Blogging

[Sandra6]

Who writes a blog?
I'm planning on starting one as part of my 30 days of cycling challenge, and I haven't a clue where to begin.
So, good sites for a start?
Tips on what to include and how not to ramble on endlessly?
Do you promote these things?
Anything else I need to know?

 

[coffeejo]

I've got a blog but haven't updated it for ages. Thinking about scrapping it and starting again.

Wordpress.com is a good platform.

All your other questions come down to your audience. Who are you writing it for? If it's a diary for you to look back on, then think about what you'll want to read about in however months/years. If it's for friends/family, then write for them.

Choose a theme/style that's easy on the eye - it doesn't matter how well-written a blog is, if it's pale text on a dark background, I don't bother reading it as it's a struggle.

It's always good to include photos, especially for a cycling blog, but content is king. Think about the posts you enjoy reading on here. How are they presented (length of paragraph etc) and what style (grammar, humour etc)? You've got to enjoy writing it as much as someone else will enjoy reading it, if not more. It shouldn't be a chore.

 

[Spinney]

I do a blog - mainly about geology and gardening. I use the google blog facility http://www.blogger.com/home
There are various templates etc to help you get your 'look'.

http://greenthoughtsgreenshade.blogspot.co.uk/

 

[swee'pea99]

They say 50% of blogs are only ever read by one person...but don't let that put you off! Yes, Wordpress is definitely the way to go. Apart from that, I think Coffeejo has covered all the essentials. Above all, enjoy it - if you don't, no-one else is going to.

 

[ianrauk]

Don't make it too over complicated or fussy and as what Jo said, no silly colourings/backgrounds.

 

[Spinney]

They say 50% of blogs are only ever read by one person...but don't let that put you off! Yes, Wordpress is definitely the way to go. Apart from that, I think Coffeejo has covered all the essentials. Above all, enjoy it - if you don't, no-one else is going to.

I thought mine was becoming quite popular, until I realised I hadn't set the 'don't count your own views' feature!

 

[swee'pea99]

I thought mine was becoming quite popular, until I realised I hadn't set the 'don't count your own views' feature!

You remind me - if you start a blog you will be inundated with comments telling you how fascinating it is and what a genius you are. Before you 'approve' them, download an add-on to kill spam comments. Sadly, your approval ratings will plummet...but at least you'll know that comments you receive are genuine, and you're not unwittingly aiding scumbags selling fake Ugg boots and Viagra.

 

[Spinney]

You remind me - if you start a blog you will be inundated with comments telling you how fascinating it is and what a genius you are. Before you 'approve' them, download an add-on to kill spam comments. Sadly, your approval ratings will plummet...but at least you'll know that comments you receive are genuine, and you're not unwittingly aiding scumbags selling fake Ugg boots and Viagra.

I've never had any comments on my blog - praising or otherwise!

 

[biggs682]

keep thinking about doing one , not sure though

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

We have a local blog that I occasionally post on. There's a number of authorised posters and there has never been any problem about double posting.

It might be worth setting up and sharing a ''cyclechatter'' blog and authorising any regular poster on here who wants to contribute - all it takes is exchanging an email address I think. It could provide a variety of posts in a number of styles and the ''safety in numbers'' aspect might make it feel like a collective endeavour - hopefully with more readers. On the other hand, if people mainly want to do ''my ride today'' posts, there's already a thread on here for that. In fact, for it to work it would have to do something more than a forum can already do.

Would this help for the ''maybes?''

 

[MontyVeda]

I've never had any comments on my blog - praising or otherwise!

Me neither!

i hardly get any visits either

although Blogger is Google's own blog platform, it doesn't seem to do well in their search results... so if you (or the OP) want your blogs to be found by others, then wordpress i guess.

The link in my signature to Hill Farm Barns is a website on the blogger platform (but with the blog hidden)... it's only visitors so far are from here. When i get time I'm going build something similar on wordpress as I suspect it'll do better in the search engines.

 

[BigonaBianchi]

I have two blogs...one finished and another about to begin

I did both on google BlogSpot (blogger?)

Once you get your head around the layout functions etc its pretty good. My transam blog would have benefitted form me being more techno savy when I set the blog up to start with, going back over it all now to make it more reader friendly is a lifetimes work lol!

On the new one

http://lejogride.BlogSpot.com

I am trying to not make the same errors twice, although so far I am failing lol!

I think its a another apect of cycling/touring I enjoy..mostly because it gives me a record of what happened, bit like a scrap book , for me to look over in my old age...erm..which is next week...

 

[Sandra6]

Thanks for the tips.
I've gone with google blog, just because I think it'll be easiest with using google chrome a lot of the time.
I've made a couple of posts, just as a test really. It says I've had five views and somebody has +1'd it - what does that mean?
Also how do I share it, do I copy and paste the web address or ??
I may very well run out of steam before the 30 days of cycling are over, but who knows.

 

[Diggs]

Thanks for the tips.
I've gone with google blog, just because I think it'll be easiest with using google chrome a lot of the time.
I've made a couple of posts, just as a test really. It says I've had five views and somebody has +1'd it - what does that mean?
Also how do I share it, do I copy and paste the web address or ??
I may very well run out of steam before the 30 days of cycling are over, but who knows.

The +1 I think is the Google version of a "like" on Facebook but based around Google+ . It would be seen by the circles in that persons Google account

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

Thanks for the tips.
I've gone with google blog, just because I think it'll be easiest with using google chrome a lot of the time.
I've made a couple of posts, just as a test really. It says I've had five views and somebody has +1'd it - what does that mean?
Also how do I share it, do I copy and paste the web address or ??
I may very well run out of steam before the 30 days of cycling are over, but who knows.

Try sticking the blog address as a link into your signature on here. (it won't work as a link until it's been saved.) That should get you a few more views.