Thanks, Charles for these postings. They’re interesting for everybody, but particularly for those of us who can’t manage to attend the AGM this year.
May you be a role model for future presenters!

All best,

Merna

I agree. I’m enjoying Charles’ posts, possibly because, so far, he has said many of the same things I say about blogging.

I started a blog on my website because I wanted to boost my Google ranking, provide two-way communication, and give people a reason to keep coming back to the site. I hoped that, by posting weekly, I would create a built-in audience for times when I had genuine news (readings, TV appearances) to report.

I wasn’t interested in the blog itself, to be honest, but I tried to do a good job with it anyway and was consistent.

I’ve kept it up for over two years, now. I post once a week and, if I ever have to skip a week (which I’ve done maybe four times in two years), I post to tell people when I’ll be back.

I respond to nearly all comments. Actually, I call my comments section “the race to the gutter” because the conversation somehow goes from, say, conceptual metaphors to sex toys and… I’m not sure how that happens. But anyway.

Here’s the funny thing–the blog has become worth doing for its own sake. My unique hits per week have gone up a lot since the beginning and, though I know some of those hits are search engine spiders etc., I still look at the numbers and think, “That many people come here every week?”

Also, I enjoy writing the posts–which are about writing of all kinds–and I enjoy hearing what people think about the topics.

I guess what I’ve learned is, no matter why you start out blogging, if you devote time and effort to it, you’ll probably end up with readers. Do those readers buy your books? I don’t know, but they feel a connection with you from visiting your blog and maybe exchanging comments with you, and I suspect that doesn’t hurt.

-Gayleen

Visit http://www.gayleenfroese.com

4000 visitors a month is pretty good for a simple site.

The difference with a blog is partly that the software is designed for regular updating, so once you learn the ropes it should be simpler than working with Dreamweaver.

But you can integrate a blog with your Dreamweaver site if you so desire. In your case the first level benefit of having fresh material might not be any improvement, but having your visitors comment on the site, instead of by email etc. could be of added value (and maybe inspire others to share too).

Dear Charles,

Just as there are native speakers of English and those who have English as a second language, I am of the generation that is definitely in the latter camp when it comes to computers. That being said, one of the young men in my life taught me how to use Dreamweaver about four years ago and I built my own site – albeit rudimentary. It works like a hot dam (or is that “hot damn” – tinker’s dam and all that). I kept it simple graphics-wise because I wanted to reach people on dial up in remote areas. I have had appreciation expressed on this score.

I have never done a blog, but my simple site works for me. I started it because I am researching a book about a man who was the son of tenant farmers in the mid-1800s and went on to be knighted for his work with international banking and in particular the Hong Kong Shanghai Bank. I post all my primary research (not my actual writing for the book). My purpose has been two-fold. Firstly, I have always liked the idea of sharing. Secondly, by sharing what I have, I learn more. Visitors to the site correct me and add all kinds of arcane information that no one could have accessed any other way. They have also shared old family letters, deeds and such and then given me permission to share them with other visitors.

I recently installed a counter to see how many people accessed my site and found that I get about 4,000 visitors a month, and a considerable number stay on the site for more than 20 minutes reading this or that. Also, my site does turn up near the top of Google searches for all kinds of key words relating to my area of interest.

Maybe I should learn how to install a blog as well (I haven’t a clue on that front), but on the other hand, what I have so far seems to work well enough for me. I also realize after reading your email that I should get my act together and do something about the TWUC web site for myself and Andreas. At least put it on my overly long “to do” list!

Again, thanks Charles for your input.
Sharon
Sharon Oddie Brown
Roberts Creek, BC, Canada
History Project: http://www.thesilverbowl.com/