Starting a blog

G

GTfanNBama

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Guys I've started a blog. I'm no Shakespeare and I'm definitely not a grammatical(is that a word?) ace. I would like to hear some suggestions on how I can run this thing properly. I really don't even know how to approach it, but I really want to give it a shot.

Any of u guys have any experience with this sort of thing? Any words of wisdom? I'd love to hear what u have to say.

I think my biggest problem is going to be organization. For instance, is it okay to just start ranting in the morning, and then start ranting again about something totally different that afternoon?

I know this isn't GT football related, but it kinda is, because I'll definitely be voicing my opinion on GT athletics as well.

Anyways, thanks in advance.
 
Do you have a link for it?

Blogs are good for bitching! So you can rant whenever you want to!
 
The best thing to do is just look around at blogs you find interesting and see how they do things. Mine started off as just a way to organize our tailgates and it just grew from there. Although Tech football is the center piece of my blog, I just write about whatever. I get a lot of feedback on things like my movie reviews. Obviously nothing to do with football, just sharing my love of movies. A blog is just a "web log of your life and opinions" pretty much anything goes but try to stay aware of your audience. For example I make a point to watch my language since I know my parents read. It's best to have an idea of the general subject and expand from there but don't expand too far or you'll begin to lose your audience.

Also write about what you know and remember there is a difference between opinion and hard news so be careful to not mix the two. Or if you do at least remember to say so.

Let me know if you have any questions, I'm happy to help. You can e-mail at my blog or PM me here.
 
i'm completely okay with criticism, i don't let it bother me, but i definitely will take it into account.

this is just a blog i can complain and state my own opinion on, may not make sense but then again, neither do i sometimes

here's the link: http://againstthegrainsportstalk.blogspot.com/

i just typed up a couple of paragraphs today and i really enjoyed it, i'm easy to amuse
 
carson4k said:
The best thing to do is just look around at blogs you find interesting and see how they do things. Mine started off as just a way to organize our tailgates and it just grew from there. Although Tech football is the center piece of my blog, I just write about whatever. I get a lot of feedback on things like my movie reviews. Obviously nothing to do with football, just sharing my love of movies. A blog is just a "web log of your life and opinions" pretty much anything goes but try to stay aware of your audience. For example I make a point to watch my language since I know my parents read. It's best to have an idea of the general subject and expand from there but don't expand too far or you'll begin to lose your audience.

Also write about what you know and remember there is a difference between opinion and hard news so be careful to not mix the two. Or if you do at least remember to say so.

Let me know if you have any questions, I'm happy to help. You can e-mail at my blog or PM me here.
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thanks carson that's really helpful. I didn't even think about the movies thing, or just life in general. But that would be cool to include and definitely add a ton more. Preciate it

another question: if i want to post pictures on there, like a picture i see on espn.com. can i post that? copyright issues there or what? hope that's not a dumb question.
 
Well, it technically is a copyright violation, but I don't think anyone cares. Don't sue me if they send a cease and desist your way, though.

Also, maybe you should have a post that sort explains where you're coming from? Looking at your blog there's nothing that tells me who you're fan of or anything like that, other than that you're talking about LSU and then suddenly talking about the ACC coaching situation.

Also, I know you said you're not a grammarian but in the very first line you use both "we" and "I" - pick one and stick with it. (I recommend the latter, the former sounds pretentious, IMHO, though I know there a few prominent sports bloggers that do it.)

And finally, I'm going to use this as a chance to pimp my site (check out my crackpot bowl predictions, though I maintain they're as valid as anyone else's), conveniently linked in my sig. Your signature is also a good place to get exposure, especially since you post a lot more than I do.

Of course, as I type this blogger and blogspot are down for maintenance so I don't really have much else.
 
You've received good advice on this thread.

Nice start, I enjoyed the read.
 
my only advice...update, update, update. I hate getting into a blog and then they stop updating. I mean WEEKS before the next update. Update it on a regular basis and I'll continue to check it out. :biggthumpup:
 
I have one that I don't let anyone know where it is, and I cut/paste discussion board rants into it so I don't lose them. That way if the same topic comes up later, I don't have to retype my thoughts.
 
ASimPerson said:
Also, I know you said you're not a grammarian but in the very first line you use both "we" and "I" - pick one and stick with it. (I recommend the latter, the former sounds pretentious, IMHO, though I know there a few prominent sports bloggers that do it.)

And finally, I'm going to use this as a chance to pimp my site (check out my crackpot bowl predictions, though I maintain they're as valid as anyone else's), conveniently linked in my sig. Your signature is also a good place to get exposure, especially since you post a lot more than I do.

Of course, as I type this blogger and blogspot are down for maintenance so I don't really have much else.
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thanks for the feedback. reason i put 'i' then 'we' is because i'm letting a friend of mine in Atlanta (big Clemson fan) post on there as well.

maybe we put our name after each post that each of us constructs? would that be weird? kinda like a 2 man blog, and I have another friend (big Bama fan) that would like to post on there as well.

I think it would add a great range, but since our posts would almost always be contradictory of each others, we could just sig our name after each post.

think that can work?
 
Yea, no problem at all. I think the GT Sports Blog has 5 contributors, I think Ramblin' Racket has a few. Mine is me and me alone which makes it more difficult since I have to do all the writing. So having more than one blogger posting certainly give you a larger perspective and draws on others talents.


GTfanNBama said:
thanks for the feedback. reason i put 'i' then 'we' is because i'm letting a friend of mine in Atlanta (big Clemson fan) post on there as well.

maybe we put our name after each post that each of us constructs? would that be weird? kinda like a 2 man blog, and I have another friend (big Bama fan) that would like to post on there as well.

I think it would add a great range, but since our posts would almost always be contradictory of each others, we could just sig our name after each post.

think that can work?
Click to expand...
 
GTfanNBama said:
thanks carson that's really helpful. I didn't even think about the movies thing, or just life in general. But that would be cool to include and definitely add a ton more. Preciate it

another question: if i want to post pictures on there, like a picture i see on espn.com. can i post that? copyright issues there or what? hope that's not a dumb question.
Click to expand...

Yea, just come up with a few of your own ideas that can make your blog unique. Talk about what you know and enjoy. Do you have unique information or perspective to share? Also theme posts can be good. For example many blogs now do an MP3 list where they will put their iPod on random and then post what comes up and discuss it. I choose not to continue with that since everyone does it but it's a nice idea. I have done Team Previews of the opponent before each game that have gone over well.

As far as the picture issue, ASimPerson is correct, technically you're not supposed to copy photos without permission, but most people don't care. I always try to give credit to the photographer if I can. I received written permission from several photographers in advance.

Also if you reference someone, another blog, a news article, make sure to provide a link. That way you are relaying the information and commenting on it. The reader can go check the sources for themselves.
 
TechJacket is correct. Updating is a good thing. It keeps the blog fresh but don't force out bad posts just to say you put updated, just try and stay regular.

Also, if you decide to take a vacation and not post for a while let your readers know. It's weird to me to see these blogs that jut disappear, then they pop back up for a week or two, post 3 updates and then disappear again.

OK, I'll stop spouting advice now. :D


techjacket said:
my only advice...update, update, update. I hate getting into a blog and then they stop updating. I mean WEEKS before the next update. Update it on a regular basis and I'll continue to check it out. :biggthumpup:
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carson4k said:
TechJacket is correct. Updating is a good thing. It keeps the blog fresh but don't force out bad posts just to say you put updated, just try and stay regular.
Click to expand...

I'll warn you now that this is harder than you think. Don't be surprised if you have a good series of posts for about 6 months and then you kind of run out.

I keep saying that I'll start What's The Good Word back up. I do okay for like a week or two and then I stop.

Hell, even Jeff at RamblinRacket has kind of fallen off the planet.

Secondly, don't try to be an EDSBS. I'm not even certain Orson isn't just some kind of advanced AI.
 
Dan's right, it is difficult to keep up. I know Jeff at RR is busy dealing with important things right now and he'll be back soon. Right now I think GTSportBlog and MashOnTheGas are the only too updating. Life has a habit of getting in the way.

Dan, I check "What's The Good Word" often. Hope your back up soon.

JacketDan said:
I'll warn you now that this is harder than you think. Don't be surprised if you have a good series of posts for about 6 months and then you kind of run out.

I keep saying that I'll start What's The Good Word back up. I do okay for like a week or two and then I stop.

Hell, even Jeff at RamblinRacket has kind of fallen off the planet.

Secondly, don't try to be an EDSBS. I'm not even certain Orson isn't just some kind of advanced AI.
Click to expand...
 
Thanks. I might get back into it with basketball season, but I said the same thing about football season.

I'm moving to sales in January. So without the absence of real work I'm sure I can snag some time everyday to write up a little bit. ;)
 
Well, I think it's more that you need to update consistently, even if it's only a couple of times per week. I only update twice a week (sometimes my friends update more often but it's dropping off as the semester goes on and they have more work). However, this is a schedule I can stick to - I do my Saturday preview on Thursday or Friday and then I do my bowl predictions on Sunday and make a post about them on Monday.

Of course, I don't think anyone reads my site, so perhaps I'm not a good guy for this sort of advice.
 
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