I've been in the gardens way too much. It's messing with my brain. Seriously, I can't even remember my sisters' phone numbers lately. It's like I'm in a fog. I wonder if it's sun stroke? Anyway, I'm going to blame it on that and to show you just how out of it I am, I'm going to attempt to explain what I feel reveals a professional looking post.
The link I had kept to exemplify professional posts was this, but as you can see, that's a website, not a blogger blog, so it doesn't work for what I wanted. But, it does reveal several things that can be applied to postings and making them look professional.
1) Inserting pictures or snapshots of pieces of interest. The more accurate the picture is, the better the effect. I love it when people are able to import a word document that shows graphics, etc. But how do they do that in blogger? Anyone know?
2) Like I'm doing here, creating number lists. Though some have a really cool way of doing it. They indent and make the numbered section look so professional, like a separate entity to the post. Wish I knew how to do that, too.
3) And the number one thing that I feel is the coolest tool for posting like a professional is using that hyperlink icon. You know, the thing that looks a little like a green globe with some black circuit graphic up on top. That links readers to other URL's without having to write out the whole long URL that just looks nasty and uninviting. I'd much rather see the name of the site in a bright color that I can click on, then have to read the whole path to get to the page. And this, thankfully, I have figured out.
So what other tools or aspects of posting do you find give the impression of a professional post? And if you know how to do it, please do tell.
Surrendering to Him,
Eileen
16 comments:
Dear Eileen:
Ooooh, I love it when I'm the first to comment on a post--- it's like getting the first donut in the box!
This is hypocritical because I don't have music on my blog, since I read it slows down the loading, but I adore music, especially soothing or uplifting Godly music. It lends ambience to the blog, and i believe makes them more professional.
Yours is a great example.
Jen
Why thanks, Jen! To be honest, I turn off my volume on my laptop because when I have my blog up and write in word at the same time I can't write with background noise. Even though I love this music too. I do turn the volume on on occassion when I'm not in writing mode just to enjoy the different sound tracks on the blogs I visit. But it does slow the loading, that part I don't care for.
I'd like to know how to put music on my blog. I haven't figured that out yet, and I like it when there is music. Your blog is great!
Lazy Writer, it's so easy to do. Scroll down on my blog until you come to my playlist (it's the blue box), click on the button that says "Create your free playlist" directly below the song listing, and just select your songs and follow the instructions. If I could do it, you can too.
Good luck with it.
Pictures, bullet points, hyper links, I love to use them all. I like graphics that are easy to read. I all too often forget to experiment with the fonts and colors. But colors can make things interesting and fonts can set off a point you're trying to make...as long as you don't go over the top to where the colors and font detract from the information.
Ooo, I adore a good list with bullet points, stars, or numbers :) In fact, it breaks it up on the page to make it easier on the eye. Long chunks of writing tend to make me skim (usually because I read blog posts in between taking care of the kidlets.)
I'm always interested in personal pictures too. The canned pictures are nice and can emphasize a post, but I do enjoy the personal touch.
I'm waiting to see who tells us how to do all those bullet point thingies:)
I like your Twitter updates on your sidebar now! I may have to figure out how to do that at some point! But yes, I do find that when blogs have a few bullet or numbered points, or at least shorter paragraphs, then I'm able to read the post much easier than a whole bunch of paragraphs all scrunched together!
I agree with what others have said: smaller paragraphs, personal photos (I don't use these enough), bullets, numbering, bolded headings. Great stuff to think about!
Eileen, your blog is absolutely gorgeous! Now, you've already mastered one of the mysteries of Blogger.com, which is how to use your own blog template instead of one of their boring choices. LOL I wish I knew how to do that!
But I do know how to do some of those things you'd like to know how to do, as well as other tricks.
Reading your post gave me an idea (to expand on an idea I was already having earlier today ;~) about a way we writers can band together to master all this stuff.
It's going to take me some work to put it together, but I'll be back. I've got this post of yours bookmarked for that day.
I ditto most everyone else! ha! Seriously, my pet PEEVE for blogs is when they have large pictures, it's unorganized, and I can't figure out how to manuver. Okay, so I can figure it out, but it has to be easy on the eyes, and not too busy.
And short paragraphs with lists are great. I don't do that enough... and I am sometimes WAY too long winded. Ahhh, working on that:-)
i really put some thinking time into this myself lately (due to the new blog). i wanted it to look totally professional...very different from my other writing blog. so i made sure to cut down on the distracting gadgets we have to "cute" up our blogs (and i love them!). i stuck to pictures that were professional in nature (such as a therapist couch, professional memberships, etc). i always try to come up with interested photos, as well...something that really grabs attention. i also think a signature of some kind is really professional. i used wordle.net to create all my therapist logos for my signature, treatment tuesdays and thursday therapeutic thoughts. just some other ideas!
LOL! I must have the most unprofessional blog of all, 'cause all I know how to do is schedule posts. Hmmm... I like seeing pics and bullets on blogs, but I don't like to put them on mine. I don't think my thoughts are organized enough to bullet-point.
Be careful out in your garden! :-) I want to see you fit and healthy at ACFW!!!
Hey, everyone, seems like we all like the same things. Great minds think alike.
Milli, I look forward to reading how to do those things. I'll be watching for those posts.
Krista, Big photos, that's a new one. I'll have to remember it. But sometimes a small one just doesn't do the pic justice. Don't you think?
Jeannie, your new blog looks great. And thanks for the signature link. I'll have to check that out, they do make it so professional looking.
Jessica, your blog is professional--true to your style. You write such tight posts that no bullets are required. Seriously!!!! And you do they hyper link thing. So you're there, girl.
I love adding pictures to tell the story of the post. Problem is half the time my computer is so slow I don't have the time to include them!
Good suggestions! I try to reread what I've written to make sure it is fairly tight and doesn't have obvious grammatical flaws. Some blogs are distracting if they aren't careful and have a lot of misspellings and broken sentences. You have edited some of my articles even after I proofed them, so you know how even carefully checked work can have mistakes slip through.
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