(Computer) lesson 5 Blogging

1. Blogging
Lesson 5
In this lesson, you'll learn more about the uses of
blogging, popular platforms you can use and how to be
a responsible blogger.

2. What is Blogging?
Blogging is the process that implies creating articles,
photos, and other forms of content and publishing them on a website.
It refers to writing, photography, and other media that's self published
online.

3. Uses of blogging
Self-expression
-Blogs are like online diaries which can be read by anyone who visits them.
It is also an activity where you can share your life with anyone who might
be interested. Through your blog, many people can become familiar with
you. A good thing about blogging is that it gives you the means to share
only what you want to about yourself at your own pace.

4. Online Portfolio
-This is where employers, universities, and other institutions can
choose to do research over the Internet on candidates for acceptance
or employment. If you have a blog, you can use it not just to express
yourself but to build an online portfolio as well that can promote skills
and talents.

5. Popular Blogging Platforms
Blogger
-Blogger, formerly called Blogspot, is one of the most commonly
used blog platforms these days because of its intuitive user
interface. It's one of the top preferred blogging platforms in the
Philippines, It also let's you have plenty of blogs on one account
and you can upload lots of photos onto your site as well.

6. WordPress. Com
-WordPress is another popular and free blogging platform the
features a lot of templates and an easy-to-use system.
Vox
-Vox is a blogging platform designed to be more of a social conmunity
from the start. If you have a hobby-themed or personal blog,
Vox is a great choice.

7. Livejournal
-One of the first blogging platforms, Livejournal allows you to
have a completely private or public blog. Livejournal also
features a lot of templates but you can costumize your blog to
your liking.

8. Blog Platforms
Blogdrive - Features various templates and unlimited spaces for blog entries
Typepad - Blogging services available in several languages
Blogsome - Fast blog host based in ireland
Blog - Blog hosting with unlimited bandwidth

9. Choosing a Blog Platform
1.Take your time
Don't rush into picking a blog platform because it would be a hassle
to transfer, should you decide later that you want another host.
you have to determine the goals of your blog as well as your budget first.

10. 2. Determine if you want a hosted blog or a standalone blog.
When it comes to blog, you can choose for a standalone blog or a hosted blog.
Hosted blogs are the type that many bloggers start out with because they are
easy to set up, free, and require hardly any coding.
Standalone blogs have their own URL, a unique URL without the inclusion
of the hosts is and advantage because it gives distinction and identify to the blog
which becomes easier to recall.

11. Standalone blogs are not free since you have to pay for a few things.
When you choose this type of platform, there are three things that you usually pay for:
> Blog Platform - the system you use to publish your blog.
> Hosting - the system that let's your blog become accessible over the Internet.
> Domain Name - the blog address you will use.
3. Compare the features of different blogging platforms
-Review the service offered by the different blog hosts and find the best
onethat matches the goals of your blog.

12. Micro-blogging
-Micro-blogging is a new form of blogging that allows user to write short text
updates or post small media files like photos and publish them through tools.
You can use it to instantly know what your friends are up to or what they're thinking.

13. Popular Micro-blogging Platforms:
Plurk - Allows for easy to follow conversations
Tumble - A clean,simple, and refined micro-blogging platform
IRateMyDay - Let's you rate your day from worst to great and post
a short text to explain your rating
Moodmill - Let's you express your current state of being or mood through scale

14. Responsible Blogging
1.Verify your facts - as a responsible blogger, you should do your research before
you post and react to comments in your blog
2. Quote sources properly - Whenever you refer to any idea, writings, or creation
of any other person, always give credit and create a text or link to the source.
3. Check your entries on sensitive or controversial issues
-When you plan to publish something about a sensitive issue, check your
planned entry before posting to make sure you are as objective as can be.

15. 4. Be civil and respectful
-How you say things says a lot about the kind of person you are.
Remember to be respectful and criticise things in the most civil
way.
5. Control the comments
-Exercise responsibility and control over what other people post
on your blog through the comments. It will help you create a
comment policy for everyone to see.

16. 6. Apply discretion when a post is sponsored
-If you are a good enough writer or blogger, sooner or layer you may be "discovered"
online and have the opportunity to write for people or companies on your blog and earn
from it.