I started S-G after Symella was ported to S60v3 and I found myself emailing all 10 sites that I read. I realized that was wasteful, when I could just start my own site.
I got started after realizing that I had a ton of people in my personal network, and got tired of calling and emailing them individually. With most of them knowing that I am into web, it was just an easy transistion to go into blogging.
With my Mobile Ministry Magazine venture, it was about creating a place where Christians could learn about and be challenged to use mobile technology in ways that were only dreamed of years ago. THE Opposite has taken place there as the website has led to more contacts. (mobileministrymagazine.com)
After that, blogging is just about connecting and putting a perspective on life and things about it that mass media, by nature, doesn't cover. If a blogger cannot bring that view, then there's not an incentive to continue to dialogue.
First ever blog was started as a way to keep a journal during my Thailand travels. Also doubled up as a way for friends and family to keep track of me and to follow my experiences etc... Saved having to write postcards y'know?
After that I picked it up again first on a corporate level; starting the blog for Mobizines - you can read that here - http://mobizinesupdate.blogspot.com - again, since died but they've now moved onto bigger and better things. Particularly proud of that one mind, think we hit the balance/tone just right..
Then last year I managed to bag a ticket to the Glastonbury Festival and that's when I started my VOX blog, or my 'Glastonblog' - aheh - using the N95 +VOX to be the only blogger doing it live from his tent! :)
That one has kinda stayed with me for the time being..
And (finally!) I also contribute to smstextnews.com every wednesday with my thoughts on mobile in general.. But I don't really see that as blogging. More like article/feature writing. If that makes sense?
I started blogging as a way to socialize with others with similar interests from all over the world. Ive had 2 other blogs that I have deleted on topics no longer of interest to me. Now I have a blog that is an eclectic mix of whatever is going on in my brain. Sometimes tech, sometimes just life. http://zhaans.blogspot.com/
I've only recently started a blog. It's mainly for my own benefit as I'm quite forgetful so it acts as a reminder for when I did or bought something. If anyone else reads it and gains anything from it then that's a bonus http://steves71.vox.com
Rather odd for me to comment after such established bloggers, but here goes.
I've actually just started to blog. My first post was on Feb 11th, hours before the MWC started. My blog is mainly focused on S60, but from time to time other smartphone-related features might get through. It's not intended as a news blog (there are lots out there which will always be better at that, imho), but a place for me to share my personal experience with the OS (ok, haven't quite done that yet, but bear with me, I'm still doing a lot of work on the design and sidebar elements). I do cover news, but only what I consider is relevant.
In short, I'm trying to write stuff that I would enjoy reading. For now it kinda ended up as a mashup of stories from other blogs, which might be useful to some, but that was not the intended idea. It's just that working on the site design and all takes away quite a bit of time. Hope I'll get everything settled in a week or two, and after that I plan on writing longer posts that will bring my perspective on things to the blogging scene.
Why have I started? Well that's simple. I've been reading tens of blogs (on the subject and related) daily for almost a year, and thought I may have a personal touch I could bring to the scene. We'll have to see about that, I guess.
But bottom line is I enjoy it very much. There's nothing like doing something you really really like! (I know what a cliche that is, but it still is true).
I work in audio/video, where work takes concentration, effort but mainly time to get things right. Maintaining a blog would require time/effort that is simply more valuable smoothing a transition or tweaking audio. I'm not primarily a verbal person either
Forgot to add a link: Symbian-Guru.com (also offshoot Tablet-Guru.com). Blogging, also, for me, has become a way for me to get more 'out there' in terms of my name and reputation and personal brand. I'm uber-passionate about what I write about, you have to be or else it won't last, but it's also a MUCH better resume, particularly in mobile, for instance, to give someone a link to your site than to give them a printout of your resume.
My blogging career started by accident I think. I was a super moderator at Howard Forums and was in charge of the Nokia section of the forums. I don't think I subscribed to any particular sites but I was a constant visitor to many such as AllAboutSymbian, Wireless Advisor and PhoneScoop ... and basically anything that involved Nokia phones.
After being an avid reader to TheFeature, which was Nokia's own online rountable of bloggers I became a contributor.
After moving to NC and being unable to get my foot into the job market here, I decided to go back to school and during that I also wrote. I never knew anything about "blogging" per se, but thought of it as my own personal online journal. I never thought in a million years that people would listen to anything that I had to say!
My very first post was an intro post about myself and since then I basically wrote about family and personal stuff.
Thanks everyone, Great response, and excellent variety too.
Next question, Also Blog related, What is your favorite reader or favorite way to track everyones rss or blogs? I used to just categorize them into bookmark folders as normally I prefer to go to the site itself but with increasing numbers it's getting too hard to keep up with everyone that way.
Yep google reader. I used to use greatnews on my pc at home and also on my eeepc and google reader at work. But switched to just google reader and google gears on my laptops so everythings always in sync.
I think I'm the opposite. I used to write regular articles for a website, and when it went defunct I found I needed to keep the writing going. So I started to blog, but now it was just my interests. And I got my own domain recently (actually need to "close" my old blog now).
31 comments so far
So what was it, What pushed you fro reader to writer? And how did you start, What was your first post?
Also, give me a link to your blog and a line or 2 explaining its general direction/subject/orientation :)
2 years, 5 months ago by Adventsparky
No problem with sharing, but why the enquiry?
2 years, 5 months ago by whatleydude
I've already been through yours ;) Just interested in how the different blogs are born.
Have went to the brink of making my own a few times only to stop after I got the place looking the way I wanted it. Not sure why though.
2 years, 5 months ago by Adventsparky
I started S-G after Symella was ported to S60v3 and I found myself emailing all 10 sites that I read. I realized that was wasteful, when I could just start my own site.
2 years, 5 months ago by rcadden
I don't really have a set reason or theme to my blog. For me it's just a place to ramble in more than 140 characters.
2 years, 5 months ago by FyreFiend
I got started after realizing that I had a ton of people in my personal network, and got tired of calling and emailing them individually. With most of them knowing that I am into web, it was just an easy transistion to go into blogging.
With my Mobile Ministry Magazine venture, it was about creating a place where Christians could learn about and be challenged to use mobile technology in ways that were only dreamed of years ago. THE Opposite has taken place there as the website has led to more contacts. (mobileministrymagazine.com)
After that, blogging is just about connecting and putting a perspective on life and things about it that mass media, by nature, doesn't cover. If a blogger cannot bring that view, then there's not an incentive to continue to dialogue.
2 years, 5 months ago by arjw
First ever blog was started as a way to keep a journal during my Thailand travels. Also doubled up as a way for friends and family to keep track of me and to follow my experiences etc... Saved having to write postcards y'know?
It can be found here http://blog.myspace.com/whatleydude - it has long since died but yeah, that's how I started.
After that I picked it up again first on a corporate level; starting the blog for Mobizines - you can read that here - http://mobizinesupdate.blogspot.com - again, since died but they've now moved onto bigger and better things. Particularly proud of that one mind, think we hit the balance/tone just right..
Then last year I managed to bag a ticket to the Glastonbury Festival and that's when I started my VOX blog, or my 'Glastonblog' - aheh - using the N95 +VOX to be the only blogger doing it live from his tent! :)
That one has kinda stayed with me for the time being..
However there are others too -
Me and my friend Roger write 'Why Don't Grownups Get It?' here http://rogerandjames.blogspot.com -
I write the soon-to-be-relaunched Blog for SpinVox here http://blog.spinvox.com -
And (finally!) I also contribute to smstextnews.com every wednesday with my thoughts on mobile in general.. But I don't really see that as blogging. More like article/feature writing. If that makes sense?
...and breathe
2 years, 5 months ago by whatleydude
I started blogging as a way to socialize with others with similar interests from all over the world. Ive had 2 other blogs that I have deleted on topics no longer of interest to me. Now I have a blog that is an eclectic mix of whatever is going on in my brain. Sometimes tech, sometimes just life. http://zhaans.blogspot.com/
2 years, 5 months ago by Zhaan
I've only recently started a blog. It's mainly for my own benefit as I'm quite forgetful so it acts as a reminder for when I did or bought something. If anyone else reads it and gains anything from it then that's a bonus http://steves71.vox.com
2 years, 5 months ago by steves71
@ScottWilder - Agreed
Blog >>> Group Email
2 years, 5 months ago by whatleydude
Rather odd for me to comment after such established bloggers, but here goes.
I've actually just started to blog. My first post was on Feb 11th, hours before the MWC started. My blog is mainly focused on S60, but from time to time other smartphone-related features might get through. It's not intended as a news blog (there are lots out there which will always be better at that, imho), but a place for me to share my personal experience with the OS (ok, haven't quite done that yet, but bear with me, I'm still doing a lot of work on the design and sidebar elements). I do cover news, but only what I consider is relevant.
In short, I'm trying to write stuff that I would enjoy reading. For now it kinda ended up as a mashup of stories from other blogs, which might be useful to some, but that was not the intended idea. It's just that working on the site design and all takes away quite a bit of time. Hope I'll get everything settled in a week or two, and after that I plan on writing longer posts that will bring my perspective on things to the blogging scene.
Why have I started? Well that's simple. I've been reading tens of blogs (on the subject and related) daily for almost a year, and thought I may have a personal touch I could bring to the scene. We'll have to see about that, I guess.
But bottom line is I enjoy it very much. There's nothing like doing something you really really like! (I know what a cliche that is, but it still is true).
2 years, 5 months ago by bvlad
I didn't, so I can only explain why not.
2 years, 5 months ago by Festoon
@Festoon that sounds interesting. so why not?
2 years, 5 months ago by bvlad
I work in audio/video, where work takes concentration, effort but mainly time to get things right. Maintaining a blog would require time/effort that is simply more valuable smoothing a transition or tweaking audio. I'm not primarily a verbal person either
2 years, 5 months ago by Festoon
... And blogs attract, well, writers basically.
2 years, 5 months ago by Festoon
Incidentally I really enjoy videocopilot.net as an example of how a visual person can use a blog to add value to their business.
2 years, 5 months ago by Festoon
Forgot to add a link: Symbian-Guru.com (also offshoot Tablet-Guru.com). Blogging, also, for me, has become a way for me to get more 'out there' in terms of my name and reputation and personal brand. I'm uber-passionate about what I write about, you have to be or else it won't last, but it's also a MUCH better resume, particularly in mobile, for instance, to give someone a link to your site than to give them a printout of your resume.
2 years, 5 months ago by rcadden
Loads of blogs to investigate here, Better get cracking :)
2 years, 5 months ago by Adventsparky
@rcadden Definitely agree on the resume part. :) And you, Mr. Communications Specialist, are living proof.
2 years, 5 months ago by bvlad
@rcadden - think I've mentioned this before, but yeah.. My blog(s) are on my cv also. Last night @genevievedaisy suggested keeping a scrapbook too..
2 years, 5 months ago by whatleydude
@Adventsparky Also forgot the link. ssixty.info is my blog. Also, a blog dedicated to S60 themes is on the way. This week, hopefully.
2 years, 5 months ago by bvlad
@bvlad oooh, looking forward to that. Actually, ping me on Gtalk/MSN, I've got an idea I'd like to pass to you on that...
2 years, 5 months ago by rcadden
grcadden at gmail
2 years, 5 months ago by rcadden
@bvlad, Expecting a link when it gets off the ground :)
2 years, 5 months ago by Adventsparky
My blogging career started by accident I think. I was a super moderator at Howard Forums and was in charge of the Nokia section of the forums. I don't think I subscribed to any particular sites but I was a constant visitor to many such as AllAboutSymbian, Wireless Advisor and PhoneScoop ... and basically anything that involved Nokia phones. After being an avid reader to TheFeature, which was Nokia's own online rountable of bloggers I became a contributor.
After moving to NC and being unable to get my foot into the job market here, I decided to go back to school and during that I also wrote. I never knew anything about "blogging" per se, but thought of it as my own personal online journal. I never thought in a million years that people would listen to anything that I had to say!
My very first post was an intro post about myself and since then I basically wrote about family and personal stuff.
http://darlamack.blogs.com/darlamack/200...
2 years, 5 months ago by darla
Thanks everyone, Great response, and excellent variety too.
Next question, Also Blog related, What is your favorite reader or favorite way to track everyones rss or blogs? I used to just categorize them into bookmark folders as normally I prefer to go to the site itself but with increasing numbers it's getting too hard to keep up with everyone that way.
2 years, 5 months ago by Adventsparky
@Adventsparky everyone's gonna say google reader, but personally i like bloglines a lot more.
2 years, 5 months ago by bvlad
same concept. web-based, has mobile site, so everything is in sync if you read from different devices.
2 years, 5 months ago by bvlad
i used to bookmark everything as well. but man, is it easier with feeds! trust me!
2 years, 5 months ago by bvlad
Yep google reader. I used to use greatnews on my pc at home and also on my eeepc and google reader at work. But switched to just google reader and google gears on my laptops so everythings always in sync.
2 years, 5 months ago by steves71
I think I'm the opposite. I used to write regular articles for a website, and when it went defunct I found I needed to keep the writing going. So I started to blog, but now it was just my interests. And I got my own domain recently (actually need to "close" my old blog now).
2 years, 5 months ago by WillKnott