Blogging and why we do it.

Blogging, what is it and why do people do it? A blog is defined as "a website containing a writer's or group of writer's own experiences, opinions, etc. and often having links to other websites" (Dictionary.com). As of today there are 152 million blogs online and that number is ever growing! The subjects of blogs vary greatly and it is most likely that you will be able to find a blog that covers a topic of interest to you.

I first started a blog my freshman year here at Utah State with the intention of really just having a place that I could share my ideas and thoughts. The blog didn't last very long and I ended up removing it simply because I never updated it. Many people start blogs for other reasons such as travel documentation or a place to share professional tips. My fraternity big brother is currently serving a two year deployment for the Peace Corps in the African country of Mozambique and every week he updates us on his adventures!

Blogs also are used by companies to promote their label and to provide a way to keep their customers coming. In fact studies have shown that business with blogs have 55% more website visitors, and these visitors are more likely to purchase an item or service if there is a blog post about it. 40% of businesses in America use blogs for marketing purposes and two out of three marketing groups state that their blogs are critical to business.

The top five reasons that people blog are for; 1. Entertainment and Fun, 2. Networking and Exposure, 3. For Business or a Cause, 4. Journalism and, 5. Education.

If you are thinking about starting a blog, here are a few nuggets of information that can help you to create a successful blogging experience.

1. Morning is the most popular for blogging.

2. Most people read their blogs before 10 am.

3. Commenting on blogs peaks around 8 am.

4. Identify and understand your audience.

5. Be consistent (don't post sporadically, organize your topics)

6. Build a call to action, this is the reason people read your blog, influence your readers.

If you would like more information about blogging or want more tips for successful blogs please visit the following links!

http://weblogs.about.com/od/startingablog/tp/Top-5-Reasons-Why-People-Blog.htm

http://www.myprconnection.com/blog/prsa/22-blogging-facts-that-will-blow-your-mind/

http://blog.bufferapp.com/blogging-advice-for-beginners-from-16-experts

Nokia's MORPH Nanotechnology

In doing some further research into the future of communications technology I stumbled across this awesome concept from the Nokia Research Center! I highly recommend checking it out! Click on the link below!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQOyxAsGFAA#action=share

How Has Social Media Changed Communication

From the time that I was born in the early nineties to about age 10 I can remember that the fastest way for people to communicate was by phone call and that my parents and their families and friends used letters and phone calls for their main form of communication. My mom would have my sisters and I write letters to our relatives and friends who lived further away and they would write letters back. Personal emails where in their adolescence and I think that I was 10 when my dad signed me up for my first email account which is the one that I still use today! I remember thinking that email was great because of how quick my friends and I could communicate between each other. Later on MSN, my email provider, added instant messaging and you could create a little profile with your picture and some personal information. Often times I got in trouble with my parents because I would spend way too much time instant messaging and emailing my friends! Then when I was in the sixth grade I believe, Myspace became a huge hit, especially with my generation. Every single one of my friends had a Myspace and it was very clear that if you didn’t have one you weren’t cool. Unfortunately my parents made it very clear that I was not allowed to have a Myspace and they even went as far as blocking it on the computer! This was when I noticed a change in the way my friends communicated, suddenly the gossip was about what another kid posted on their page and what music they listened to and the pictures they shared. Very quickly various social trends emerged with Myspace, cliques where formed online and people began to get mean via the internet. Internet bullying became rampant in my school and sometimes the fight moved from the internet to behind the cafeteria. Since I was not allowed the privilege of a Myspace it seemed crazy to me what was going on. I felt like my generation were no longer innocent and free spirited kids.

I was a freshman in high school when Facebook pushed Myspace out of the limelight and even though my parents still forbade me to have one, I got one anyway. Soon after I was caught on Facebook my parents had them too. Needless to say I was pretty much hooked on Facebook from the beginning. I consider myself to be a social person and this social platform made it even easier to be social. However after a while I realized that I was starting to become careless about what I posted on Facebook and there times that I posted some damaging words. It was the same for everyone else, people who would not ever have said something to another person’s face was suddenly writing about it on Facebook. This is true today with any social media platform, when you post something negative on social media there isn’t an instant retaliation and even when retaliation occurs there is no face to face communication and the intimidation of argument is non-existent. While social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter are often used for the spreading of comedy, ideas, information and more it seems like there are also what I like to call social battles that occur every day and many people feed off of the negativity. While I enjoy using Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr I think they have caused people to lose touch with genuine interpersonal communication and we are quickly losing the ability to create beneficial meaning from communication.