What Makes A Good Blog?

     What makes the elements of a good blog? It takes content, readability, good usage of social media, good usage of images, and a good place to have a discussion. After all, what is a blog? It's a place to have a discussion about any topic you want. You post your opinion on a topic, then you back it up, with your version of the truth.

     Yet, so many people try to blog, and so many fail? Why? It's because one or more of the essential ingredients to the blog is missing. Think about a cake. If you don't have all your ingredients, or you have too much of one ingredient, your cake comes out horrible.

     This is true with the blogging world. If you are missing one or more design element, your blog will not make sense to some people. For example, you could make a very well placed argument. However, some people, when they see many lines of text, they just shut off. Keep them interested with visual aids. “Graphic design elements can make your blog stand out from the crowd. Well chosen pictures help to get your ideas across easier and provide a visual appeal that will make visiting your site much more enjoyable for viewers. Pictures and graphics that are related to your content give readers a preview of what your blog has to offer and also add a visual appeal that will draw readers in and keep them interested.” (Wildfire Marketing Group, 2013, para. 4)

     An example is the blog of fellow classmate Jeannie. (http://thereshouldbea12stepprogramforthis.blogspot.com) We see that in her blog, she uses many images. However, she also understands one of the key elements to this, and that is using the correct images. In her blog, entitled, “Your Faux Pas is Showing,” we see that she uses images that are suitable to the blog topic.

     We see that in this blog posting, she uses a stone with the numbers one through ten, written in Roman numerals, which is thought to represent the ten commandments. One of her assignments was to read a piece called, “Ten Commandments of Intercultural Communication “ by Martin Hahn. Thus, she has intrigued the reader, just by the image.

     Next, we see an image of the differences in handshakes between Microsoft founder, Bill Gates, and Facebook founder, Mark Zuckerberg. The difference stands that Bill Gates had his free hand in his pocket, when he was shaking the hand of the South Korean prime minister. This sparked a debate on etiquette in foreign countries. Again, the picture is on topic, because she was explaining how each culture has a different faux pas, when it comes to non-verbal communication.

     When incorporating images on my blog, I plan on using the same tact. Keep it to the point. If I was writing a blog post on Manchester United, I would not want Liverpool's logo in the post. That would confuse the reader.

     Readability is one of the tougher parts of blogging. Of course, you want to have great content, but people have to read the content. Would you sell a pair of glasses with scratches on them? “Easy to read content is one of the most important elements of an effective blog design. Large font size, contrasting color against the background, sufficient line and paragraph spacing are some ways to ensure content is easy to read.” (Kronik Media, 2011, Para. 3)

     In classmate Stewart's blog (http://stuartphillips.blogspot.com), we see one of the things not to do. One of the first questions any blogger should ask themselves is, “are all my posts in the same font and the same font size?” If the answer to any part of this question is no, you have to revise the blog immediately. I noticed that one of Stewart's blog postings has a bigger font size than the rest. While you want a good, large font size, you have to keep all the blog postings consistent.

     It would be like going into Burger King, and not having all the burger patties the same size. You could end up with a Whopper that has a huge amount of meat, or you can end up with a Whopper that has very little meat. You're going to end up with unhappy customers, if you go down this road. Eventually, you will end up angering all of them, because at some point, you're going to give a smaller portion to everyone.

     I have always treated by blogs, like they were restaurants. Consistency matters more than people think it does. When you are consistent on the smaller things, you can then work on the bigger projects. One of the bigger projects is the emphasis on content. After all, this is why people come to your blog, is it not? Your content, like the smaller things, has to be consistent. One of the bigger pitfalls I found with earlier blogs I had, was that I would bounce from politics, to sports, to social commentary, ect. People would get my message confused.

The blog that I am using for class, is a place where I can showcase my writing skills. This involves my freelance writing, as well as my writing for class. You will not find my social commentary, political commentary, or even sports commentary on this blog.

In classmate Annaliisa Garcia's blog, (http://eatingbeansinchina.blogspot.com/) she has her writings for class, but also, she has some of her commentary on China, and her experiences living in the country. While I think she will be a great ambassador, for people who want to move to China, the question should be asked, does it belong on the same blog with topics dealing with communication? Some one could get confused, as to the purpose of the blog.

To summarize, proper usage of images and consistency with the content and the little things, like font size and font type could go a long way in determining the success or failure of a blog. The truth is, many of us are great at one part of the blog, and then struggle with other areas. Consistency is the key, in the end. Once you master consistency, then everything else just falls into place.

References

Sing, K. (2011) Fifteen Elements of a Great Blog Design. Kronik Media. Online. http://www.kronikmedia.co.uk/blog/15-elements-of-great-blog-design/2133/

Wildfire Marketing Group. (2013) Five Components of a Successful Blog. Wildfire Marketing Group. Online. http://www.wildfiremarketinggroup.com/five-components-of-a-successful-blog/

Phillips, S. (2013) Wandering One. Blog. http://stuartphillips.blogspot.com/

Garica, A. (2013) Eating Beans in China. Blog. http://eatingbeansinchina.blogspot.com/

Swint, J. (2013) A Blog For Class? Blog. http://thereshouldbea12stepprogramforthis.blogspot.com/?zx=f18c35f0afce3a60

The Media, How do You Get It?

                                        

     One of the most listened to forms of media technology is radio. Everyone has a radio, in some form, or another. It could be your alarm clock, or your car radio, but radio exists everywhere. During emergencies, radio is a vital tool. “If there is a power outage during an emergency, your wireline phone, wireless device or VoIP service may not work unless you have a back-up power supply. If you suffer only an electrical power outage, you should still be able to use a traditional wireline (but not cordless) telephone, because electrical and telephone transmissions use different circuits or wires and telephone company facilities have back-up power available. If you keep the battery on your wireless phone or other device fully charged, these devices should also continue working during a power outage.” (FCC, unk., para. 8) it is because of this, radio is always going to be needed.

                            

There is something for everyone, when it comes to radio. While the music side of the business seems to be
losing out to internet applications, like Pandora, talk radio has become extremely popular. This could be, because of the growing distrust for the “traditional media.” Talk radio became popular, because of it's interactive format. While most national shows take few, if any, phone calls, local shows are driven on phone calls. The callers interact with the host, and create a dialogue that is talked about at water coolers around the office.



                                                              

     Of course, another place that people would talk about what they heard on talk radio, is the internet. Through instant messaging and e-mails, communication is quick, and very interactive. Social media, like Facebook and Twitter, brings your friends closer to you. Websites like Google, Wikipedia, and other search engines, brings information to your fingertips. Meanwhile, entertainment is taken care of, thanks to sites like YouTube, Hulu, and Netflix.


     The pitfalls of your audience, on the internet, is that it's everyone. It means that your message could be lost in the translation, when everyone can see it. However, another good form to communicate , on the internet, is with a blog. The blog is a useful tool, because your opinion can be spread out quickly. Social media is now even replacing the yellow pages. According to the Marketing TechBlog, fifteen per cent of consumers now use social networks to find local business. (Marketing TechBlog, 2012, para. 1) People want to be informed , when they make purchasing decisions.

                                                             






 n    Take a website like Angie's List, for example, you have a website, where people write reviews on their experience of certain businesses. The businesses could look at this, and see where they need to improve. Also, consumers can see how a certain client was treated. This is similar to the old “word of mouth” advertising, that existed before the internet. One negative review is not the end of the world, but when you look at results over time, you can form a general opinion.

                                                    






     Another group of media technology using blogs, but to stay alive, are newspapers. The printed word seems to be going away, these days. Thanks to social media, television, and radio, the newspapers have become nothing more than lining in a birdcage. With that being said, the newspapers are using technology to stay afloat. Electronic readers, such as the Kindle, gives a more affordable option, to the reader, who is still interested in opinion pieces, letters to the editor, and the obituaries.


     The newspapers have a very limited audience, however, there is one. There are people who still enjoy having the newspaper, in their hands, in the morning. I know that I use newspapers to do the crosswords, and the Sudoku.


     Yet, newspapers are not the only form of printed media. You still have books and magazines. When it comes to the books, you have popular series like Harry Potter, or Twilight, that keeps the book industry going. Electronic readers have helped people to enjoy books in more places than ever before.


     Meanwhile, magazines are still as popular as ever. In my line of work, I still use the preseason magazines as show prep. I also subscribe to Sports Illustrated, and ESPN. These are great, when you want interesting pieces on interesting people. The main problem, with printed media, is that it's not interactive. Sure, you can write a letter to the editor, but it could be days, or even weeks, before it's in the newspaper.




                                                   





     Television is quite interesting. It's not interactive, at least most of the time. Yet, the television seems to be on all day and all night. For some, the television greets them, with news, sports and weather, in the mornings. For others, it's a form of entertainment all day. Television is still the leading form of the way we get our news. Advertisements, in the form of commercials, still inform the audience about products.


     Yet, TV has even found ways to adapt, in an ever increasing internet world. Many cable companies will offer the internet with their cable packages. Also digital video recorders are now offered, with just about every cable package. This is a great technology, because it allows us to watch programming at our convenience.

                                                          






     When it comes to news and information, the television is still a place to go. There are more than their fair share of twenty-four hour news channels and twenty-four hour sports channels. Since 1960, the Presidential debates have been shown on television. As a matter of fact, some political scientists have pointed to television in John F. Kennedy's defeat of then Vice President Richard Nixon.


     Television has seen its fair share of problems, as well. Like radio and newspapers, large corporations have taken over television. So the control of the media is very limited. This has created a backlash, which has led to talk radio's rise to prominence. With all the variety on the television, and it's easy access, all you have to do, is turn on the television, and switch channels. TV will be here to stay.














































References


Federal Communications Commission. (UNK) Emergency Communications. FCC Online. Online. http://www.fcc.gov/guides/emergency-communications


Karr, D.(2012) Infographic: 15% Use Social Media to Find Local Businesses. Marketing Tech Blog. Online http://www.marketingtechblog.com/social-media-facts/#ixzz2XBqHGphA





Yamshon, L (2011) Angie’s List: Is the Service Site Worth Its Membership Fee?. PC World. Online. http://www.pcworld.com/article/237331/angies_list_is_the_service_site_worth_its_membership_fee.html?page=2

Step Into my Office Please...

     No one one wants to deliver bad news. There's always the personal insecurities that if you do so, people aren't going to like you, or there will be an embarrassing confrontation. However, you cannot allow certain attitudes and behaviors to continue, just for the sake of output and company morale.

There's a kind of employee, that all companies have. He or she is loud, obnoxious, confrontational, and just have a poor attitude in general. How do you deal with people like this? What is the correct course of action to take, in order for the employee to know you expect them to act a certain way? How are they going to react, and how are you going to react to it?

     The first course of action, should be to prepare your comments. When dealing with situations like this, you want to be a thorough as possible. You begin by talking to his or her employees about specific incidents. Also, follow up with his or her clients, that have complained about the employee. Ask them about specific incidents. What do they remember, what triggered them to believe the person was being rude?

Just by these simple actions, you are doing two things: first, you are preparing your remarks to the employee, giving him or her specific incidents that can be used as a learning tool; secondly, you are showing the other employees, and clients, that you are listening to their concerns. By doing this, you may end up preventing more confrontation down the road. When you are prepared with the facts, you aren't as nervous, and you can anticipate, but not predict, the behavior of the employee. You can know some of the questions that will be coming, and have an answer for them.

     Next, it is time for the one-on-one meeting. There is no need to embarrass the employee, which could lead him or her to be on the defensive before the meeting even begins. Quietly walk up to the employee, and ask to speak with him or her, in private.

When this happens, you have to be direct. Remember, the best way to deal with an office place bully is to let them know they are not in charge. “Intervene quickly to stop the hostile behavior. Some managers put up with the behavior because they would rather not deal with it directly. While direct intervention and confrontation can be uncomfortable, it may be the only way to resolve the hostile situation positively.” (Woodman, 2013, para. 4)

     When confronting the employee, you will meet defensiveness. Bring up the incidents, and hold the employee accountable. While you should give the employee a chance to defend his or her self, do not give credibility to hostile behavior. While not acknowledging the behavior, do listen to what the employee has to say. “One of the key elements to conflict resolution is listening. If you see that anger is escalating, try to just listen and not interject your opinion or comments. The employee will appreciate your full attention and feel like you are acknowledging their thoughts and feelings. The employee will likely want to hear what you or others have to say.” (Notre Dame Online, 2013, para. 5)

      Once you have gone over the behaviors, restate the purpose of being at the company. Tell them why these behaviors are unacceptable. For example, if several of the consumer complaints are that he or she talks down to the customer, while trying to provide support, then explain to the employee that not everyone is as smart, or as trained as they are. Remind them that the customer service is the product you're selling. So, the person comes with the service. If the customer is not happy with the person, they will not be happy with the service.

     Finally, outline the expectations for the employee. Remind them, if their behavior does not improve, they will be facing harsher punishment, including termination. If needed, work with the employee on steps he or she can take to improve themselves. This includes offering an open door policy. Sometimes, employees will encounter difficult customers. Let him or her know the door is open at all times.  

References

Wolfe, L. (2013) Meeting Strategies - How To Deal With Hostile Employee Questions. About.com. Online. http://womeninbusiness.about.com/od/Meetings-and-Events/a/Meeting-Strategies-How-To-Deal-With-Hostile-Employee-Questions.htm
Woodman, C. (2013) How to Deal With Hostile Employees in the Workplace. Chron.com. Online. http://smallbusiness.chron.com/deal-hostile-employees-workplace-22107.html
Univ. of Notre Dame. (2013) Tips for Managing Hostile Employees. Notre Dame Online. Online. http://www.notredameonline.com/how-to-manage-hostile-employees/

Justice for Heratio (From The DeSade Files)

He spent hours staring at that bloody box. His anger kept boiling inside him. Kane kept having flashbacks to the night, he came home, and saw the package on his doorstep. He knew something was amiss, when he saw the blood on the box, and the writing “Satan Spawn, you’re next.” After he took the box inside, he opened it, and saw his brother’s head, and the pictures of what The Order did to Heratio’s family.

The Letter That Was Never Sent (from The DeSade Files)

Kane sat at his desk, looking at the picture oh his dearly departed brother, and his family. He thought of the nephew he would never get to see, the sister-in-law that he will never know. Kane took out his pen, and began writing.

The War Begins, Part 1 (from The DeSade Files)

As Lillith and Kane walked around the hallowed grounds of New Orleans, he knew they wouldn't be going back. Kane had made his peace with leaving Scotland years ago, he knew that if he stayed, he wouldn't live much longer. He never minded the thought of his own death, at the hands of The Order, but now, he has a fiancee, he has his daughter back.

He could feel the anger coming off her. Yet, it was his very own daughter, Ana, that would put Lillith’s mind to ease. Lillith had become quite suspicious of Kane over the past few days, the late night phone calls, the secrecy. She was scared that Kane was cheating on her. Every time she would bring it up, Kane would quickly change the subject. He didn’t want her to know what his true intentions for moving.

Welcome

Welcome to my blog. I hope you enjoy it, part of this will be used for school projects, but I will also be posting my thoughts, and writings (as I'm attempting to write a book). Enjoy.

Indebted to Lucifer (from The DeSade Files)

The plan was in place. The rebel demons stood outside of the Lucifer’s castle. Ready to slaughter, and take over all of Hades. The march had been a long one. Bucon looked at his lover and general, Kane. “Are you ready?” He asked. “I’m about as ready as we can be, my lover,” Kane replied. There was this almost trance, the army seemed to be under. At this point, they knew they were into the death march, and if they were to be successful, there would be heavy casualties. They accepted their fate by this point. They knew, Lucifer was at his weakest.