Questions about blogs you always wanted to ask

 

What is a blog?

A blog is short for web log – a log on the web. From the time when only news organisations could collect, choose and disemminate information we are now at a juncture where any individual/ group or organisatoin can be the source, the editor and the publisher of news.

Blogs and microblogs have changed the way we look at news. For instance, your report on how you fared in your exams may be news to your blog viewers, your account on the pot holes in your street maybe news as well. So a mom's blog about her experiences maybe news for someone, a student's blog about his campus life is news as well, as is a businessman's blog on his work. News need no longer cater only to large groups of people, news can be devoted to smaller groups of friends, family and communities.

How does one start a blog?
If you have any kind of content you want to share, a blog could be the solution for you. There are free blog tools available, such as the one we have on College Canteen for example or wordpress. You simply sign up, go to your admin page or dashboard, choose a look or design and post on your blog.
You log in anytime you wish to edit/ add new content or delete old ones. You also have the right to publish or delete comments to your posts.
Your newest post appears at the top of the page, making it immediatly visible.

Why should one blog?
Well, why not? It's fun, it's often free and it could be very useful. For instance, businesses can share information, obtain feedback, improve their rating, gain more customers and make more profit through blogs. Blogs with ads on them even make money.
One can also blog as a hobby – the spate of cookery blogs started by homemakers is an example. Not only do they benefit visitors, they also become an invaluable repository of information for coming generations.
Students have a great deal to gain through blogging. Blogs help student project their skills and accomplishments for higher studies admissions, even work. They help students socialise and hone their communication skills. A blog on cricket, movies or football, for example, may attract other bloggers and readers who may want to interact with you, helping you make new friends and contacts. It is little wonder that even celebrities make time to blog. There are around 70 million blogs already out there and for good reason.

I can't write very well – so how do I blog?
While writing skills are important, blogs can still be interesting for the simple reason that they are not exhibits of your language skills, but a log of things that are of interest to you and other people. A photograph could make a blog interesting. A blog could use everyday language – pretty much like the txt messages students so often send out. Go on, do it – no one will score you for your vocabulary or grammar. In time, who knows, your writing skills may improve and so will your confidence.

College Canteen will periodically select and display blogs which may be of interest and use to our readers. So do come back and check out our pages for updates.

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