I had an incredible time reading the blogs of a few of my classmates. Some were boring, some were amazing, some were just so-so. I learned that everyone has a different style, and that it is important to understand the elements that make a good blog. First of all, the purpose of the blog is most important. You have to decide what you want the blog to say and to keep the all-important WIIFM in mind. What is WIIFM, you ask? It means – What’s In It For Me? This should be applied to anything we are putting out into the information super highway. If someone cannot determine what is in it for them when reading your products, you have lost a potential follower.
The next thing to focus on is the design of the blog. Is it too busy? Are there too many, or not enough, photographs of you? Again, you have to think about what you are trying to say and the purpose of the blog. If you are trying to attract potential employers, having photos of you doing jell-o shots with your friends probably is not the best idea. However, I noticed the easiest blogs to read were the ones with clean lines, few photos and very few distractions. I liked the ones that kept the colors subtle, so I could focus on the content of the blog.
Of course a blog would not be anything without its content. This is also a vital element when blogging. I do not appreciate the bloggers who just go off on weird tangents or random rants about the dregs of society. Please, if you are going to spew words and ideas into the universe, develop a coherent thought. Your content can say a lot about you. It speaks volumes about your intelligence, especially if you do not have a firm grasp on the English language...it shows in the written word. Be mindful, especially if looking for employment, of what kind of language you are using. You need to know what your employer is looking for, in order to best present yourself to them.
Which brings me to your audience, who you are trying to communicate with. This is a very important piece of the blog. You could almost say it drives everything. The audience and purpose go hand-in-hand. You have to know who you are trying to communicate with and what you plan to get out of that communication before starting your blog. Well, you should consider these things prior to starting a blog. We have all seen those who do not consider these things and, well, I don’t think I need to expound on the subject. Knowing who is reading and knowing what you want to get out of their involvement in your blog can help you with your design and content. If you are looking to be hired by an art institute or creative writing department, it might benefit you to put a little more color and fun design elements into your blog. You can also get a little more crazy and flowery with the writing because you are showcasing your creative abilities and talents. On the other hand, if you are looking to work for a law firm, I wouldn’t even have a blog at all...you never want something coming back to bite you =) In all seriousness, though, you would want it more subtle, with passages that highlight your intelligence and your commitment to justice.
I reviewed three blogs this week and made critiques on all three of them. I wanted the critiques to be personal to the blogger because I think people are more receptive to criticism when it’s “nice.” The following is what I posted on my fellow classmates’ blogs:
http://mylifeisspeakingwhatisitsayingaboutme.blogspot.com/2011/11/delivering-bad-news-tactfully-and.html#comment-form
Sheila
I always see your picture and smile because your dog reminds me of my dog! I love what you've done with your blog. I like the blurred background. It's calming and not distracting at all. Your blog isn't busy or too much to take in and it really helps to focus on the actual message of what you're saying.
I also love the things you never say when delivering bad news. These are truly good things to keep in mind, especially when you have had a conflict with the person before. Your stuff is very well-written and insightful. I enjoyed reading it!
http://sandradee-communication.blogspot.com/2011/11/to-infinity-and-beyondinternet-craze.html#comment-form
Sandra,
What a great writing style you have! I like that you're to-the-point with what you're saying. I love what you said about the Internet craze and how it's really changed the way people communicate. Just look at this class for example. Your background on the blog is good, too. I like that it isn't distracting.
http://dmoss-blogpurpose.blogspot.com/
I like that you put your own thoughts and explanations behind each of the commandments. It really shows your understanding of the material and helps people see where you're coming from. I often find it helpful when communicating with someone, if you can understand their own interpretations of something you have your own idea about. It can make for very interesting conversation as well as easier ways to find a common ground.
I think the biggest thing I can take away from my fellow classmates’ blogs is the diversity that we all have in our communication. It is easy to think that everyone who is taking the same class as you, might communicate very similar. However, I have learned that it is not always that simple and that I still have a long way to go before being able to communicate my message to future employers. Not everyone wants someone who speaks “military.”
The next thing to focus on is the design of the blog. Is it too busy? Are there too many, or not enough, photographs of you? Again, you have to think about what you are trying to say and the purpose of the blog. If you are trying to attract potential employers, having photos of you doing jell-o shots with your friends probably is not the best idea. However, I noticed the easiest blogs to read were the ones with clean lines, few photos and very few distractions. I liked the ones that kept the colors subtle, so I could focus on the content of the blog.
Of course a blog would not be anything without its content. This is also a vital element when blogging. I do not appreciate the bloggers who just go off on weird tangents or random rants about the dregs of society. Please, if you are going to spew words and ideas into the universe, develop a coherent thought. Your content can say a lot about you. It speaks volumes about your intelligence, especially if you do not have a firm grasp on the English language...it shows in the written word. Be mindful, especially if looking for employment, of what kind of language you are using. You need to know what your employer is looking for, in order to best present yourself to them.
Which brings me to your audience, who you are trying to communicate with. This is a very important piece of the blog. You could almost say it drives everything. The audience and purpose go hand-in-hand. You have to know who you are trying to communicate with and what you plan to get out of that communication before starting your blog. Well, you should consider these things prior to starting a blog. We have all seen those who do not consider these things and, well, I don’t think I need to expound on the subject. Knowing who is reading and knowing what you want to get out of their involvement in your blog can help you with your design and content. If you are looking to be hired by an art institute or creative writing department, it might benefit you to put a little more color and fun design elements into your blog. You can also get a little more crazy and flowery with the writing because you are showcasing your creative abilities and talents. On the other hand, if you are looking to work for a law firm, I wouldn’t even have a blog at all...you never want something coming back to bite you =) In all seriousness, though, you would want it more subtle, with passages that highlight your intelligence and your commitment to justice.
I reviewed three blogs this week and made critiques on all three of them. I wanted the critiques to be personal to the blogger because I think people are more receptive to criticism when it’s “nice.” The following is what I posted on my fellow classmates’ blogs:
http://mylifeisspeakingwhatisitsayingaboutme.blogspot.com/2011/11/delivering-bad-news-tactfully-and.html#comment-form
Sheila
I always see your picture and smile because your dog reminds me of my dog! I love what you've done with your blog. I like the blurred background. It's calming and not distracting at all. Your blog isn't busy or too much to take in and it really helps to focus on the actual message of what you're saying.
I also love the things you never say when delivering bad news. These are truly good things to keep in mind, especially when you have had a conflict with the person before. Your stuff is very well-written and insightful. I enjoyed reading it!
http://sandradee-communication.blogspot.com/2011/11/to-infinity-and-beyondinternet-craze.html#comment-form
Sandra,
What a great writing style you have! I like that you're to-the-point with what you're saying. I love what you said about the Internet craze and how it's really changed the way people communicate. Just look at this class for example. Your background on the blog is good, too. I like that it isn't distracting.
http://dmoss-blogpurpose.blogspot.com/
I like that you put your own thoughts and explanations behind each of the commandments. It really shows your understanding of the material and helps people see where you're coming from. I often find it helpful when communicating with someone, if you can understand their own interpretations of something you have your own idea about. It can make for very interesting conversation as well as easier ways to find a common ground.
I think the biggest thing I can take away from my fellow classmates’ blogs is the diversity that we all have in our communication. It is easy to think that everyone who is taking the same class as you, might communicate very similar. However, I have learned that it is not always that simple and that I still have a long way to go before being able to communicate my message to future employers. Not everyone wants someone who speaks “military.”
No comments:
Post a Comment