I spent yesterday and will spend today at WordCamp Boston, a conference for WordPress users. I have wanted to add WordPress to my web design toolbelt but just haven't had time to sit down and really play with it. Conferences like this are a great way to shorten the learning curve.
I typically use Joomla! for web design, but WordPress has come a long way in the several years since my initial research led me to adopt Joomla! as my preferred platform. I'd like to be able to offer clients a choice or, if necessary, make a choice for them with whichever tool seems right for them.
From the minute I walked into the registration area, I was impressed with the organization and planning of this conference. The Registration "badge" was a complete portfolio for the conference -- including the information to log in to the network, a complete schedule on the inside (still readable even though it was comparatively small), whether or not you'd ordered a T-shirt, etc. With hundreds of attendees, it was relatively quiet and very organized.
Speakers have been top notch too. One speaker had only one year's experience using WordPress, but he gave a great presentation of Top 10 tips he'd learned in that year. As an experienced web designer, I came away with some "Ah Ha's" from it. That's quite good in my book. What I appreciated was that many sessions focused on web design and not just how to use WordPress. That creates a good mix for people who may know one or two tools but need to create better content, enrich their site, or grow into a more sophisticated use of thie websites (marketing outreach, SEO tools, etc.).
I go back today with a better idea in my mind beforehand of which sessions I'll attend. There is a stream of "how to" sessions specific to WordPress that I plan to attend, as well as some focusing on the freelancer (that's me -- or, as I prefer to say Solopreneur).
This has been a great way to spend the weekend; I'm glad I made it this year. The BU location has also been quite nice.
By the way, if you're a Joomla! user in the Boston area, our monthly user group meeting is this Wednesday (7/27/11) from 7-9 PM at the Cyber Cafe @ Malden Square. Preregistration is preferred although not required; since it's summer, I'd check the website to make sure the meeting is still on before showing up!
Showing posts with label blogging. Show all posts
Showing posts with label blogging. Show all posts
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Monday, November 8, 2010
How do you find inspiration for your blog posts?
This morning I read this question raised by Colin Welch on LinkedIn. Colin referenced an article that gives bloggers tips for posting regularly and keeping your blog interesting. Here's that article, Blog Post Ideas - 10 Tips for Blog Inspiration, by Heather Buckley. Both Colin and Heather work for Silicon Beach Training.
Another reader, Andrew, responded to the discussion stating that bloggers who get "blocked" shouldn't be blogging. My response is below...
"I have to disagree with Andrew about "bloggers block" indicating the person shouldn't be writing at all. That thinking would have meant that many of our most famous novelists throughout time shouldn't have ever written. Bloggers blog for a wide variety of reasons and not every blogger has a product or service to sell.
I know people who are quite good in their field and believe strongly in what they are doing. But they cannot blog. They have tried, but their personal characteristics interfere with their ability to say it and let it go. So they spend weeks rewriting and crafting such a "perfect" article that will never get published because they'll never consider it "done." They need to use a ghostwriter so their work gets published. I know because I've been a ghostwriter on blogs and in print!
Writing is a process. Good writing takes time, patience, and persistence. Many blogs are well written and some are not. While content is what is important, and many people will forgive a poorly written blog that has good content, good writing makes good content easier to read and understand. So a lot of people exercise good writing skills when writing their blogs. That sometimes leads to a "block" because the writer, in trying to convey a message that is clearly understood with the writer's meaning, wants to ensure the quality of the article(s).
Heather's article, Carl, is well written and a very good guide for bloggers. Even when we really already know these things, it's good to get them in a guide that pinpoints what we already know. And, it demonstrates what she is writing: use a list, ask for ideas, link to other posts, etc.
I've decided that this response merits a blog post, so it will be my post for today, with a brief intro on the topic you raised, Carl, and link to your public profile. Thanks for raising the topic! "
Another reader, Andrew, responded to the discussion stating that bloggers who get "blocked" shouldn't be blogging. My response is below...
"I have to disagree with Andrew about "bloggers block" indicating the person shouldn't be writing at all. That thinking would have meant that many of our most famous novelists throughout time shouldn't have ever written. Bloggers blog for a wide variety of reasons and not every blogger has a product or service to sell.
I know people who are quite good in their field and believe strongly in what they are doing. But they cannot blog. They have tried, but their personal characteristics interfere with their ability to say it and let it go. So they spend weeks rewriting and crafting such a "perfect" article that will never get published because they'll never consider it "done." They need to use a ghostwriter so their work gets published. I know because I've been a ghostwriter on blogs and in print!
Writing is a process. Good writing takes time, patience, and persistence. Many blogs are well written and some are not. While content is what is important, and many people will forgive a poorly written blog that has good content, good writing makes good content easier to read and understand. So a lot of people exercise good writing skills when writing their blogs. That sometimes leads to a "block" because the writer, in trying to convey a message that is clearly understood with the writer's meaning, wants to ensure the quality of the article(s).
Heather's article, Carl, is well written and a very good guide for bloggers. Even when we really already know these things, it's good to get them in a guide that pinpoints what we already know. And, it demonstrates what she is writing: use a list, ask for ideas, link to other posts, etc.
I've decided that this response merits a blog post, so it will be my post for today, with a brief intro on the topic you raised, Carl, and link to your public profile. Thanks for raising the topic! "
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)