helps grab a reader’s attention.
• Blogs give writers the opportunity to use design, images, audio, and
video to supplement their writing.
• Take advantage of these innovative ways to enhance your
presentation!
• Here are some guidelines to have in mind when choosing your blog’s
multimedia elements:
• Use appropriate content, size, and quality. Make sure your chosen
images complement the layout of your text visually. Images should be
easy to see without obstructing the text of a post. Choose the highest
possible quality image while also making sure it is easy to load. You
don’t want your readers squinting at blurry pixels, but you won’t want
them to wait 10 seconds for something to load, either.
• When linking to an online video, consider using a screen shot from
that video as your hyperlink. A screen shot can make a reader more
likely to click on a link. It can provide a visual preview, as well as
demonstrate the clip’s relevance to your post.
• Attribute your sources. Like ideas, images and videos are someone
else’s intellectual property. Whenever possible, provide captions for
the reader. Even a simple caption – (Image courtesy of msnbc.com) –
will help readers identify the object’s origins.
Using Hyperlinks
• Hyperlinks are an important part of blogging and can really increase
your credibility.
• They create a sense of conversation, act like citations in more informal
circumstances, and demonstrate that you are engaged with other
people’s work.
• A link is a chain that connects pages both within a website and to
other websites. Without links, we wouldn't have any websites.
• In simpler terms we can say that links are just the web addresses of
web page that allow you to connect with different servers.
• Examplles of HTML
• https://www.computerhope.com/jargon/h/hyperlink.htm
• https://www.academia.edu/
Examples of Blogs
• Academic Blogs
• https://thesiswhisperer.com/
This blog is dedicated to helping PhD students complete their dissertations. It is
highly valuable to any graduate student as they go through the process of
conducting research and writing their final research projects.
• https://theprofessorisin.com/
This blog offers advice and consulting services for new PhD graduates
embarking on their academic job search, as well as valuable information and
advice about various career paths. This blog is part of a larger website that
provides courses, webinars and workshops for graduate students, and a partner
podcast.
• Personal, Project-Based, and Narrative Blogs:
• https://www.zionadventurephotog.com/
Best Photography Blog
• https://www.labnol.org/
Originally focused on technology story guidance, the blog has since expanded to
cover a wide range of topics including social media, mobile apps, and productivity
tools
• https://www.missmalini.com/
For those interested in Bollywood, fashion, beauty tips, and lifestyle, Mismalini is a
must-follow. Shares valuable tips on fashion, beauty, health, and lifestyle and
interesting insight into the recent happenings in Bollywood
• https://www.pinkvilla.com/
Pink Villa attracts millions of visitors every month, from over 200 countries
worldwide, and positions itself as the leading destination for Bollywood news and
high fashion Boasts of an impressive Indian Alexa ranking that is 2,862 and 8 million
viewers per month, Pink Villa continues to be so successful in the digital space.
• https://hebbarskitchen.com/
Hebbars Kitchen is all about Indian veg recipes.
• https://indianfoodrecipes.net/
A comprehensive collection of traditional Indian recipes, mixed with
cooking tips.