Why Blog?

WHY BLOG?

Emily Carsonemily.carson@gmail.com

Presentation Goals• A deeper understanding of why people blog• Tools to build & maintain a blog• My personal blogging experiences• Time to reflect & connect with one another• Earn a blogging merit badge

Personal Background

• Blogger• Pastor• Columnist• Goofball• Shutterbug• Life Explorer

WEB LOG = BLOG

What is a blog?

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NN2I1pWXjXI

Collaboration Time

Blogging MotivationGreat Not so great

You like writing You want to get famous

You have a hobby you’d like to share about You want a book deal

Community platform To get tons of online traffic

Creative outletTo get online comments

Opportunity to connect with strangers,family members, friends

Online record of your life/church life/family life

Tools to Use

• Platform– Blogger– Wordpress– Google Sites

• PicMonkey: http://www.picmonkey.com• Flickr• “No One Cares What You Had For Lunch” by

Margaret Mason

Blogging Tools &

Personal Reflections

Authenticity

The Vulnerability Scale

“What makes you vulnerable makes you beautiful.” - Brene Brown

Effort Level

Small Medium Large0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

Sample

Sample

Regular Updates

Tools Worksheet

Goal: Avoid this

feeling

My Personal Bloghttp://www.theladypastor.com

Background

• Started in 2008, seminary diary• Story behind “The Lady Pastor”• Self-taught…. The learn as I go model• Daily • Started very personal and has become less-so• Always experimenting• Creative outlet

Blogs I Love

• Kendi Everyday• Iowa Girl Eats• David Lose: In the Meantime• Cake Wrecks• A Creative Mint• Eat Live Run

Let’s Try It!

• If I Had a Blog guide

Questions & Reflection Time

From “The

Flourishing Abode”