Questions and Answers about Blogging

Somebody from Media Associates International sent a set of questions, maybe in a kind of survey. Here are my answers to those questions.

1. How do you gain a reader base if you are just starting out as a new blogger?
When I started blogging, I wasn't even thinking of readers. I started a freelance agency in 2004 and since then, I was often concerned that I would be isolated. So the blog was “to announce my presence,” that I still existed, to friends. So I sent my blog site only to my friends, those that I have established close relationship through the years. Even up to now, my readership has not expanded that much. But I hope that my friends will read me.

2. Do you see blogging as an alternative to the printed page, or as supplementary?
I think that there are some good blogs out there which are purposeful and focused on certain themes or subjects. I have my own favorites which I consult every now and then, especially those that tackle technology itself. But I still think that the printed page is best if I want to gain insight on a specific subject. And I will never read novels on the net!!! In spite of the Internet, I keep buying books. However, for quick information, the internet is cheap and this is the major competitor of publishing especially here in my country where people will buy a 700- peso blouse, but will hesitate to buy a P200-peso book even if they know they need it. Students don’t even go to the library anymore; they just google everything. Visitors on my website http://www.english-to-tagalog.com are mostly students looking for information on many Filipiniana subjects such as about epics and myths and other assignments teachers give them in Filipino literature. So I intend to put those in my site. Students will probably find blogs on their inquiries as they google but well, google does spider good content. Ergo, unless a blog has good content and knows how to place itself at the top rankings, it is not going to be a threat to the printed page.

3. How can you make sure new readers find your blog, if there are so many options out there?
The only way to make sure that my friends will read my blog is if I announce it, and if they find it good, they may recommend it, or if this is something they intend to use, they may link to it which will make others see it if they happen to find the link. So in my belief, everything is accidental. But if maybe I focus on a subject, then maybe those who are interested in the subject will find the blog, and if the blog is good, then they may recommend it and so the cycle goes on.

4. Do you think blogs should be used as outlets for personal thoughts and ideas, or as outlets for news and updates on ministries and
developments? A combination of the two?
I do not put every thought on my blog, but sometimes, blogging is a good exercise at “how to write about yourself from a distance.” My creative teacher told me once that poetry is always personal, but the crafting itself helps mold the personal into a universal experience. I think that this is what I try to do when I write a blog. I try to exercise some restraint, choosing details, making sure that I put only those personal details that will contribute to my theme. But sometimes, I just need to tell my friends, I’m back or I’m off to another place. If there is an established wide and focused readership, then a blog is a good way to update people on ministries and developments. But I believe that a newsletter from a website will have to say that the news is also in a blog or something to direct people to the blog.

5. What is the greatest benefit you have found to having a blog?
I hardly blog these days; because I try to polish what I write in the blog. So this is one major benefit. I get to exercise my editing-myself-after-writing-about-myself stuff. It’s a good writing and editing exercise. You are always self conscious because you know that your friends – and my friends by the way are editors and writers – will say, “Oh come on, this is a bad sentence.” My very first blog had that very straightforward comment and after that time, I was careful. Well, sometimes, my blog is not that properly written. This is when I allow my emotions to overrule my styling. Bad for writing I guess.

6. Do you have a particular audience or demographic in mind when you write your blog? If so, how do you tailor your blog to your readers
without ostracizing potential new readers?
None. I don’t try to blog for a specific readership, but I make sure that whoever happens to read it will find it useful or inspiring somehow.

7. Why did you start blogging in the first place?
I was lonely. After resigning from full time work in publishing, I needed something that will help me connect with my former colleagues. You see, I live three hours away from Manila, with my mother, who is sick.

8. If someone is trying to get started writing a blog, how should they go about it? Were there any particular tools or websites that were helpful for you when you started your blog? If yes, can you please
describe them?

To start a blog,
1 Think about what the blog will be. (I didn’t do this the first time I blogged)
2 Try to brainstorm on topics and establish how much resources you have that you can use to write about those topics you find useful. (experience maybe the best teacher but some people out there don’t always care about your experience. So bolster your experience with authoritative sources)
3 Make it a habit. But edit, edit, edit.
4 I don’t recommend getting every personal tidbit on the blog (although I commit this error sometimes, I’ve deleted some blogs though that I thought were too personal.)
5 It’s good to read good blogs and be inspired to write similarly good ones. So go ahead, surf the web. In the Philippines, there is a blog called “The Philippines according to blogs” which has links to all Philippine sites. Many many good blogs.
6 Don’t fake your voice. Some blogs are naturally humorous and light because their bloggers are like that. But however I try, I’m so serious. So I just blog the way I am.

Hope this long response helps. I enjoyed answering them.

"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places." (Ephesians 6:12)