Blog? What? Who? Me?

Do You Blog?

I don’t know about you, but for me, blogging is a brand new concept.

When I first tuned into blogging last month it was the book Blogwild! A Guide for Small Business Blogging written by Andy Wibbels that helped me see the potential benefits of blogging. His simple book gives step by step directions for setting up a blog. For me, that was exactly what I wanted to do. I am working on a book and I wanted the blog to begin a conversation with my readers before it is even written.

While I have been on the fast track to learning and having fun with social networking, I am having a terrible time convincing my baby boomer peers that blogging is as entertaining as it is. I have heard the most interesting criticisms and suspicious thinking imaginable. I have also heard from more than one person who is just intimidated and doesn’t know how to start.

I understand all of the views and as a newbie myself, I am learning as I go. I am discovering that very few people my age…I am 55, are blogging. Many of my contacts are sending me emails rather than adding a comment to the blog. When I follow up, most say they have never blogged and they can’t figure it out or they don’t know why they would.

It reminds me of my first trip to Subway. While standing in line, I overheard the other customers ordering their subs and I thought, “All I want is a sandwich!” I was self conscious telling the server that I didn’t know how it worked. My hunger won over my nerves and I feasted on a custom made sandwich after she explained my choices to me.

Blogging is just like that. It seems intimidating for some and unsafe for others. Most of the comments come from people who are uninformed and haven’t looked at blogs in detail. The blog you are reading is through http://wordpress.com. WordPress is just one of many reputable companies. At no cost to me, I get to design and write whatever I want. I love that. I love testing my ideas and writing in a public venue to test the response.

More importantly, I LOVE meeting the people and that is the reason that baby boomers need to re-evaluate blogging. You can find a blog about any topic imaginable. From asparagus http://www.whatgeekseat.com/wordpress/2008/05/20/pistachio-encrusted-lamb-chop-with-asparagus/ to pingpong http://www.pingpongcentral.com/blog/, from ferrets http://all-about-ferrets.blogspot.com/ to Ferraris http://ferrari.brainbloggers.com/, from golf http://www.thegolfblog.com/ to gardens http://www.blotanical.com/ you can find a blog about anything.

Once you leave a comment or two, you will begin a quasi pen pal relationship with someone who shares your passion or hobby. Sometimes it is hard to find the comment link. It is usually follows the article and reference links but can be at the top near the introduction.

When you make a comment, you make someone’s day! I love hearing what people say and I also get a kick about where in the world they are! Knowing someone surfed by and notice me is fun!

Before you get to post your comment, you may need to fill in your name and email and identify yourself. This is done for everyone’s security and I am grateful for this service provided by the blog providers.

You can also sign up to be notified by email or RSS (really simple syndication) when a new blog is published. There will be links on the page that will connect you to this service. You can also book mark your favorite blogs. Whatever you do, try to revisit your blogs for a couple of weeks and check the new entries and responses. See what you think.

Some blogs are very busy and it can be hard to find the comment link. Try it though, it is a wonderful way to meet new people and engage in some meaningful dialog. I remember having a pen pal in South America when I was a teenager. I loved it and remember to this day the excitement of getting that envelope with the foreign stamps.

This feels the same. I am having a lot of fun and it is free, I can do it at home or on the road. Next vacation you plan, check out blogs about your destination. You may decide that you want your own blog but believe me, you can have plenty fun just surfing them. Put your topic next to the word blog in the google window and off you go!

This blog is for us….the newbies!! It cracks me up that people think I am a techie! Tee hee! I would love your stories, your questions and your blog experiences, in other words,

JOIN THE BLOGVERSATION!

Bloggingly yours,

Catherine

http://howtomakeyourmanperfect.wordpress.com