Newbie Blogger Initiative 2016 - Backing Up Your Blog
I'm sure many new bloggers are thinking to themselves, “I’ve only just started blogging, why should I worry about backing it up?" My response is that it's never too early to put in place sound working practices. If you're still blogging in a years’ time, then you may have built up a sizeable amount of content. Why risk losing all your hard work? As for veteran content creators, consider for a moment the prospect of losing hundreds of posts and years of work in one go? It would be crushing. Therefore ensure that you have some sort of backup regime.
I'm sure many new bloggers are thinking to themselves, “I’ve only just started blogging, why should I worry about backing it up?" My response is that it's never too early to put in place sound working practices. If you're still blogging in a years’ time, then you may have built up a sizeable amount of content. Why risk losing all your hard work? As for veteran content creators, consider for a moment the prospect of losing hundreds of posts and years of work in one go? It would be crushing. Therefore ensure that you have some sort of backup regime.
Free blogging platforms such as Google Blogger and WordPress.com usually have built in functionality that allows you to export your work as an XML file. I used a German blogging platform a few years ago that allowed you to save individual posts or the entire site as a PDF file. If you have a self-hosting WordPress installation then there are numerous plugins that can automate the backing up process. It's just a question of doing some research and finding the right one for you. However, if you prefer low tech solutions, then the simplest thing to do is to create your posts in Microsoft Word or one of the free packages that are available and ensure they're stored somewhere safe.
Once again I would like to point out our reliance on the various free services that are available. Google Blogger and WordPress.com are great services but are subject to the caprices of their owners. Free facilities have been decommissioned and closed in the past and it can certainly happen again. Let us not forget the fate of Google Reader, Labs and Lively. Then there is the thorny issue of ownership when you are using a free service, something that is not a clear cut as you may expect. Therefore I would advise all new bloggers to have an eye on the future and have a plan in place with regard to backing up and preserving their work.
Consensus or Debate?
I’m of the opinion that there’s a little too much consensus within the blogging and podcasting community that I'm part of. Don't get me wrong, it's nice to have something in common with my fellow writers and it helps when advancing ideas to have grass root support. However if everyone pretty much agrees with each other it doesn't always make for an entertaining or rigorous debate. Braxwolf recently wrote a very personal post about his faith and strayed in to territory that most bloggers consciously avoid. As a result it attracted a great deal of comments because religion is a divisive subject and candid articles of this nature are rare.
I’m of the opinion that there’s a little too much consensus within the blogging and podcasting community that I'm part of. Don't get me wrong, it's nice to have something in common with my fellow writers and it helps when advancing ideas to have grass root support. However if everyone pretty much agrees with each other it doesn't always make for an entertaining or rigorous debate. Braxwolf recently wrote a very personal post about his faith and strayed in to territory that most bloggers consciously avoid. As a result it attracted a great deal of comments because religion is a divisive subject and candid articles of this nature are rare.
We live in a world where many people are increasingly reticent to court controversy or publicly nail their colours to the mast. There are legitimate concerns that the moment take any particular stance on religious, political or social issues, your words can be willfully misconstrued, taken out of context and used against you. Political correctness, which is a greatly misunderstood term, has both benefits and pitfalls and sadly one of the negative effects it has is killing the desire to express a view for fear of how it will be received.
As I have mentioned in previous posts, the art of debating and critical thinking are all too often absent from many blogs and podcasts. Many people are either unable to raise their arguments above the binary, or choose to ignore the intellectual requirements a rational debate imposes upon all parties. Too often a person’s right to have an opinion is mistaken for a right to have their opinion respected. Another fallacy is that all opinions are of equal value or merit. They are not. Giving an uninformed view equal airtime as that of an expert can be damaging. It implies that both views are on a par with each other. This is dangerous. Look at the harm the anti-vaccination lobby have done for example.
Another reason why many of us choose to stay away from major and controversial debates is because it takes a lot of hard work to prepare a measured, informed and persuasive argument. An empty sound bite, a glib one liner and scaremongering rants are two a penny and seldom require anything other than bluster and faux conviction. Considering all sides of a discussion and researching a credible, evidence based argument is a far more labour intensive task. Plus we now live in a world where being factually correct may not necessarily be perceived as winning an argument. Style so often trumps substance these days and the slick public speaker with the personality and jokes, may be able to convince audiences that they have won, even when they haven't. Spin is the foundation of modern politics and has subsequently bled out in to the wider culture.
The net result of this reluctance to engage as well as the refusal to acknowledge that one may be wrong, has led to the fragmentation of the gaming community. #GamerGate provided an object lesson on this phenomenon recently and we are still feeling the after effects. A divided community is hardly beneficial, especially if change is being sought. Then of course there are some individuals who do not have any specific sense of conviction and are simply affiliated to a particular side to advance their own ends. Usually this will be about self-promotion, click bait and money. Personally I think there are far too many "false prophets" in the gaming community at present.
With Burton & Scrooge Uncut making a return to podcasting, we have decided that the show is not going to dodge some of the harder and more challenging subjects. However we have no intention of showboating and throwing more fuel on the fire. We intend to grasps the nettle and discuss things in a measured, informed and adult fashion. Furthermore we will agree to disagree on some matters and will not feel the need to fallout with either our guest or listeners as a result. The mentality of the playground has been allowed to taint and derail discussions for too long and I think as a community it is time for us to relegate it to the fringes where it belongs.
Newbie Blogger Initiative 2016 – Promoting Your Blog
People blog for all manner of reasons but there is one thing that’s common to us all. Let us dispense with the false modesty and be candid about this. We may well write for ourselves but the fact that we post our thoughts publicly on the internet is a fairly big clue that we want others to read them. If we didn't then we'd make our blogs private or simply keep a traditional diary or journal, would we not? Now that we've got that out of the way let me add that there's nothing wrong with this. A desire to communicate is not a bad thing. If you have aspirations beyond that and seek fame, prestige and the esteem of your peers then that's a different matter altogether. However whatever your personal motivation if you want people to read your blog then you have to promote it.
People blog for all manner of reasons but there is one thing that’s common to us all. Let us dispense with the false modesty and be candid about this. We may well write for ourselves but the fact that we post our thoughts publicly on the internet is a fairly big clue that we want others to read them. If we didn't then we'd make our blogs private or simply keep a traditional diary or journal, would we not? Now that we've got that out of the way let me add that there's nothing wrong with this. A desire to communicate is not a bad thing. If you have aspirations beyond that and seek fame, prestige and the esteem of your peers then that's a different matter altogether. However whatever your personal motivation if you want people to read your blog then you have to promote it.
As a blogger it is natural to want to find an audience. You may well be content with a readership that grows organically, or you may wish to pursue a more concerted plan to increase your audience. Blog rolls, twitter and other social media are invaluable tools for bringing your work to a wider audience. However to get the most out of such facilities you do need to be diligent in your use of them. Catchy titles and interesting headlines are essential for attracting passing traffic. Be mindful that the work to result ratio when using social media may not be as equitable as you think. For example my current twitter following is a matter of public record. Yet the most hits I've ever had from a tweet promoting a post in a single day is one hundred and seventeen. As my American colleagues say "Do the math".
Whether you actively strive to attract more readers or not, be prepared to invest a great deal of time before you see any tangible change in your site statistics. If you're hoping that you can start a new blog and achieve over a hundred thousand hits a day within the first three months, then you're on a hiding to nothing. The internet is a very big, noisy place and it's filled with people like yourself. I don't say that to discourage you but to merely provide a reality check. Blogging is driven by a degree of ego which you may need to temper occasionally. If you really want to pro-actively develop your blog audience then you have to treat it like a job, which is exactly what those folk who are trying to monetise their sites are doing. If you want to make a living from your writing, it's a completely different ball game and you have to throw yourself into it 24/7.
One of the best aspects of the Newbie Blogger Initiative is the sense of community that it fosters. This can also be an invaluable source of promotion and support. Riffing off each other’s posts, linking to an article you found interesting or posting a stern rebuttal of something you disagree with can bring a lot of new readers to your site. Pingbacks and comments again feed into this flow of traffic between blogs. As long as it doesn’t violate any TOS why not post links to your work on fan forums or subreddits? If you’re feeling especially bold then why not just send an email to a writer you admire or respects and see if they respond in kind?
I've been blogging since 2008 and I've elected to post daily or as near as damn it. My work and domestic situation allows for this, plus I relish the opportunity to regularly gather my thoughts and place them in some semblance of order. As a result Contains Moderate Peril has a back catalogue of posts. Some of that content is time specific, such as writing about the launch of an MMO expansion or some specific ongoing drama. However the material regarding movies or perennial gaming subjects do not have a shelf life. As a result approximately half of my daily traffic is through random Google searches that have linked back to my site.
Simply put the more you write, the greater your body of work. The greater the body of work, the more chance there is that it will be found. Feel free to indulge in old adages about throwing excrement at vertical brick structures. So whether you’re looking for a cosy fireside audience or hell-bent on global domination with a volcano lair, the fact remains that blogging is a long term enterprise. As one of my colleagues succinctly said, "Be prepared to fail for a long time". In the meantime feel free to woo your readership in whatever fashion you see fit, just don't expect overnight miracles. There are no real substitutes for just hard work and determination.
Newbie Blogger Initiative 2016 - How Often Should You Blog?
“How often should I blog?” is a common question new bloggers ask. It's a very simple enquiry but the answer is quite the opposite. There are multiple factors to consider many of which are unique to the blogger trying to determine a writing schedule. Ultimately there’s no one definitive answer. Bloggers have different aims and interests as well as differing opportunities to produce content. However, despite the complexity of the question, I think it’s important for bloggers to establish a practical publishing schedule and stick to it.
“How often should I blog?” is a common question new bloggers ask. It's a very simple enquiry but the answer is quite the opposite. There are multiple factors to consider many of which are unique to the blogger trying to determine a writing schedule. Ultimately there’s no one definitive answer. Bloggers have different aims and interests as well as differing opportunities to produce content. However, despite the complexity of the question, I think it’s important for bloggers to establish a practical publishing schedule and stick to it.
What type of blog do you write?
The nature of your blog may well determine the amount of content generated. If you are in any way reporting on the news or at least aggregating press releases, then there's a need to blog daily. Furthermore news, controversies and dramas usually have a specific lifespan. Therefore if you write about something a week too late then there's a good chance that you'll have missed the boat. In some instances, you may want to respond to a story immediately, which raises the question of writing several times a day. This is very demanding and therefore impractical for many bloggers, especially those who are trying to maintain a healthy work, family and lifestyle balance.
If you write game specific guides then your timetable may well be driven by the game developers. Reviews of specific titles also need to be prompt if they wish to capitalise on the interest associated around launch dates. For bloggers focusing on their own personal gaming experiences, a far more flexible timetable is available. This can be done weekly, fortnightly or even monthly. It affords the writer time to plan and collate their assets and fine tune their material. Podcasting or video content also benefit from an organised schedule. These mediums often take longer to plan and produce so organisation is paramount.
How much time do you have?
This is one of the most important factors to consider with regard to your blog. Exactly how much spare time do you have to dedicate to your writing? My domestic and work situation affords me far more time than most people, so for the present I have elected to blog on a daily basis. However this can be hard at times as the creative urges ebb and flow. However you'll find this happens regardless if you're blogging daily or monthly. Therefore planning ahead and keeping material in reserve can be beneficial. Some writers work well with deadlines so setting yourself targets or allotting specific times to write can keep you focused and producing content.
As a blogger you have to take a long hard look at your available leisure time and be realistic about how much of that you can dedicate to your writing. You can either use the time you have to do specific things well, or over extend yourself and fail across a range of projects. One of the hardest lessons we have to learn in life is that we cannot do everything, although I still regularly see people striving to do so. One well written blog post a month will bring people back rather than a dozen, rushed or poorly conceived articles. Blogging is also not a competition and you do not have to match your peers with regard to producing content. Just do what is right for you.
Be consistent.
Once you have established how often you can write it is important to be consistent. If your readership knows that new content will regularly appear then they have a reason to comeback. If you blog in a haphazard fashion following no schedule then you'll find that traffic will vanish. Readers are fickle creatures who crave and consume content voraciously. If you aren't providing it then there are plenty of other sites that will.
Now we're all human (well -pretty much most of us) so naturally real life events can come along that will interrupt your writing schedule. It never does any harm to inform your readers of these. If you are taking a week's vacation the simply post a short note to that effect. Then people will not think you've abandoned your blog. I was recently introduced to the concept of "podfading", where a podcast becomes so irregular, that the listeners slowly drop off and assume the worse. Rather than take a break, or resume with a viable schedule, the show simply fades into oblivion. This is also relevant to blogs and happens a lot. I hate to say it but a percentage of the new blogs that have sprung up around the Newbie Blogger Initiative will fall by the wayside.
The benefits of an organised schedule.
As a writer a well organised schedule will allow you to manage the creation of content for your site and plan each posts. This will hopefully make the act of writing less stressful and your material more engaging. If your readers know that posts will be forthcoming then they'll continue to comeback. Continuously adding new content is also good for your Google ranking if you have aspirations in that direction.
Blogging is supposed to be a fun activity among other things and finding the right posting pattern and publishing schedule will greatly enhance that. Ultimately all you have to do is be honest with yourself and decide on what you can realistically do with the time you have. It can be hard when you wish to do more but real life doesn't allow for it. However contentment lies in embracing what can be done. It's very much a case of cut your coat according to your cloth.
Newbie Blogger Initiative 2016 - Think Before You Blog
The internet has a reputation for being both transient and anonymous. However this is far from true. Blogs and websites may well come and go but sites such as the Wayback Machine contain a wealth of archived information and content. Tools such as Cache View can be extremely useful in finding deleted or amended posts on sites and forums. It is also not especially difficult to discover the true identity of internet personalities and popular bloggers. Don't believe me? Type your own real name in to Google and see what comes up. I think you'll be surprised by the results.
The internet has a reputation for being both transient and anonymous. However this is far from true. Blogs and websites may well come and go but sites such as the Wayback Machine contain a wealth of archived information and content. Tools such as Cache View can be extremely useful in finding deleted or amended posts on sites and forums. It is also not especially difficult to discover the true identity of internet personalities and popular bloggers. Don't believe me? Type your own real name in to Google and see what comes up. I think you'll be surprised by the results.
It is therefore worth remembering that your written content may be available long after you have ceased to care about it. This could work to your advantage in the years to come, when someone discovers your long lost words of wisdom. However there’s also a chance that your prose will return to bite you on the ass, at a time when you least expect. Therefore it does no harm to reiterate to bloggers both old and new, think before you blog. In a world were social media and our individual online footprint have increasing significance, it is wise to pause for thought and consider the impact of our words.
I was recently recommended for a rather niche job and because the position interested me, I decided to pursue it out of curiosity. I was interviewed by someone half my age who ran a startup, who grilled my quite extensively about my employment history. His final question was regarding my online activities, which I explained were predominantly associated around my personal writing. I was surprised by how important this question has become to the recruiting process. In a nutshell, employers want to ensure that there is nothing buried in an employee’s online history that can blow back on them.
I encountered a similar issue last year when trying to find established internet personalities who’d be prepared to endorse the Newbie Blogger Initiative. Sadly many were loath to do so for exactly the same reason employers are. No one want's to run the risk of negative publicity. I’ve written over two thousand blog posts for Contains Moderate Peril over the years. I could easily have something controversial buried in the back catalogue. Mud sticks and no one wants their Google juice to be contaminated by endorsing something seemingly benign that then turns out to be a cesspool.
There's an old rule of thumb that says when you get a snotty email from some douche bag work colleague, sleep on the matter before you respond, or else you'll probably send an equally snotty email in return and then bang goes your moral high ground. It's pretty much the same with blogging. Think about how you respond to criticism or temper your rant about the latest internet outrage. Just because you can say something, doesn't necessarily mean that you should. Time changes everything. Remember all those important issues, TV shows and bands that you gave a shit about twenty years ago? Take a moment to consider your view on them now.
Now I'm not advocating that all new bloggers add another tortuous layer to their current content creation process. I am simply advocating that you take a moment to consider the future when you write. If you blog about your passion for a game or just post screenshots then you're not exactly at too much risk of your words coming back to haunt you. However if you write broader think pieces and stray into the more complex socio-political aspects of gaming (or any other subject), then just be aware that your writing has a greater permanency than you may imagine. Forewarned is forearmed.
Newbie Blogger Initiative 2016 - Your Writing Environment
I wrote last September about my work and gaming environment and its role in my day-to-day life. Nine months on I thought it would be pertinent to revisit the topic with regard to the Newbie Blogger Initiative. As writers it is important to have a suitable space for our creative endeavours. Naturally this environment varies from blogger to blogger. Some of us require a place where we can work unhindered and undisturbed, free from distraction. Others can quite happily write in far more active spaces and focus upon their work irrespective of what is happening in their immediate surroundings. To use an old phrase it’s very much a case of “horses for courses”.
I wrote last September about my work and gaming environment and its role in my day-to-day life. Nine months on I thought it would be pertinent to revisit the topic with regard to the Newbie Blogger Initiative. As writers it is important to have a suitable space for our creative endeavours. Naturally this environment varies from blogger to blogger. Some of us require a place where we can work unhindered and undisturbed, free from distraction. Others can quite happily write in far more active spaces and focus upon their work irrespective of what is happening in their immediate surroundings. To use an old phrase it’s very much a case of “horses for courses”.
Having recently moved I now have access to a spare bedroom that I use as a study. I did initially have plans to create a rather opulent and spacious work place. I considered a large desk with plenty of room for notepads, digital recorders and other writing paraphernalia. I’m also partial to large executive chairs where I can relax and cogitate. However, my grandchildren have put paid to such ideas and I now find myself sharing my office with the twins. The inclusion of two travel cots has made me reconsider my plans and as a result I have built a far more economical workstation.
As a writer, I require a degree of solitude away from noise and people. My new work space provides that. I tend to pull the curtains when working so I’m not tempted to gaze out the window at the rich pageant of life, particularly the wide variety of avian wildlife that alights on Mrs Coltart’s property. My current desk is large enough to accommodate a keyboard, mouse and monitor and not much more. This ensures that I keep things tidy and focus on my work. I still keep a notebook or writing pad close at hand so that any ideas or specific train of thought can be immediately noted down. I tend to plan my blog post in advance and have several in development at one time.
Like most people my productivity waxes and wanes according to the hour of the day. I tend do my writing early in the morning and can sometime find reserves of creativity late at night. I primarily use Microsoft Word to write my blog posts and have a custom template set up for my specific style. Posts are often between 500 and 1000 words and tend to follow a traditional structure of premise, data and conclusion. I tend not to write streams of consciousness and favour a more formal ordering of my thoughts. Again I find that a distraction free environment greatly helps me do this, plan my work and undertake my writing.
Another aspect that is important to my content creation is my chair. Until I recently retired, I worked from home and spent a considerable part of the day working at a desk. Now that I’ve moved, although I will be spending less time desk bound, I will still be writing most days and have therefore purchased a quality office chair. It is one that can be adjusted to provide adequate back support and a suitably healthy posture. Too often this is an aspect of our writing environment that we neglect. Usually our default seat is just whatever is available or most convenient.
Whatever your personal preferences, it is important to find a viable writing environment. It helps in maintaining a regular schedule, allows for more focused and concise content and hopefully makes writing a far easier and enjoyable. Getting it wrong can in extreme circumstances kill your interest in blogging and have an impact upon your health. As ever feel free to leave a comment and share details of your personal writing habits. Do you like the solitude of a den or are you happy to write anywhere you see fit?
Newbie Blogger Initiative 2016 - Blogging and the Law
A few years ago I posted some images on Contains Moderate Peril that had been leaked via the internet. I was not the only one to do this. Screen Rant, Den of Geek and several other big sites did the same. The pictures were from The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug and we all new that at the time that there was an embargo on such content. But everyone chose to post the material regardless as it was good for traffic. To cut a long story short, I and many other sites received an email from Warner Bros. legal team requesting that the images were removed. To cut a long story short, I and most others complied.
A few years ago I posted some images on Contains Moderate Peril that had been leaked via the internet. I was not the only one to do this. Screen Rant, Den of Geek and several other big sites did the same. The pictures were from The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug and we all new that at the time that there was an embargo on such content. But everyone chose to post the material regardless as it was good for traffic. To cut a long story short, I and many other sites received an email from Warner Bros. legal team requesting that the images were removed. To cut a long story short, I and most others complied.
Most bloggers never stop to think of the legal issues that can arise from blogging. The subject seldom crosses their minds. However if you are referencing anything that isn't your own intellectual property then there is always scope for legal complications. There are also responsibilities with regard to freedom of speech. Contrary to what a lot of people think you cannot just say anything you like and there are often laws or terms of service to comply with. More often than not a blogger with a low online profile won’t have any problems, if they use their common sense. However I'm a firm believer in forewarned is forearmed, so I thought I'd explore the subject a little further. Please note it does not constitute as legal advice as I am not qualified to provide any. This is just a broad overview and an attempt to raise awareness.
The use of images:
If you blog about games, TV or movies and include images of such content then you are using material that belongs somebody else. Very few of us ever consider such things as permission and attribution. I guess we all make the assumption that using a screenshot from a game is not a big deal and if anything, we are providing free advertising. I'm sure a lot of companies do take that attitude. However you may be able to reduce any potential risk by considering the following. Check to see if there is a press or fan kit available for whatever it is you are writing about. A lot of the big MMOs provide them for setting up fan sites. Many movies have official websites designed for promotion during release. These often have a gallery of images intended for public use. This is why you will often see the same images being used in reviews.
Most of the time, bloggers simply take screen captures direct from the game or the movie. It is the most direct and practical way to illustrate a point. It may be wise to simply add a caption to these images stating "copyright of [insert name here]. It also doesn't do any harm to have general disclaimer on your site that states that the image rights belong to the respective copyright holder. A Google search will provide many generic statements that can be adapted for this use. They may not be as legally bullet proof as you may hope but they at least indicates goodwill. This may prove useful if anything difficult happens.
Another consideration is rather than copy and reposting an image, simply link to the original. Also whenever possible credit the original source of any material. If you are actually posting images that belong to you, such as photographs or artwork, then ensure that they are digitally watermarked. Make sure that there is a statement on your site that clearly reiterates their ownership. You may even want to have details regarding the conditions of their use. This can be either a complex as a licensing arrangement or just a requirement for attribution and a link back to your site.
Protecting your written content:
As with the use of images, if you want to protect your written content then you need to ensure that you have a copyright statement on your site. It does no harm to remind readers that your posts belong to you. Better yet, if you are happy to share and want to reach a wider audience, then why not have a usage policy explaining exactly how much of your blog posts other bloggers can use. This can prevents all sorts of misunderstandings and can be a great way to direct traffic back to your site. Another point to consider is whenever you are using somebody else’s content, make sure you credit their work. It is polite, the right thing to do and makes you look more credible as a writer. Also consider exactly how much you quote or reference. In the US the concept of fair use has no specific detail regarding quantity of words. Quoting a paragraph from another writer seems fair and reasonable to me. Completely reposting an entire article is far more questionable. Let common sense prevail. If in doubt reach out to the owner and ask what you can or cannot do.
Music usage:
Music is a legal minefield. In the past I use to post the Contains Moderate Peril podcast on YouTube which has very strong regulations governing copyright infringement. A small twenty second audio sample from a popular MMO was sufficient for the podcast to be flagged for IP violation. Furthermore YouTube runs a three strikes and out policy. I could have fixed the shows but the amount of work required re-editing the content did not seem worth it, considering the low statistics the shows were generating. So I removed all the episodes and will not use that platform for podcasts in future.
With regard to blogging, music and lyrics are subject to the same copyright protections as any other creative recordings. Many sites do flagrantly breach the rules and seldom face any action. Twitch TV often hosts streams that have music being played in direct violation to copyright law. Because action is seldom taken, we often feel that it is an acceptable risk. Ultimately it is up to you to make a choice. I think the amount of traffic your site gets has an impact upon whether you will face any legal issues. Small sites with low levels of traffic are not a threat. If you are sufficiently big enough to be making money, then you may well find yourself facing the wrath of lawyers. Choose wisely.
Defamation:
Another thing to bear in mind is that blogging does not absolve you from the laws of defamation and such like. If you make false accusations against a person or company then you may well face the full weight of the law. The commonest form of action a blogger may face is to receive a formal complaint that has also been copied to your hosting provider. More often than not, your host will simply suspend your site and then wait for the matter to resolve itself, because they do not wish to face any legal complications themselves. Do not expect support or a fair hearing from them. You are very much on your own. Is this fair or just? No, but that's just the way things go. The one sided nature of this system means that it can be used as an easy way to bully or harass a blogger.
Because many companies like to control the flow of information about their products, not all of them look favourably upon fan sites. You Tube channels and live streamers can find themselves at odds with publishers and copyright holders. Furthermore they often lack the legal resources that corporations have. However there is safety in numbers. Some content creators have formed collaborative channels with shared resources and revenue. If one individual runs into trouble they have recourse of collective bargaining. I'm sure this is not really relevant to most casual bloggers but it may be of use to those who write on social issues and politics; subjects that attract more legal scrutiny.
Disclaimers, small print and compliance:
As I mentioned earlier, it doesn't do any harm to have a disclaimer on your blog, stating what you own, what you don't own and showing your commitment towards working within fair usage. If you are selling anything via your site or running giveways or competitions, then there are a wealth of rules to be aware of. I would urge everyone doing such to research their regional laws and make sure they are not making any obvious mistakes. I recently had to suspend the monthly competitions from Contains Moderate Peril due to a problem relating to posting prizes outside of the UK. On one occasion it ended up incurring import duties for the prize winner, which somewhat spoilt things.
If you have guest posts or third party contributors on your blog, make sure you have negotiated a mutually acceptable set of rules governing the use of content. Remember that guest posts still remain the property of the author. Occasionally relationships can change and you may face a situation when someone wants you to remove their work from your site. You may wish to comply. You may not. Ensure that you have adequate grounds to support whatever position you choose.
Blogging is a fun and worthwhile pursuit. Just remember that you are posting your thoughts and opinions to a public space. Although this may be a virtual environment it is still governed by many of same rules and regulations you find in the real world. It is also worth considering that any content that you produce is accessible globally, therefore it’s not just your own countries legislation that you need to be aware of. For many of us our discussions about gaming or movies will seldom reach beyond a certain audience. However we have all seen content go viral and it is not outside the realms of possibility that you could find yourself with a far larger audience through a caprice of fate. So be aware of the potential issues that can arise though communicating online. Blog responsibly and enjoy writing.
Newbie Blogger Initiative 2016 - Got Nothing to Write About?
How often do you find yourself preparing a blog post when it dawns on you that you have absolutely nothing to write about? All of a sudden the view out of the window becomes incredibly alluring, especially that bird on Mrs. Coltart's roof. So you try to force yourself to concentrate on the matter in hand and dig deep for inspiration. Perhaps you should do some “research”on the internet? Next thing you know you've lost several hours of your life, watching videos of feral cats eating roadkill or Pro-Celebrity indoor Kabbaddi, on You Tube. Finally you give up because your muse has taken the day off. Coincidentally you’ll often find that all this happens just as the pub open. It would appear that the universe has conspired to prevent you from sharing your witty and intelligent prose with your fellow man.
How often do you find yourself preparing a blog post when it dawns on you that you have absolutely nothing to write about? All of a sudden the view out of the window becomes incredibly alluring, especially that bird on Mrs. Coltart's roof. So you try to force yourself to concentrate on the matter in hand and dig deep for inspiration. Perhaps you should do some “research”on the internet? Next thing you know you've lost several hours of your life, watching videos of feral cats eating roadkill or Pro-Celebrity indoor Kabbaddi, on You Tube. Finally you give up because your muse has taken the day off. Coincidentally you’ll often find that all this happens just as the pub open. It would appear that the universe has conspired to prevent you from sharing your witty and intelligent prose with your fellow man.
Of course this is all utter bollocks because there is no such thing as writer’s block per se. The reason you’ve got nothing written is because you didn't want to. It's that simple. Now that's not to say that writing is a walk in the park and as easy as turning on and off a tap, because it’s not. However please name me any other job (because that is what writing really is) where you cannot perform your allotted task for some vague and nebulous reason and everyone is okay with that? Writing is like any other form of work in so far that it can still be carried out even when you’re feeling ill disposed towards it. It just requires focus, discipline and possibly some sort of psychological carrot on a stick (like a bacon sandwich or a pint of stout) that you reward yourself with upon completion.
I don't want to rob writing of its perceived mystique and glamour but it can be a hell of a lot less painful if it’s properly planned. Having maintained a daily writing schedule in the past it really makes thing a lot easier to have posts planned in advance and an ongoing list of ideas to be developed. On the days when writing comes easy why not create some extra material and hold it in reserve for the future. If it’s a slow news day, why not riff off other people blogs and directly respond to one of their posts. Lists, polls, and asking your readers a question are also options to consider. It's also worth remembering that although there is no harm in having standards, not everything that you write has to be a potential magnum opus.
Now if you blog about a single subject then all the above suggestions can be a little harder. However you can always reflect on older material you have written and craft a post about how things may or may not have changed regarding the thing you blog about. A "where are they now" story or an overall retrospective is always a good get out of jail card. If you’re really in a tight spot then posts based around in-game screenshots can be an easy solution to your writing woes. Folk always like a screenshot. Guides, hints and tips will always find an audience as well. You’ll be amazed how some nugget of information that you take for granted may be a real revelation to one of your readers.
Regardless of what we may think when wrestling with so called writer’s block, the reality is that there’s is always something to blog about. Too often as bloggers we confuse not wanting to write with not being able to do so. The realities of writing are completely at odds with the traditional image of the tortured artist, living a Bohemian lifestyle in a Paris garret, swathed in melancholic pathos as they attempt to find their inner muse. Writing is a task, a chore and even a job. It requires focus and discipline. At time it can even be arbitrary like doing the dishes or your laundry. That’s not to say that writing isn’t fun because it often is. It just isn’t as esoterical as some would have you think.
So next time you find yourself drifting while sitting at your computer, stop gazing at that bird on Mrs. Coltart's roof (unless you’re going to write about it), pull the blinds and push on. You Tube is not going anywhere, so you can watch Maru the cat and check out the “pus cannon” later. Pick a subject, set yourself a writing goal and then go achieve it. You’ll feel incredibly self-satisfied when you finish and hit the publish button. Who knows, you sometimes find that it’s the inconsequential posts written on a whim that are the most popular. Remember “It's the job that's never started that takes the longest to finish”.
Newbie Blogger Initiative 2016 - Should You Allow Comments on Your Blog?
Comments have been an integral part of blogging since it became a popular activity in the late nineties. If you have a self-hosted blog or use one of the many free services, then by default the ability to leave comments is often enabled. Whether you want this option is another matter altogether and one that poses a potential headache for all bloggers. Allowing comments on your site has both pros and cons and as ever it comes down to you as a blogger to make a decision that you are comfortable with. If you are currently pondering this issue, then here are a few things to consider.
Comments have been an integral part of blogging since it became a popular activity in the late nineties. If you have a self-hosted blog or use one of the many free services, then by default the ability to leave comments is often enabled. Whether you want this option is another matter altogether and one that poses a potential headache for all bloggers. Allowing comments on your site has both pros and cons and as ever it comes down to you as a blogger to make a decision that you are comfortable with. If you are currently pondering this issue, then here are a few things to consider.
Reader feedback:
Bloggers do not thrive in a vacuum and crave feedback. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Monitoring your website traffic and statistical data can be of use but comments offer the promise of tangible feedback. Comments can potentially shed light upon whether your writing is being well received or not. Plus everyone likes to have their ego stroked to a varying degree. However the reality can be potentially quite different. Several years ago I posted an article that over a period of a month got read 35,000 times. Yet despite the relatively high level of traffic, it only garnered four comments. Feel free to work that out as a percentage. Plus you often find that a lot of the comments you receive on your site, may not be the kind that you want. I'm not talking about trolling but well-intentioned but ultimately meaningless platitudes. For example a simple "awesome", although complimentary offers no real value or insight.
Starting a dialogue with your readers:
A lot of gaming blogs are centred on discussing ideas and sharing common experiences. Posting an article based around a single question is a great way to start a debate going and attract comments. It presents an opportunity to see alternative points of view, to learn and even make new friends. If you write about MMOs for example, the comments system can act as an extension of the in-game chat. I can think of several well-known fan sites that over a period of time have become the de facto source of information for the games the support. They often play a pivotal role in their particular community. So if you have aspirations to achieve something similar or simply want to have some semblance of a dialogue with your readers then comments are essential.
"Your hide would make a fine Poncho..."
Stating, not debating:
You can write a perfectly effective blog without openly engaging in discussion. Your blog may be a source of data or provide "how to" guides. Or you may want to write a blog where you write an editorial as you see in the newspapers, where you simply state your point of view. Both these approaches don’t necessarily need reader comments and as a writer you may not consider everything you type as being open to or worthy of debate (although there are plenty of people out there who will happily do so). If that is the case, then comments are not essential and your readers will return because they enjoy the benefits of your guides or identify with your persona and particular outlook.
Sticking your head above the parapet:
The moment you write your own thoughts and put them in the public domain, then you are inviting criticism. Some folk just delight in leaving the most poisonous comments for no good reason. Let us not bother cataloguing every sort of comment than may occur. Let it suffice to say that there is plenty of scope for unpleasantness. Plus there is the separate issue of automated spam comments that can plague a website. If you decide to allow comments on your blog then you need to have thick skin. That's actually a lot harder than what you think. Every now and then there'll be one negative comment that really gets under your skin. Remember that you are dealing with gamers and they are not known as being the embodiment of reason or decorum. Also ensure you have some sort of anti-spam plugin that automatically detects bogus comments and deletes them.
Work, work, work:
If you find yourself in the fortunate position of running a blog with a healthy readership, then you may on occasions write a post that provokes a substantial amount of comments. If they are good, then it is wise to respond to them and engage with your readership. If they are bad then you may wish to crush such stupidity with a witty reposte or simply delete them. If you have elected to moderate all comments then you'll have to trawl through them one by one and see if they are suitable. All of these processes require a degree of work and time. As any blogger will tell you, the latter is a finite commodity. Choose wisely.
The esoteric art of generating more comments:
If you do elect to enable comments then you may wish to specifically write material to solicit them. This is fine if done in a sensible and measured fashion. However, like the pursuit of web traffic, this can easily descend into an unhealthy compulsion. The post that tackles a difficult issue and poses a question can be a good thing. The post that just aims to shock, offend or troll for no reason are of no real value. Plus writing like that just paints you into a corner. I find that the best way to encourage comments is to regularly do so yourself on other people’s blogs. Another tip is not to cover every angle of a debate in your post. Always allow scope for further discussion. Give your readers a reason to comment.
With regard to comments, I’m personally happy to allow them. Sure I'd like more but most of those that are left are a positive contribution. Those that aren't I’m still happy to leave. The rude, crass and malicious posts often say far more about the person that left them than anything else. It is also good to remember that your blog is not the same as a forum. Forums are created as specific platforms for public debate. I have always felt that a blog is more like running an open house. Although you have invited people in, there is still an expectation that they will conduct themselves in a civilized fashion. IE wipe their feet and flush the toilet if they use it. Therefore police your blog comments with that in mind, if you see fit to allow them.
Finally, whatever choice you make there is always scope to change it at a later date. It usually just involves checking a tick box in the blog's control panel. So if you have just started out blogging and have just made this decision, I'm very curious to know what choice you made. Feel free to leave a comment.
Newbie Blogger Initiative 2016 – Statistics and Metrics
One of the first subjects to come up when discussing blogging is that of statistics and web traffic. All bloggers have a varying degree of curiosity about their readership and exactly how many people are visiting their site. There is nothing wrong with this and it is perfectly reasonable to want to know about your audience. Blogging is after all a two way process. However, in my experience this thirst for statistical knowledge can be a double edge sword. It is therefore important to ensure that it doesn’t become the focal point of your writing endeavours or your primary inspiration.
One of the first subjects to come up when discussing blogging is that of statistics and web traffic. All bloggers have a varying degree of curiosity about their readership and exactly how many people are visiting their site. There is nothing wrong with this and it is perfectly reasonable to want to know about your audience. Blogging is after all a two way process. However, in my experience this thirst for statistical knowledge can be a double edge sword. It is therefore important to ensure that it doesn’t become the focal point of your writing endeavours or your primary inspiration.
Unless you already have an established online presence, all newbie bloggers have to work at building up an audience. Despite what a lot of questionable websites may tell you, there are no real shortcuts with regard to this. The best approach is to write as often as you can, so that you create up a body of work and ensure that you promote it via social media. Engage with your readers and respond to any comments that are left. It is also prudent to comment on other blogs. If possible write guest posts for other established sites. Although all these tasks are a bit of a grind at times, they will pay off in the long run. Furthermore Google likes this approach. The site that is healthy and regularly posts content is more likely to show up in search enquiries.
Resign yourself to the fact that as a new blogger you are not likely to be commanding an audience of millions two weeks after you launch your site. However, keeping an eye on your metrics can help you determine which posts are generating the most traffic. You may also wish to determine if certain times and days of the weeks are more beneficial for publishing articles. Stats packages can be useful in this respect and provide you with some answers. Just remember that statistics are just data and not a judgement of your work. Low numbers do not say anything about you or the quality of your writing. They simply show how many people found your site and read your posts.
As writers we crave an audience and if the statistics show that our expectations have not been met, then it can be disheartening. There’s a fine line between stats being a useful tool and a burden. If you obsess about them too much you’ll find that they will impinge upon your work. This can lead to writing out of character in an attempt to get more traffic. It’s very tempting to post some click bait, although it does more harm than good in the long term. Ultimately the pursuit of traffic and a fixation upon stats will undermine your writing. Too many bloggers have fallen into the trap of constantly monitoring their metrics and the have lost the desire to write due to their misplaced sense of disappointment.
So my advice to anyone starting a new blog is to consider the following. If you feel you can keep your need to know in check, then use a stats package to monitor your progress. Check them in a measured way and try and remain dispassionate about them. They can be used positively, such as setting yourself growth targets or for determining which posts are popular (very useful if you have a featured posts section on your site). If you feel that the reality of your stats will upset you or be a distraction, then uninstall the package from your blog or simply make it a policy not to consult them.
I recently had an epiphany with regards to my own web traffic. As a result I changed the way I used my statistical data and stopped using several external tracking services. Firstly because they were inaccurate (internal stats packages are far more comprehensive) and secondly because I no longer feel the need to chase an audience. I now write for the pleasure of writing and to engage with others. It also keeps me from over indulging my other vices. If you are writing for commercial reasons then naturally stats have a different connotation altogether. Traffic is often directly linked to financial remuneration, so data of this kind is of far more importance
These are just some of the issues that can arise with regard to your blog’s statistics. As usual, there is no universal rule of thumb and ultimately you have to do what is right for you. However you will find that obsessing over stats is quite common place and that many bloggers have flirted with it to some degree. The universal consensus is not to do it and to put your heart and soul into your writing instead. There’s a good chance that by the time the numbers reach a significant level, you won’t really be concerned by such things anymore.
Newbie Blogger Initiative 2016 - Mind Your Language
In the UK, the prevailing attitudes towards profanity have radically changed over the last two decades, especially with regard to the media. That's not to say that its casual inclusion in common parlance is now de rigeur, but it has permeated the culture to such an extent, that it no longer has the potential to shock as much as it used to. Several years ago a member of the public had a conviction for swearing at a Police Officer overturned by a Judge on the grounds that "swearing at police is not a crime because they hear four letter words too frequently to be offended". Although a separate issue and a potential blog post in itself, I referenced this case to demonstrate the ongoing changes in public sensibilities.
In the UK, the prevailing attitudes towards profanity have radically changed over the last two decades, especially with regard to the media. That's not to say that its casual inclusion in common parlance is now de rigeur, but it has permeated the culture to such an extent, that it no longer has the potential to shock as much as it used to. Several years ago a member of the public had a conviction for swearing at a Police Officer overturned by a Judge on the grounds that "swearing at police is not a crime because they hear four letter words too frequently to be offended". Although a separate issue and a potential blog post in itself, I referenced this case to demonstrate the ongoing changes in public sensibilities.
Blogging it is by its very nature a very personal and at times emotive activity. There may well be occasions when you wish to express yourself quite forcefully or feel such intense emotion, that you wish to use profanity. As the master of your own destiny, you have to make that decision yourself, but it does inevitably come with consequences. Because some people really do take offence at it and still consider the use of profanity as inexcusable. In extreme cases it may lead to you losing readers. Even if you have written the most illuminating of posts, the inclusion of some colloquial Anglo-Saxon terms will upset some people and they will not be able to see beyond it. In fact you may be judged and found wanting. I am not saying if this is right or wrong. It's a people issue and it needs to be considered and then offset against the old adage that you cannot please everyone.
I personally am not especially bothered by strong language; having worked in environments where it was extremely prevalent and to protest about it would have been utterly redundant. However, I do not think that it is something that needs to be employed continuously, either in conversation or writing. I take the view that swearing, like any other literary of semantic device, can be very effective if used sparingly; a view that is held by such diverse writers as Stephen Fry to the late Harold Pinter. I also believe that we should not fear words or demonise them. There is a popular consensus at present that one particular word is the most offensive you can use (I’ll leave you to work out which one it is). Yet this response is driven by a form of social conditioning which borders on the Pavlovian. Why should this one slang term be deemed more upsetting than any of the other dozen equivalents?
Therefore I choose to use profanity in my writing if it suits me and when I deem it relevant to the post. I hope that readers will accept this decision. As a concession to common sense, acquired through being a parent, I on occasion provide advance warning in some cases. I believe that informing people about content is a sensible and polite policy to pursue. For the new blogger it is a matter of time. Eventually your audience will get a feel for the style and pitch of your blog and whether it is family or office friendly.
If you do not feel that the use of strong language is appropriate on your blog or you do not feel comfortable with it in general, then simply avoid it. This is one of the few occasions where I feel a black or white response is appropriate. Personally I would never advocate a compromise approach. There is a tendency in contemporary US blogging to try and use alternative terms. A whole new lexicon of neutered phrases has sprung up. Ass-hat, Freakin' and other PG-13 rated words reek of the worst sort of hypocrisy. Even the term titbit (referring to a nugget of information) has been altered to tidbit, to remove the breast reference contained therein.
As well as profanity, it is important to consider other terms that can be problematic. Faith is extremely important to many and is stronger in certain geographical regions that others. I try to avoid phrases that some would traditionally label blasphemous. I won't even use OMG. It can still upset some and because of its ubiquity in popular culture is somewhat trite. Although it is not likely to happen to the average blogger it is prudent to reflect on what happened to Salman Rushdie in the late eighties after the publication of his book, The Satanic Verses.
Also, never lose sight of the fact that the perceived anonymity of the internet is not as bullet proof as some would have you think. You still have to be sensible about what you write and can still be subject to libel, sex discrimination and race/religious hate laws. The internet has a very long memory and once a blog post is out there in the public domain, it remains so. Deleting a rogue post or one written in the heat of the moment is not a definitive way to cover your tracks. As ever with blogging, think before you type and consider before you publish. Editing oneself is a strength and not a weakness.
To Blog or Not to Blog?
I’ve been ill recently. What started off as just an innocuous winter cold subsequently became a chest and eye infection. Despite being in relatively good health for a man of my age, this bout of illness really knocked me for six. The Doctor ordered bed rest and that’s exactly what I did. Frankly I didn’t feel at all disposed towards doing anything else, so as a result all blogging ceased and the podcast, which was already on hiatus, has been kicked further into the long grass. For a few fleeting minutes I felt some misplaced angst, regarding this lull in content creation but it was short lived. Frankly it felt good to not have to worry about daily posts or interesting topics to discuss.
I’ve been ill recently. What started off as just an innocuous winter cold subsequently became a chest and eye infection. Despite being in relatively good health for a man of my age, this bout of illness really knocked me for six. The Doctor ordered bed rest and that’s exactly what I did. Frankly I didn’t feel at all disposed towards doing anything else, so as a result all blogging ceased and the podcast, which was already on hiatus, has been kicked further into the long grass. For a few fleeting minutes I felt some misplaced angst, regarding this lull in content creation but it was short lived. Frankly it felt good to not have to worry about daily posts or interesting topics to discuss.
I have been feeling somewhat jaded with regard to blogging of late; especially when it comes to gaming. People are still writing about the games they play and reacting to the latest news but no one seems to be doing any in-depth think pieces anymore. They’ve either all be done or perhaps some bloggers just feel that there isn’t any point anymore. I look back through material I wrote five years ago and I no longer recognise the love and affection I use to lavish on the games I played back then. I also often find myself at odds with the community I’m allegedly part of. I see gamers behaving in an unedifying fashion or simply demonstrating a distinct lack of perspective and proportion.
Plus it shouldn’t be forgotten that writing a blog to some sort of standard or creating a weekly podcast is time consuming and “work” for want of another phrase. It can be very rewarding when the heavens align and you produce something that connects with your audience. On other occasions it is a proverbial millstone round your neck that you’d happily be rid of. Then there is the perennial issue of time and the fact that it’s a finite commodity. I think there’s something about hitting middle age that really provides you with an epiphany with regard to this precious resource.
However despite all the apathy and negativity, I still find blogging very useful for marshalling my thoughts and refining my views and opinions. Irrespective of whether people read my writing, I find the process of committing my ideas to text an incredibly beneficial tool. I also enjoy recording the Burton and Scrooge podcast. When it goes well Brian and I have a lot of fun. I am very fortunate to have such an amiable co-host. So it would seem that the good points about content creation currently trump the bad ones and therefore motivate me to push through this malaise of indifference.
So over the next few weeks I shall not only continue to inflict my views upon an unsuspecting internet but I’ll actually back fill posts from the previous two weeks. I don’t know why exactly but it seems to satisfy my notions of order and balance. Don’t be surprised if I stray in to non-game related subjects more often. I’ve become increasingly disposed towards just writing what comes in to my head these days and some of the stuff in their even surprises me. So it’s back to the grindstone I guess.
A Year in Blogging and Podcasting
I’ve been blogging and podcasting for quite a few years now and although I enjoy both mediums, they do come with a degree of work. Also both undertakings require financing and at times can be quite costly. Yet despite these aspects of content creation, I still enjoy both mediums as a participant and as a consumer. There are still plenty of great blogs out there as well as informative and engaging podcasts. If anything 2015 was very much the year of the podcast as Serial proved. I consider reading blogs, listening to podcasts and watching quality You Tube channels to be the equal of commercial television and believe that these mediums will increasingly compete against more traditional platforms in the coming years. Here are some of the shows that I view and listen to:
I’ve been blogging and podcasting for quite a few years now and although I enjoy both mediums, they do come with a degree of work. Also both undertakings require financing and at times can be quite costly. Yet despite these aspects of content creation, I still enjoy both mediums as a participant and as a consumer. There are still plenty of great blogs out there as well as informative and engaging podcasts. If anything 2015 was very much the year of the podcast as Serial proved. I consider reading blogs, listening to podcasts and watching quality You Tube channels to be the equal of commercial television and believe that these mediums will increasingly compete against more traditional platforms in the coming years. Here are some of the shows that I view and listen to:
· The Infinite Monkey Cage (A BBC science podcast with Professor Brian Cox and Comedian Robin
· The Secret History of Hollywood (A movie podcast featuring historical analysis and debate)
· Writing Excuses (A podcast about creative writing and its respective techniques)
· Noah Coldwell-Gervais (You Tube channel featuring in-depth games essays and analysis)
· Every Frame a Painting (You Tube channel featuring movie analysis and technical criticism)
· GnC Films (You Tube channel specialising in comparing different versions of movies and exploring regional variations and cuts)
I moved my blog in August 2015, which was a hard decision. For the previous twelve month Contains Moderate Peril has been generously hosted by Host1Plus at no cost. Despite being very happy with the service provided, the website itself had a wealth of legacy posts from previous incarnations of the blog and was rife with formatting issues, broken links and missing content. Rather than attempt to fix the problem, which meant manually amending and republishing over eight hundred posts, I decided to reboot the site from scratch. I also felt it was time to move away from Word Press and so chose to use Squarespace for my hosting needs. It can be hard to see a lot of your content vanish from the internet overnight but overall this was the prudent thing to do.
Perhaps the biggest change regarding my blogging and podcasting in 2015 was my choice of content. When I started writing back in 2007 I was focused on one game. I soon discovered that this was quite restrictive and over time merged my different blogs into one. It would appear that I have more to say other than discussing gaming and movies and in recent months the topics of debate, especially on Burton & Scrooge podcast have become quite broad. I intend to continue this approach into 2016 as I feel that I’ve exhausted some topics over the last seven years. Whether these wider subjects will chime with existing readers and listeners remains to be seen. It will be interesting to see my end of year summary next December.
Digital Ambassadors
Early this year while listening to Mark Kermode's excellent radio documentary The Business of Film, I was introduced to the term Digital Ambassador. When I had finished laughing and making crass jokes about Wolf Kahler and Ferrero Rocher, I actually pondered the phrase and spent some time researching it online. Like most contemporary buzzwords despite being nauseatingly hyperbolic and overwrought, it did have a functional definition. Furthermore it soon became apparent that I and many of my podcasting and blogging colleagues are indeed examples of this very group.
Early this year while listening to Mark Kermode's excellent radio documentary The Business of Film, I was introduced to the term Digital Ambassador. When I had finished laughing and making crass jokes about Wolf Kahler and Ferrero Rocher, I actually pondered the phrase and spent some time researching it online. Like most contemporary buzzwords despite being nauseatingly hyperbolic and overwrought, it did have a functional definition. Furthermore it soon became apparent that I and many of my podcasting and blogging colleagues are indeed examples of this very group.
This label is of course "marketing speak", however it is not without merit. What it does is demonstrate the significance of bloggers and other content creators and the role they play in promoting products. Most modern marketing campaigns across many leisure industries appreciate the value of fans and the contribution they make in getting "the message" across. The phrase "going viral" may well have become a bit clichéd but it is ultimately what most PR companies want. It is both far reaching and cheap.
It is interesting the way the whole citizen journalism concept has gone from being a threat to the mainstream to an integral tool. If you have a genre specific product to pitch these days, you don't necessarily go straight to the regular press. A targeted promotion at an event such as ComicCon can be far more effective. Albums from established musicians are sometimes given away free to the fan base. Even the small niche market fan blog can receive marketing material and access to advance previews. Things are not what they use to be and promotion is no longer a closed shop. The so-called Digital Ambassadors provide a convenient fast path to the communities that need to be reached.
In many respects this practise has already existed within certain communities. Games developers have frequently courted popular fan sites and podcasts to ensure that their message is heard. A Casual Stroll to Mordor was virtually an unofficial member of the Turbine community team during LOTROs heyday. Dulfy.net makes an invaluable contribution to the Guild Wars 2 community. So it's hardly surprising that the significance of fan sites has now spread to other markets. I am still not one hundred percent sure of the value of some of the You Tube personalities that are currently popular, but the numbers they command cannot be ignored.
Naturally when commercial entities start courting independent bodies such as blogs and podcasts, there is scope for conflicts of interest and ethical U-turns. Ultimately it is down to each individual to decide how they respond to a request to lobby and promote. Whatever your personal stance, I think that the fact that there's actually a specific term for our online endeavours shows that what we do is of value. Most certainly it proves that blogging and podcasting is not dead. How can it be? After all we're Digital Ambassadors.
Out With the Old
I’ve been blogging and podcasting for over half a decade and as a result I’ve left a trail of material scattered across the internet. Maintaining multiple sites and hosting old content costs both money and time. Although the world is treating me relatively well at present, I am not a man of limitless resources. Therefore I have decided that it is time to close some of these sites and archives.
I’ve been blogging and podcasting for over half a decade and as a result I’ve left a trail of material scattered across the internet. Maintaining multiple sites and hosting old content costs both money and time. Although the world is treating me relatively well at present, I am not a man of limitless resources. Therefore I have decided that it is time to close some of these sites and archives.
The first to go will be the back catalogue of Contains Moderate Peril podcasts. These are currently available via Libsyn, the old CMP website and iTunes. All one hundred and seventy three episodes will cease to be available after 31st October. If you wish to keep any for posterity, my advice is to download them now while you still can. This will also affect the Council of the Unwise podcast but there are only a few instalments of that show. Please note that the Burton & Scrooge podcast is still alive and kicking but is not subject to a regular schedule. Brian and I produce it strictly on an “as and when” basis.
I will be closing the old Contains Moderate Peril website at the end of this month. Rather than leave a trail of broken links I shall set up a global redirect so that wayward traffic finds its way to the current CMP blog. It’s a shame to lose an established presence on the internet but I feel that the current situations with two websites co-existing simultaneously, to be both confusing and detrimental to traffic. All previously posted content has been successfully exported and saved.
Despite what I and a lot of others people where told a few years back, you can function as a human being quite efficiently without Facebook and Google + accounts. Both are closed communities that require individual input, which creates more work. In the past I have simply reposted content to these platforms, which on mature reflection is counterproductive. If anything it takes traffic away from CMP, so I have terminated both of these services forthwith.
I would also like to reiterate that I shall no longer be directly involved in the running of the Newbie Blogger Initiative. I shall be closing the existing site and the forums at the end of this year and will not being renewing the domain name next May. If someone wishes to utilise the current .com address then they may wish to get in touch prior to the domain name lapsing.
It would seem that a lot of veteran content creators are currently facing similar issues to mine or at the very least trying to balance their creative desires with the realities of the real world. Unless your life remains static, there is no way you can avoid the shifting demands of modern life. I would not be surprised if we see several high profile community members scale back their online endeavours or even cease them entirely in the not too distant future.
The Challenge of Writing Daily
Writing content for your blog or website on a daily basis can be very challenging and quite daunting. That’s why I’m very impressed with those who have stayed the course of this year’s Blaugust writing event and fully understand why others opted to stand down. For some posting a blog post everyday simply cannot be sustained due to time restrictions. Real life can be very demanding. For those who have managed to sustain writing throughout August, it will be interesting to learn their thoughts on the event and whether they choose to continue to post every day.
Writing content for your blog or website on a daily basis can be very challenging and quite daunting. That’s why I’m very impressed with those who have stayed the course of this year’s Blaugust writing event and fully understand why others opted to stand down. For some posting a blog post everyday simply cannot be sustained due to time restrictions. Real life can be very demanding. For those who have managed to sustain writing throughout August, it will be interesting to learn their thoughts on the event and whether they choose to continue to post every day.
Blogging on a daily basis is a great way to improve one’s writing skills and refine your creative processes. It teaches time management and the realities of working to a deadline. I’m sure many bloggers may have noticed a change over the month as their personal approach to writing has evolved. Hopefully the process of creating a post is a lot quicker now than it was thirty one days ago. Over the years I have found that continuously producing content has made me a more organised writer. I frequently make notes, conduct research and ensure that I have a suitable writing environment, free from distractions.
Blaugust has also had a very positive effect on the blogging community. I believe more writers have undertaken the challenge this year than last. There have been several posts of an interactive nature, encouraging writers to pick up the baton and offer their personal perspective on specific subjects. Riffing off each other can be an excellent solution to writers block. It also means that comments and traffic are shared as the discussion moves from blog to blog. The trackbacks and links have proved a great way to discover new writers and sites and as a result I shall be creating a new blog roll.
One of the best things about Blaugust is the way it’s encouraged many writers to diversify their content. Writing about a single subject has benefits but can be restricting at times. It has been very enjoyable to read peoples thoughts on subjects other than gaming. Perhaps it may encourage others to broaden their creative remit. Doing so can certainly make content creation a lot easier and extend the lifespan of your blog. After all interests and passions do change and take new directions overtime. There used to be a mind set about five years ago that a blog had to be specific and focused. I think we are now far more accepting of lifestyle related sites or those that cover popular culture or provide a stream of consciousness.
As I stated in my relaunch post at the beginning of August, Contains Moderate Peril, it will no longer continue with its daily schedule, after the Blaugust event ends. I have written virtually every day since 2011 and although it has proven to be both enjoyable and rewarding, I can no longer sustain such a schedule due to real world commitments. As a result of my evolving relationship with gaming I prefer to write more in-depth “think pieces” about the industry and community, rather than commentary on what I'm currently playing. So there may be a shift in style and tone in my posts.
Despite a potential reduction in output, I find that I'm enjoying writing and creating content more so than I have previously. I feel that I have finally got a handle on both podcasting and blogging, after nearly eight years. Rebooting the site has also proven to be a shot in the arm and has contributed to my positive outlook. Hopefully Blaugust has had an equally positive effect upon my blogging colleagues and that the rigour of a daily writing regime has also afforded an opportunity for introspection and growth. I still firmly believe that it is both important and beneficial that regular people express themselves through the written word and that there’s always an alternative to the mainstream press.