Blog. Blogging. Is that really a word?
I don’t know about you, but the word “blog” just sounds…strange. The first time I heard this, I thought the person had something stuck in his throat. “Did you see his blog on ….”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t catch that…what did you say?” 
It sounds to me like “Blah, Blah, Blah” and the funny thing is, in a sense, that is exactly what it is.
Today, blogging is a method to share information informally and spark conversation and engagement. There is no “right” format, but here are few examples:
Thought provoking ideas
This could be a message. Usually this takes the form of an article with typically about 300-500 words. Shannan Vance-Ocampo has written some blogs and you can see a recent one here: Feeding the Four Thousand: What Brings You Bread
Promoting an Event
How have you historically “spread the word” about an event? Perhaps a flyer, advertisement or mention in a newsletter or email? We are so busy these days, and there are many important causes. Following up your flyer with a blog post can provide a little more context for an event. “In the old days,” we may have tried to get a write up in the newspaper. A great example of this style of blog is in Donna Elia’s blog post talking about the importance of a Troy Area United Ministries Event to raise money for the furniture program. Local Need: Have Fun While Making a Difference.
Sharing Information
Want to learn a little more about a subject? Whether it is fitness and well-being, Communications in our Presbytery, or learning a little more about what work goes on in our Presbytery (Albany Presbytery Spotlight: Stewardship & Mission Interpretation Committee by Sue Laz), a blog is a great tool to share information.
There are personal blogs, rogue (trying to raise some eyebrows?) blogs, personal brand blogs, corporate blogs, and the list goes on and on. In essence, it’s just a new way to share information in a world where mobile communication is a global reality.
Where do I post a blog?
- Your website. If you have a website, you should have a section dedicated to blogging and host it there. It should be mobile responsive, which will make it easier to read and share. To review the basics of why this is important, review my previous blog: How the Right Website Strengthens Communications
- If you don’t have a website, consider acting as a guest blogger. Many sites invite participation and we at the Albany Presbytery would love to have you contribute! You can check out our Blog site or Just shoot us an email to learn more.
- Details on what we need to publish your blog can be found on the 2nd page of this document: Submission Instructions for E-News which can be found on our E-News page.
So should you blog or start following blogs? I think, Yes! Here are just a few good reasons:
- Raise visibility to a cause
- Share information easily
- Build a community
- Build credibility and authenticity
- Stay in touch with those not always available
- Grow ideas
Blogging can be a lot of fun!
In my previous article, I talked about the bigger picture. Read more about how are communications tools can be leveraged to work together in: What does biology have to do with communications? and How the Right Website Strengthens Communications.
