WBC #9: Welcome to my TED talk (LOL)

Address an adolescent class on blogging & the internet

How does it feel being an adolescent these days? It was a curious yet confusing time for me back then. Blogging and the internet were not huge as it is today. A part of me is glad that I didn’t get to be exposed that early to this virtual world that exists in the digital space. At least I was a bit matured to know how to handle this new world and I’m actually still learning.

I’m sure most of you are active on social media especially on platforms like WhatsApp, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat. And your experiences on each of these platforms are quite different. Depending on your interests, your activities on these apps differ. If you are into fashion, food, poetry, music, sports, your timeline will reflect that.

Back in the day, only established authors, artistes, celebrities, businesses and organizations had websites and it looked expensive to create and maintain one, it still costs money to keep a good one by the way. Now, anyone at all with a vision to share something of interest to him/her can start a blog and make it successful.

There are many providers but I’m a big fan of WordPress so I’ll share some of the pros on joining the WordPress family. WordPress provides a global community of bloggers so you don’t have to suffer too much to find people to check out your blog. All you have to drop by, read, like, drop a meaningful comment and you could earn long-lasting and loyal followers from there.  

Depending on your niche, there are several templates both free and premium so as to get your dream blog look. Blogging is a fun learning experience. Not a competition; just a forum for exchange of ideas. Blogging goes beyond just posting your content on your site. You have to be actively involved in letting people know there’s a new post out. Share on any social media platform you are on and engage with your followers when they leave comments or questions. They took time to read your post and left those comments. It is only polite to let them know you appreciate their time and effort.

The internet is a huge blessing to us but it is wise to be on your guard at all times. Some people relish in trolling and making you feel less of yourself because of something you’ve posted. When people leave constructive criticisms in the comments section, accept them gracefully. If someone is just being mean, you can choose to reply in a classy manner or delete the comment altogether. It’s your space and you have the right to protect its dignity.

Should everyone have a blog? That would be interesting and e-crowded, right? Some people get excited about the idea and start with enthusiasm but after a while, fall away. I’d say, you should if you believe you can commit to being consistent about it.

How to start? Just sign up on WordPress and continue from there.

© Josephine Amoako 2019