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Choosing a worthy topic is essential to the success of | [[Blog_Writing_for_College_Students|Home]] | ||
[[File:Technology-blogs.png|thumb|upright=3| There are a vast number of viable blog topics available for students.]] | |||
Choosing a worthy topic is essential to the overall success of a blog <ref group=>Carroll, 140</ref><ref group=>Rehner, "Choosing Your Blog Topic"</ref>. A focused topic expresses a central idea and unifies each successive post <ref group=>Loos, "What is a Topic?"</ref>. At first, a specific topic may seem to confine creativity, but focusing the topic actually provides endless creative possibilities <ref group=>Trunk, "Blogs Without Topics are a Waste of Time"</ref>. A focused topic encourages the audience to engage more actively and interact as a part of a blog community <ref group=>Gardner,"Niche Blogging"</ref>, ultimately enhancing the popularity of the blog. Creating a successful blog topic can take a significant amount of forethought and preparation and encompasses brainstorming, focus, assessment, and finalization. | |||
== Brainstorm== | == Brainstorm== | ||
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===Personalize It=== | ===Personalize It=== | ||
#Write down personal interests, dislikes, and topics that appeal to you. With a little introspection you can analyze and learn about yourself, your disciplines or “something that helps define your personality” <ref group=>Lucas, "Choosing a blog topic"</ref> and your passions. | #Write down personal interests, dislikes, and topics that appeal to you. With a little introspection you can analyze and learn about yourself, your disciplines or “something that helps define your personality” <ref group=>Lucas, "Choosing a blog topic"</ref> and your passions. | ||
#Make sure you must have experience involving your topic ideas in order to establish credibility within your writing. Consider your personal experiences and how they have shaped who you are and your writing style, your opinions as well as your qualifications. | #Make sure you must have experience involving your topic ideas in order to establish credibility within your writing. Consider your personal experiences and how they have shaped who you are and your writing style, your opinions, as well as your qualifications. | ||
#Use your personal character <ref group=>Archuleta, "How to Write a Personal Statement"</ref> to your advantage when brainstorming in order to allow the audience to understand a little more about you. This transparency will not only make you relatable online, but will also help identify your specific [[Audience]] and blogging community. | #Use your personal character <ref group=>Archuleta, "How to Write a Personal Statement"</ref> to your advantage when brainstorming in order to allow the audience to understand a little more about you. This transparency will not only make you relatable online, but will also help identify your specific [[Audience]] and blogging community. | ||
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==Focus the Niche== | ==Focus the Niche== | ||
When a topic is narrowed and focused<ref group=>Lucas, "Choosing a blog topic"</ref> into a niche, the writer can express more expertise on the subject, connect with more readers and essentially attract like-minded people. In order to find your blog niche, focus on your blog’s purpose, differentiation and inspiration. | When a topic is narrowed and focused<ref group=>Lucas, "Choosing a blog topic"</ref> into a niche, the writer can express more expertise on the subject, connect with more readers and, essentially, attract like-minded people. In order to find your blog niche, focus on your blog’s purpose, differentiation and inspiration. | ||
===Plan the Purpose=== | ===Plan the Purpose=== | ||
Your blog’s purpose<ref group=>Gunelius, "Top 10 Reasons to Start a Blog" | Your blog’s purpose<ref group=>Gunelius, "Top 10 Reasons to Start a Blog"</ref> should focus the [[Readability|Writing Style]] of the blog subsequently helping to identify your [[Audience]]. Some purposes might include the following: | ||
* Educate yourself | * Educate yourself | ||
* Educate others | * Educate others | ||
* Research a particular topic | * [[Research Methods|Research]] a particular topic | ||
* Learn through communicative discussion and debate | * Learn through communicative discussion and debate | ||
* Help other people with similar problems | * Help other people with similar problems | ||
| Line 50: | Line 53: | ||
*Other blogs | *Other blogs | ||
*Articles | *Articles | ||
* | *Research | ||
*Personal experiences | *Personal experiences | ||
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===Ensure the Popularity=== | ===Ensure the Popularity=== | ||
There are several ways to assess the potential | There are several ways to assess the potential popularity <ref group=>Rowse, "How to Choose a Niche Topic for your Blog"</ref>of the topic idea | ||
# Search for blogs with similar ideas and investigate their popularity. | # Search for blogs with similar ideas and investigate their popularity. | ||
# Look up books or journal articles with similar topics in online stores, such as [http://www.amazon.com Amazon] or [http://www.barnesandnoble.com Barnes and Noble] and assess the comments and overall popularity of the books. | # Look up books or journal articles with similar topics in online stores, such as [http://www.amazon.com Amazon] or [http://www.barnesandnoble.com Barnes and Noble] and assess the comments and overall popularity of the books. | ||
# Use the | # Use the “For Dummies” test <ref group=>Morrow, "21 Warning Signs"</ref>. Try to find a reference for your topic in the [http://www.dummies.com “For Dummies” book brand]. If such a book exists, the topic is already popular and is a great place to begin your blog topic search. | ||
===Ensure the Originality=== | ===Ensure the Originality=== | ||
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===Creating the Title=== | ===Creating the Title=== | ||
When creating the | When creating the topic title <ref group=>Lively, "How to Choose Blog Topics"</ref> or [[Headers and Sub-headers|subtitle]] ask the following questions: | ||
*Is the title overt and easily readable? | *Is the title overt and easily readable? | ||
*Can the viewer quickly grasp the topic idea by simply reading the title? | *Can the viewer quickly grasp the topic idea by simply reading the title? | ||
*Does the narrative of the topic match the title’s observable intent? | *Does the narrative of the topic match the title’s observable intent? | ||
**A first person narrative suggests sharing your personal views while a third person narrative suggests a more educational and professional approach. For example, adding the first person –ing to the beginning of the title “Discovering a Passion” gives the reader the impression that the writer will incorporate personal experiences and opinions into the blog, while the third person “Discover a Passion” suggests the blog’s intent is to educate through expertise. | **A first person narrative suggests sharing your personal views while a third person narrative suggests a more educational and professional approach. For example, adding the first person –ing to the beginning of the title “Discovering a Passion” gives the reader the impression that the writer will incorporate personal experiences and opinions into the blog, while the third person “Discover a Passion” suggests the blog’s intent is to educate through expertise. | ||
*Does the title and subtitle have an angle | *Does the title and subtitle have an angle? Is the angle something memorable, catchy, or fun? | ||
=Get Started= | =Get Started= | ||
The hardest part of choosing your blog topic is the act of | The hardest part of choosing your blog topic is the act of getting started <ref group=>Starak, "How to Choose the Right Blog Topic"</ref>. Topic ideas may not seem perfect until you begin brainstorming and expressing your ideas. Most importantly, use your instincts, interests, and personality to organize and focus your topic idea. | ||
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== References == | == References == | ||
#Archuleta, Elizabeth. [http://www.unm.edu/~pre/law/archuleta.htm "How to Write a Personal Statement."] UNM - New Mexico's Flagship University | The University of New Mexico. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Apr. 2013. | |||
#Carroll, Brian. [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/041599201X/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=humanindex-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=041599201X "Writing for Digital Media."] Routledge; New York, 2010. | |||
#Gardner, Brian. [http://www.briangardner.com/niche-blogging "Why Niche Blogging is Better than General Blogging."] Brian Gardner // Starbucks Addict Since 1974. N.p., 7 Mar. 2012. Web. 12 Apr. 2013. | |||
#Gunelius, Susan. [http://weblogs.about.com/od/startingablog/tp/Top-Ten-Reasons-to-Blog.htm "Start a Blog-Top 10 Reasons to Start a Blog."] About.com Blogging. N.p., 2013. Web. 12 Apr. 2013. | |||
#Lively, Jess. [http://jesslively.com/how-to-choose-blog-topics/ "How to Choose Blog Topics."] Jess Lively. N.p., 5 Feb. 2013. Web. 12 Apr. 2013. | |||
#Loos, Eugene E. [http://www-01.sil.org/linguistics/GlossaryOfLinguisticTerms/WhatIsATopic.htm "What is a Topic?" ] 2004. Web. April 5, 2013. | |||
#Lucas, Gerald. [http://litmuse.net/resources/digital-media/choosing-a-blog-topic/ "Choosing a blog topic."] 2013. Web. March 29, 2013. | |||
#Mind Tools Ltd. [http://www.mindtools.com/brainstm.html "Brainstorming" ] 2013. Web. March 31, 2013. | |||
#Morrow, Jon. [http://boostblogtraffic.com/blog-topic/ "21 Warning Signs You Chose the Wrong Topic for Your Blog."] Boost Blog Traffic. N.p., 13 Apr. 2012. Web. 12 Apr. 2013. | |||
#Rehner, Amy. [http://choosingatopic.wordpress.com "Choosing Your Blog Topic."] March 2013. Web. March 29, 2013. | |||
#Rowse, Darren. [http://www.problogger.net/archives/2006/02/15/how-to-choose-a-niche-topic-for-your-blog/ "How to Choose a Niche Topic for your Blog."] Blogging for Beginners. N.p., 15 Feb. 2006. Web. 12 Apr. 2013. | |||
#Starak, Yaro. [http://www.entrepreneurs-journey.com/newsletters/how-to-choose-the-right-blog-topic "How to Choose the Right Blog Topic."] Blog Tips Newsletter. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Apr. 2013. | |||
#The Writing Center. [http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/brainstorming/ "Brainstorming"] 2013. Web. March 31, 2013. | |||
#Trunk, Penelope. [http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2009/10/06/blogs-without-topics-are-a-waste-of-time/ "Blogs without topics are a waste of time | Penelope Trunk Blog."] Get Career Advice from Penelope Trunk. N.p., 6 Oct. 2009. Web. 12 Apr. 2013. | |||
==See Also== | |||
*[[Narrowcasting]] | |||
*[[Research Methods]] | |||
*[[Participation]] | |||
*[[Audience]] | |||
[[Category:New Media]] | |||