Are blogs the “new” journals?
Once upon a time, people wrote on paper. They kept diaries, journals, notebooks and photo albums. They wrote letters; and shopping lists; and To Do lists. Now it seems that everyone keeps a blog instead.
On Saturday, I attended Nuffnang Blogopolis – a huge blogging conference, drawing an audience of 300 of Australia’s top bloggers (and me) to Melbourne, to discuss all things bloggy. It was amazing. It was inspiring. It was scary. I mean, how on earth do you introduce yourself to someone whose whole life you follow, but they have no idea you exist?
There were bloggers from all genres – food and fashion, parenting and personal, sport, travel and business. For most present, blogs are a personal outlet, a way of sharing their journey and passion with the world, no matter what the niche.
It was pretty apparent that the future of blogging in Australia is rosy indeed, and that comes as no surprise, considering that blogs speak to the very heart of who we are as humans.
For blogs speak a universal language – that of the story.
Blogs are an easy way to record the day-to-day events of our lives, our innermost thoughts, our achievements, adventures, discoveries and frustrations. They’re a great way of keeping and sharing photographs too. Many a mummy-blog started as a way of sharing baby photos and the funny little things that happen each day with friends and family. Some grew into much, much more.
For some, a blog has created an income stream, brought about a book deal, speaking engagements, overseas travel, a string of goodies from brands that “get it”.
For others, a blog has built a community of like-minded people. The support for those bloggers who have put their heart and soul “out there” is extraordinary. To do this requires incredible bravery. And in return, bloggers receive the confidence and strength to get through life, or even just through the day.
So is a blog the new journal?
It depends…
Before you start a blog, it pays to think about why you are blogging – if you simply want a creative outlet, or to have a rant, or get your thoughts out of your head, blogging may not be right for you. It is worth remembering that a paper journal is for your eyes only. Your blog, on the other hand is public and permanent (relatively – see note below). You are putting yourself on the line here… and you need to be able to support your “brand” in everything you do, in real life as well as online. Would you be happy for your grandmother (or mum, husband etc) to read what you write, or would you prefer to have the comfort and safety of a private space? And of course, no computer can match the look, feel or smell of a special paper journal.
On the other hand, a paper journal doesn’t connect you with others. There is no feedback, no support in troubled times, no community, no sharing of ideas. That is what a blog can do best.
Here are few tips if you decide to go down the blogging journey.
- Think about what you want to achieve with your blog. This will affect the type of platform you choose (Blogger or WordPress), and the style of blog you write (e.g. personal; business or information; community; lifestyle)
- Your readers want to connect with YOU. Use your own voice and personality in your blog.
- Successful blogs must meet readers’ core needs:
- To make us laugh
- To make us cry
- To make us think
- To make us want to connect - Good content is the meeting place between what you know and what your readers want. “Tell them something important!”
- Promote your blog where your potential readers hang out (e.g. Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn etc)
- Read other blogs (I’ve posted a list below of some of my favourites, and some that come highly recommended by others as a place to start).
(Thanks to Darren from ProBlogger, Nikki from Styling You and Christie from Childhood 101 for the above tips.)
The rest will take time… After all, we sat there for 7 hours on the weekend, learning, madly taking notes, tweeting (it’s weird being at a conference where you’re encouraged to keep your phone on!), eating chocolate and mints.
I have one piece of advice if you do decide to go down the blogging route (and this includes those of you already blogging).
*** Make sure you keep a hard copy of every post that is important to you. ***
While we often say that what we put on the internet is there forever, we don’t actually know that. Servers die. Technology changes. Even Google could go bust. At the end of the day, paper will outlast you, and be there to share your stories with generations to come. Note to self… must take my own advice!
Happy blogging!
Here are some suggestions of blogs for you to check out:
Personal Blogs
- Life in a Pink Fibro
- Edenland
- Random Ramblings of a Stay at Home Mum (get the tissues ready for this one)
- Seven Cherubs
- Reservoir Dad
- Maxabella Loves
- Mothers Love Letters
Business and Information Blogs
- Easy Peasy Kids
- Gardening 4 Kids
- The Lark
- Little Paper Lane
- Build a Little Biz
- Brothers Trimm
- Leaf. Paper for Life. (hehe)
Community Blogs
- The Smile Collective
- Mum’s Lounge (Jolene’s Mumbo Jumbo)
- Childhood 101
- My Little Bookcase
- Planning with Kids
- Motivating Mum
Lifestyle Blogs
If you have any favourite blogs you’d like to share (and not just your own(!)), feel free to comment below.
11
Christie-Childhood 101 says:
August 1, 2011 at 6:48 pm
What a whirlwind of a day – so much to learn and so many new faces and people to meet. Thank you for your kind tweets and for referencing my presentation in your comments above. I don’t think blogs completely replace personal journals, at least not in my lifetime, but I think as subsequent generations use technology more and more in the everyday, that a time will come when our thoughts are primarily recorded on an electronic device of some sort rather than on paper. And I find that thought quite confronting for some reason, though I have no idea why!
Nikki @ Styling You says:
August 1, 2011 at 7:23 pm
This is a wonderful post – thanks for including me in it. Good information here for everyone.
Kelly exeter says:
August 1, 2011 at 7:42 pm
Thanks for the mention Cath! I am thinking of coming over for the pro blogger conference oct 20 … Were you thinking of going to that one?
Cath says:
August 1, 2011 at 7:54 pm
Kelly, I am certainly thinking about it. If you’re coming over, that might tip the scales even more!
Cath says:
August 1, 2011 at 8:02 pm
I agree Christie. I think that there will always be a place for paper journals to record personal stories, ideas not ready for publication and as a thinking tool. What concerns me most is that as online sharing becomes more a part of our lives, our children will also view blogs and social media as a journalling tool, and, being the naive, trusting creatures that they are, relatively unaware of cyber safety issues, they will leave themselves open to all sorts of nasties. Now, that is confronting!
Cath says:
August 1, 2011 at 8:10 pm
Thank you so much Nikki. *flattered*
Kelly Exeter says:
August 1, 2011 at 10:33 pm
Cath I am just about 100% confirmed … tipping the scales for me is to have a bloggy ‘mate’ there!! Also – in my previous comment forget to mention “wonderful post”. I was on the ipad in the car (not driving of course!) so words were at a premium!
Nathalie says:
August 2, 2011 at 11:45 am
What a fab post Cath, you can be shy in social surroundings but your writing is amazing. I love what you do, I still do a lot of writing with pen & journal, I will be purchasing my new journal from you. Nx
If it help you tip the scales I will be attending Pro Blogger, not that I need anymore info to get on with, just like meeting like minded people like you x
Cath says:
August 2, 2011 at 11:50 am
Thank you so much Nathalie. As you would know, I’m not at all shy when you get to know me (quite the opposite), so it always comes as a surprise, even to me, when I’m in situations like that. Looks like Pro Blogger is a done deal now!