Comments on: Weblog Content Strategy: My Handout http://www.contentious.com/2005/08/27/weblog-content-strategy-my-handout/ Amy Gahran's news and musings on how we communicate in the online age. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:36:42 +0000 hourly 1 By: Amy Gahran http://www.contentious.com/2005/08/27/weblog-content-strategy-my-handout/comment-page-1/#comment-31086 Amy Gahran Sun, 28 Aug 2005 13:30:38 +0000 #comment-31086 I understand what you're saying Piaras. Still, I think it's more important to develop the skill of participating constructively in the public conversation via comments to existing blogs first, before starting your own blog. I don't personally think linking to a static site until you get started would frustrate many people -- that's just my guess, of course. You don't have to be a blogger to participate in the weblogged aspects of the public conversation. In fact, I wish MORE people realized that. In that case, we might have better conversations through blog comments and fewer crappy blogs out there. :-) - Amy Gahran Editor, Contentious I understand what you’re saying Piaras. Still, I think it’s more important to develop the skill of participating constructively in the public conversation via comments to existing blogs first, before starting your own blog. I don’t personally think linking to a static site until you get started would frustrate many people — that’s just my guess, of course.

You don’t have to be a blogger to participate in the weblogged aspects of the public conversation. In fact, I wish MORE people realized that. In that case, we might have better conversations through blog comments and fewer crappy blogs out there. :-)

- Amy Gahran
Editor, Contentious

]]> By: Piaras Kelly http://www.contentious.com/2005/08/27/weblog-content-strategy-my-handout/comment-page-1/#comment-31079 Piaras Kelly Sun, 28 Aug 2005 10:30:12 +0000 #comment-31079 It makes sense alright. My only concern is people will click on your URL and visit a standard website. By the time that you actually start blogging, they'll be familiar with you and not follow the link because they think it'll lead to the same site. So you'll have to start linking to them or email them to tell them about your blog, neither of which are something I'd always be inclined to do. Personal preference I guess...or just plain laziness :D It makes sense alright. My only concern is people will click on your URL and visit a standard website. By the time that you actually start blogging, they’ll be familiar with you and not follow the link because they think it’ll lead to the same site.

So you’ll have to start linking to them or email them to tell them about your blog, neither of which are something I’d always be inclined to do. Personal preference I guess…or just plain laziness :D

]]> By: Amy Gahran http://www.contentious.com/2005/08/27/weblog-content-strategy-my-handout/comment-page-1/#comment-30970 Amy Gahran Sat, 27 Aug 2005 15:27:22 +0000 #comment-30970 Thanks Piaras. Good point about joining blog communities, I did overlook that. Fortunately you mentioned it before I gave my talk, so I've just noted to mention it in my presentation this afternoon :-) You wrote: <i>"One thing I don’t entirely agree with though is commenting before you blog."</i> I understand your perspective, and I know some people disagree with me on this. That's fine. Here's my reasoning: I cannot stress how important it is to approach your weblog as part of an ongoing public conversation. Viewing your weblog mainly as a publishing vehicle is probably the single biggest error I see bloggers make. Commenting (well, at least <i>constructive</i> commenting) is a crucial aspect of what makes weblogs so vital and valuable. I would argue that comments are at least as valuable as the postings themselves, if they're written well and managed well. By commenting before you blog, you'll get involved in the public conversation -- and <i>get known by key bloggers</i> as someone who is constructive and thoughtful. This positions your blog well even before you start blogging. Also, even if you don't have a blog, in comments you can link to any URL you want -- it could be your site, or even your resume. Definitely post something online that you can link to. (I should have mentioned that above.) But I strongly believe that commenting first hones your blogging skill set in a valuable way, and it pre-positions your weblog for a good reception. Make sense? - Amy Gahran Editor, Contentious Thanks Piaras. Good point about joining blog communities, I did overlook that. Fortunately you mentioned it before I gave my talk, so I’ve just noted to mention it in my presentation this afternoon :-)

You wrote: “One thing I don’t entirely agree with though is commenting before you blog.”

I understand your perspective, and I know some people disagree with me on this. That’s fine.

Here’s my reasoning:

I cannot stress how important it is to approach your weblog as part of an ongoing public conversation. Viewing your weblog mainly as a publishing vehicle is probably the single biggest error I see bloggers make.

Commenting (well, at least constructive commenting) is a crucial aspect of what makes weblogs so vital and valuable. I would argue that comments are at least as valuable as the postings themselves, if they’re written well and managed well.

By commenting before you blog, you’ll get involved in the public conversation — and get known by key bloggers as someone who is constructive and thoughtful. This positions your blog well even before you start blogging.

Also, even if you don’t have a blog, in comments you can link to any URL you want — it could be your site, or even your resume. Definitely post something online that you can link to. (I should have mentioned that above.) But I strongly believe that commenting first hones your blogging skill set in a valuable way, and it pre-positions your weblog for a good reception.

Make sense?

- Amy Gahran
Editor, Contentious

]]> By: Piaras Kelly http://www.contentious.com/2005/08/27/weblog-content-strategy-my-handout/comment-page-1/#comment-30962 Piaras Kelly Sat, 27 Aug 2005 13:06:36 +0000 #comment-30962 Nice handout Amy. One thing I don't entirely agree with though is commenting before you blog. I find that my regular readers are people whose blogs I have commented on or linked to. If I didn't have a blog at the time, then I wouldn't have built up a readership as easily. I do agree that it gives you a better sense of the conversation, and more importantly how to converse. But if you're actually contributing to the conversation then I think you're missing out in terms of strategy by commenting before blogging. One other thing I feel you are missing out on in terms of strategy is promotion. I'm an Irish blogger and a lot of my traffic comes from www.planetoftheblogs.com I think that anyone who blogs and doesn't join the communities relevant to them is also missing out. The most important thing about saying anything interesting is making sure that you are heard. If a blogger posted alone in the woods, would anyone read his entry? :D Nice handout Amy. One thing I don’t entirely agree with though is commenting before you blog.

I find that my regular readers are people whose blogs I have commented on or linked to. If I didn’t have a blog at the time, then I wouldn’t have built up a readership as easily.

I do agree that it gives you a better sense of the conversation, and more importantly how to converse. But if you’re actually contributing to the conversation then I think you’re missing out in terms of strategy by commenting before blogging.

One other thing I feel you are missing out on in terms of strategy is promotion. I’m an Irish blogger and a lot of my traffic comes from http://www.planetoftheblogs.com I think that anyone who blogs and doesn’t join the communities relevant to them is also missing out. The most important thing about saying anything interesting is making sure that you are heard. If a blogger posted alone in the woods, would anyone read his entry? :D

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