So You Want to Blog - Get Graphic
One of my readers (1) recently asked me if I would consider writing a series of articles on the theme of how to blog. Although not specifically a How-To, I do have a category called "Blogging," where one can find a number of posts that might be considered as blogging advice; for example, on how to link to other articles, keep old articles up-to-date, and get 1 Million Hits.
My advice to future bloggers is to get graphic. I have published more than 3063 articles to date and I doubt there is even one without a photo, drawing, chart, video, diagram, or table. In 1970 I published a college news-magazine where I learned that white-space, properly used, will make a page easier to read and that graphics will make it more inviting to read.
To comply with fair use, I always use an image that is smaller and of lower resolution than the original, while always giving attribution to the source of the graphic. Exceptions to these rules are graphics in the public domain.
Don't know what graphic to use in your article? Throw in a cat - half of your audience will go, 'Awwww." Whatever you do, don't overdo. The only thing worse than no graphics, is too much graphics.
My next article will cover page layout, fonts, and use of colors.
ENDNOTES
(1):
DISQUS Comments, Reader MakesOwnWeather
Although, in the 70s and 80s, I did some pretty marvelous feats (at the time) with computer design and programming, for the past 15 years or so I my main interaction with the web has been as a user surfing for general information or purchasing products.
Somewhere in 96 or so, I did build a simplistic internal website for documentation, internal communications, etc. using MS Internet Server but once working to my satisfaction I quickly turned it over to someone who worked for me. Since then I have never looked under the hood and feel that I had too much on my plate to keep track of and knowing that most who studied site building more than a month knew more than me. I know nothing about E-Referrer or any stat site or cross-linking site, etc.
I am wondering, Bernie, if you would care to parallel your article "So you want to be your own boss?" with an article "So you want to be a blogger and operate a professional blog site that is fun, has integrity and will attract an intelligent audience?".
