As more people turn to the World Wide Web for their news, business, and personal correspondence, writers are using online journals called weblogs or blogs to reach readers.
The new influencers : a marketer's guide to the new social media
Paul Gillin.
Fresno, CA : Quill Driver Books, c2009.
Written for marketers who need to become familiar with the high-tech PR model, this guide explains the dynamics and influence of social media such as blogging, social networking and Podcasts. Gillin, a journalist who has covered the computer industry for many years, emphasizes the need to ignore the specific types of new media and focus on the realization that other new technologies are always on the horizon and need to be identified in advance. The author uses interviews with "influencers" to help readers recognize the new ethics and behaviors that accompany social media, how corporations are exploiting these media to reach customers and how the field of public relations will be radically transformed by these trends. Annotation ©2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
Blogging for fame and fortune
by Jason R. Rich.
[Irvine, Calif.] : Entrepreneur Press, c2009.
Attract millions and make big money using success secrets from cyber superstars and blogging pros, including entertainment blogger Perez Hilton and Blogger.com's Taj Campbell. Learn how to build a noteworthy online identity, captivate the masses, and break into mainstream media-leveraging your creativity, not your bank account. Plus, discover how to immediately cash in on your online platform and new-found popularity!
WordPress for dummies
by Lisa Sabin-Wilson ; foreword by Matt Mullenweg.
Hoboken, NJ : Wiley Pub., c2009.
This updated second edition includes new content and new artwork as warranted by the upgraded features of WordPress 2.5. New information includes an introduction to basic CSS tweaking, free WordPress themes, and in-depth coverage of template tags.
Say everything : how blogging began, what it's becoming, and why it matters
Scott Rosenberg.
New York : Crown, c2009.
The author of "Dreaming in Code" examines the new species of written conversation--blogs--and explores the dilemmas that still face this new medium, from privacy and self-expression to authority and community.
Weblogs originated as a way for Internet users to keep a log of the websites they visited. John Barger coined the word ‘weblog’ in 1997. The shorter version, 'blog,' was coined by Peter Merholz who broke the word weblog into the phrase 'we blog'.
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One every 7.4 seconds
The Pew Internet study estimates that about 11%, or about 50 million, of Internet users are regular blog readers.
A new weblog is created every 7.4 seconds, which means there are about 12,000 new blogs a day. |
Today’s blogs are more than listings of websites. The typical blog entry begins with a heading followed by a short reflection on a particular website and a link to that website. Below the reflection is a link to a comment board. This ability to comment on the author's work, and view others’ comments, gives blogs their community aspect.
Blogs are easy to create. It takes only a few keystrokes to build a home on the World Wide Web for your creative output. Within minutes, and at no cost, you can begin to publish your own blog.
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First, pick a topic that will be the focus of your blog. You may choose to write about your daily activities. Some of the Web's most entertaining blogs are simply accounts of what the author did that day. Other blogs are more specific and cover an area of interest such as politics, movies, or music.
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Next choose a home for your blog. Carefully evaluate blog providers to select one that is reliable and right for you.
Blogger and
Live Journal are two companies offering this service free of charge. Each provide simple onscreen instructions that allow you to select a name for your blog and make layout decisions.
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Once your blog is created, it's time to write your first entry. To cultivate an audience, you will want to develop your own voice, say something unique, and update your blog regularly. Readers will not return to your blog repeatedly if you don't provide new material.
Article by: St. Louis Public Library staff
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