5 Blogging Tips

I'm sorry if some of these sound really serious, like the 5th one. I'm not really that scary! =) I think, however, that all bloggers should know these ones. All you bloggers who just started out, listen up! I learned a lot of these from my own experiences! It would be nice if not everyone learned it the hard way, don't you agree?

1. For all around legibility: use proper grammar and spelling. I know that often its so hard, but it's worth it. I'm not saying to exhaustively research every single punctuation mark in your post, but try and correctly use commas and spelling (to at least a point where others can understand what you're saying). It's easier to understand this:

"So, today was pretty rainy. We just stayed inside and talked like only girls can. Yeah, our plans for the beach went down the drains (along with massive amounts of rain), but we still had a blast!"

verses this:

"so today was pretty reiny we just staid inside an dtalked like only girls can. yeah our plans for the beech went down the drains along with the massive amounts of rain but we still had a blast!"

This includes maybe just paying more attention to what appears on your screen--if you accidentally type 'it' instead of 'is' the sentence doesn't make sense but spell check doesn't correct it.

2. Never post in anger. Or comment, for that matter. If someone blogs something that makes you want to scream at them, take a deep breath, get off the computer, and wait for half an hour (at least) before you reply. I know that natural reaction is to fire off something that's just dripping with anger, but doing that is a prime way to earn yourself a bad reputation and say things that any other time would have you horrified.

3. Always have another perspective. Remember, things like sarcasm and weird senses of humor are hard to pick up on in writing. You might mean something in jest, but someone could take serious offense. Before you post something, think "Would I take this differently if I was the reader?" What seems funny to you could be an insult to another person.

4. Listen to your readers! Ask them questions, and take into account their answers.

5. This one is a safety tip: be very careful giving out personal information! First, check with your parents if you're unsure where you should draw the line on how much you say about yourself. They might be okay with you saying your first name, and others would rather not have you putting your age on the internet. Either way, it's a good idea not to put contact information for all to see, like your address, phone number, etc. Also, don't post anything you want to be kept private. Nothing's secret on the internet!

Safety Tip

Because I care about you guys, here is a warning that a friend forwarded to us. Please read and be on the alert; sin is an unfortunate but very real thing.
________

"While driving on a rural end of the roadway on Thursday morning, I saw an infant car-seat on the side of the road with a blanket draped over it. For whatever reason, I did not stop, even though I had all kinds of thoughts running through my head. But when I got to my destination, I called the Canton PD and they were going to check it out. But, this is what the Police advised even before they went out there to check....

"There are several things to be aware of ... gangs and thieves are now plotting different ways to get a person (mostly women)to stop their vehicle and get out of the car.

"There is a gang initiation reported by the local Police Department where gangs are placing a car-seat by the road...with a fake baby in
it...waiting for a woman, of course, to stop and check on the abandoned baby.

"Note that the location of this car-seat is usually beside a wooded or grassy (field) area and the person -- woman -- will be dragged into the woods, beaten and raped, and usually left for dead. If it's a man, they're usually beaten and robbed and maybe left for dead, too.

DO NOT STOP FOR ANY REASON!!!

DIAL 9-1-1
AND REPORT WHAT YOU SAW, BUT DON'T EVEN SLOW DOWN.

"IF YOU ARE DRIVING AT NIGHT AND EGGS ARE THROWN AT YOUR WINDSHIELD, DO NOT STOP TO CHECK THE CAR, DO NOT OPERATE THE WIPER AND DO NOT SPRAY ANY WATER BECAUSE EGGS MIXED
WITH WATER BECOME MILKY AND BLOCK YOUR VISION UP TO 92.5%, AND YOU ARE THEN FORCED TO STOP BESIDE THE ROAD AND BECOME A VICTIM OF THESE CRIMINALS.

THIS IS A NEW TECHNIQUE USED BY GANGS, SO PLEASE INFORM YOUR FRIENDS AND RELATIVES.

THESE ARE DESPERATE TIMES AND THESE ARE UNSAVORY INDIVIDUALS WHO WILL TAKE DESPERATE MEASURES TO GET WHAT THEY WANT."

Please talk to your loved ones about this. This is a new tactic used. Please be safe.

Get started NOW -- SEND THIS MESSAGE TO ALL YOUR FRIENDS AND LOVED ONES TO BE CAREFUL AND AWARE OF EVERYTHING AROUND THEM SO AS NOT TO BECOME A VICTIM."