Author of several books on word histories and the English language, Charles also hosts
a daily blog and podcast on
the etymology of common words.
An Intoxicating Dictionary of Etymology and Word Histories of Wine, Vine, and Grape from the Vineyard, Glass, and Bottle
A stimulant at dinner parties, wine tastings and cocktail parties. Plus, as a gift, this book makes an excellent accompaniment to
a housewarming bottle.
an easy audio book on the fascinating evolution of our language
A Navel Gazer's Dictionary of Anatomy, Etymology, and Trivia
the book about the words we use for our bodies
The Podcast for Word Lovers
The surprising histories of words you thought you knew. More than six million downloads, also carried at the Oxford University Press blog.
Blogging part 2
Further to the Writers Union of Canada AGM panel RAISING YOUR PUBLIC PROFILE
I got feedback from Penny Kome on my rhetorical question
“can it still be true that some authors don’t have their own web presence at all?”
She reminded me (so I’m reminding you) that Union members have access to their own member web pages on the Union website, although not all take advantage of this.
My last post said I’d address why blogging is better than a static web page.
Of course there are two sides to that and in one way a blog is worse than a static web page; it takes more work.
Your objective should be that people can find you on the internet. Beyond that your goal should be that once they’ve found you they feel some kind of attachment to you.
Blogs are better than static websites for these two reasons.
First of all Google gives your website more prominence in its results if your content is regularly being refreshed. That means you have a better chance of showing up on the first page of Google results.
My blog at podictionary.com is updated with new material 4 or 5 days a week. I just typed my name into Google and the first two results link to my websites. Out of ten results on that first page, six of them point to material by or about me.
Not bad when there is a film actor and a rugby player by the same name.
The second reason that blogs are better than static web pages is that it allows your audience to get to know you and your work in a more intimate way. They feel a more personal attachment to you because they hear from you regularly.
There’s a third reason why a blog is better. It both reinforces your Google ranking and audience attachment.
Most blogs allow for readers to comment. What’s been called “web 2.0″ is all about interactivity on the web. You write something, your audience writes back. There is more fresh content for Google and more of a feeling of involvement for your fans.
I said blogs were more work, that’s what I’ll touch on next time.
This blog post is a duplicate of one of a series of emails I’m sending to the Writers Union of Canada listserv in advance of the Writers Union AGM panel session RAISING YOUR PUBLIC PROFILE taking place at 1:15 on Friday May 23. The deadline for AGM registration is Wednesday April 16. I’ll be joining Cynthia Good and Rick Broadhead for that panel.
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[on behalf of Gayleen Froese]
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
[on behalf of Sharon Oddie Brown]
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/