Are you an expert blogger or poser?
March 6th 2007 03:15
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Sunday, March 04, 2007
Are You an 'Expert' Blogger, or an 'Expert' Poser?
I was inspired to write this post after reading a rant by Lorelle VanFossen where she asks the question "Are You Walking The Blogging Walk". I have to admit this has also crossed my mind on one or two occasions.
According to Lorelle:
The “I’m the expert” bragging quality so often found on blogs makes you wonder if the blogger really knows what they are blogging about. The harder the effort they put into convincing you that they are the expert - well, it makes me suspicious.
You can read more of her rant here. But as I was reading it I couldn't help but appreciate the irony, because after viewing her blog she also seems to consider herself a blogging "expert" in her own right.
Nonetheless I was wondering if maybe she had the Bloke in mind as she wrote it. Admittedly I do mention in my profile that I have been quoted by major newspapers and considered to be an expert in blogging, and some of her rant sounds a little close to home to be just coincidence, but I digress.
So rather than wave my clenched fist towards the gods I thought it might help to clarify matters if I jotted down what the credentials are for an "expert" or "pro" blogger in my niche - i.e. on the topic of blogging and all things related thereof.
1. A good background and knowledge of computer technology:
I'm talking about having a very good background in computers. I don't mean that you have to be a certified computer scientist, but I do believe you should at least have a very good grasp of computerese and how to maintain a computer.
Why? Because you need to be able to run a computer to be a successful blogger that's why. It never ceases to amaze me how many a so-called "expert" or "pro" blogger I've come across have very little or no background in computers before starting their blogging career.
2. A knowledge and expertise in web technology:
I'm not talking about being a web surfer either. I mean you should at least have experience and knowledge with such things as web design (HTML, CSS etc.), and be able to perform things that are associated with maintaining your blog.
After all, if you're going to pass yourself off as an "expert" on technology related topics, then please at least have the good sense to know what you are talking about.
It also amazes me when I see "expert" or "pro" bloggers that can't even design their own blog, preferring instead to outsource it to an "expert". Or their blog looks like it was made on Microsoft Word, but they are never lacking in giving us the benefit of their advice (or criticism). It really makes me go hmm sometimes.
3. An expertise in blog technology:
This should be obvious, but having an excellent grasp of blogging technologies as well as keeping abreast of changes within the field is absolutely essential.
I don't know about you but I can easily figure out who the posers are. I constantly come across so-called "expert" or "pro" bloggers that have not been blogging for very long and who obviously (or at least it's obvious to me) do not really understand the terms they are attempting to convey to their audience. (There's that "hmm" again).
I also find it mind boggling that many "expert" or "pro" bloggers merely aggregate information that is readily available on the web. Experienced bloggers like myself can easily see through those who subscribe to the "fake it till you make it" theory of blogging. So a word of advice... passion is a great thing, but knowledge and understanding is more important.
4. A lot of experience as a blogger:
I mean "a lot" of blogging experience. This should also go without saying. I'm talking about having years of experience running your own blog and participating in the blogosphere.
Personally I don't think the popularity of a blog has any bearing on this. I see a lot of a-listers who would definitely NOT pass the litmus list.
You wouldn't seek business advice from someone with little or no business experience would you? Of course not, so where do these posers find the temerity to pass themselves off as an "expert"? It really blows my mind.
There are also a lot of so-called "pro" bloggers who equate the word "pro" with making money on the net, which is in fact a misrepresentation of the word. Being a good huckster does not make you a "pro" blogger, for as we all know "pro" is actually short for the word 'professional' which is defined as someone who is:
# engaged in a profession or engaging in as a profession or means of livelihood; "the professional man or woman possesses distinctive qualifications"; "began her professional career after the Olympics"; "professional theater"; "professional football"; "a professional cook"; "professional actors and athletes";
# a person engaged in one of the learned professions;
# engaged in by members of a profession; "professional occupations include medicine and the law and teaching";
# a master: an authority qualified to teach apprentices, etc.
Let me also say this -- I don't believe that a formal education is necessary either, so long as the individual has the equivalent in experience and knowledge. That of course is especially applicable to blogging since there are little or no formal courses that I'm aware of. But some formal edumacation in computers sure wouldn't hurt either.
I'm talking mostly about my niche of course and the topic of blogging because it is near and dear to my heart. But the same goes for other niches as well. If you are going to run a blog on say... cameras for example and offer advice, then please be all means know a lot about cameras first.
Unfortunately many self-proclaimed "experts" or "pro" bloggers are posers more than anything else. But maybe that's ok because perhaps we could just reclassify them into a different niche. After all, they are very good at things like Googling, copying and pasting, making lists, dusting off old school textbooks or visiting the local library. So perhaps a more apt classification for these bloggers might be 'blog librarian', or 'web aggregator' or 'net disseminator', or...
The Bottom Line:
The reason for writing this post isn't just for my benefit or the posers. Now that I've outlined the basic JOB requirements for my blog niche, the challenge for you is to come up with your own.
I want you to sit down with pencil (or keyboard) in hand and jot down the requirements that you think you need for your chosen blog niche.
1. What education (or equivalent knowledge) do you need to be an "expert" in your niche?
2. Do you have an ability to write and to convey your knowledge to others?
3. Do you have a passion for the topic (yes that is still important).
4. What technologies do you need to know?
5. Do you have current information at your disposal to keep you abreast of changes within your niche?
After completing the above be honest and ask yourself this question -- are you really an "expert" in your niche or are you just a "poser". My conscience is clear. How about you?
If after completing this exercise and you've discovered that you are indeed a poser then all is not lost. Just find what you need (use those Google skills we talked about) and edumacate yourself until you are ready to go. But please don't jump the gun and hang your shingle first. The blogosphere is already overcrowded with too many hosers posers.
The bottom line is there is nothing wrong with turning your hobby or your passion into a career so long as you have the knowledge and experience to back it up.
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Comment by Mike Crowl
Webitz
Work Report
Comment by katyzzz
Photography Tips
MS Paint Art
Your comment is well received and well expressed, I think the article does allow for those who feel passionate about what they are doing to be an expert blogger.
Your other comments are quite consistent with the author's suggestions.
Thanks for your visit.
katyzzz
Comment by Ash
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
Wow I really have missed a few of your exhibits....I thought this an appropriate one to drop by on and leave a comment...although I will vote on your others. Time has been a little sparse recently and I do need to give up this blogging addiction I think....it is no good really....so I am attempting to wean myself off it....who knows if it will work, it seems to be at the moment.
I hope you are well :0)
ash
Comment by katyzzz
Photography Tips
MS Paint Art
My concerns are similar to yours, but I do realise how much time means to you.
I hope that in between all the rushing you are enjoying your course, I seem to be caught up in some technical legal problems at present which I could do without, after which I may be able to get cracking with my plans, but at present I feel I can serve some purpose in the things I do both for myself and others, plus I am having a little experiment which is the way I've chosen to spend my life over a number of years now.
So my life continues to be a little unpredictable.
I was pleased to read that there are recommendtions for internet manners, it seems many elsewhere are exercising them, there is a lot of content, despite the mature content only heading which really needs to be put under wraps. It is quite unpleasant for women especially to be so exposed but this does not seem to be a community that wants to function under normally acceptable standards.
Sorry you copped all that but I am feeling excited that I find elsewhere people of like mind with myself.
I watched a very good program on ABC TV last night. All panellists expressed themselves exceptionally well as did the cartoonist present. It was a pleasure to see something so well presented and without use of expletives, which really is no way to create and maintain a valid argument.
Many would be wise to learn from those ideals and I do notice there are some very well written blogs here that do not rely on such expletives and they make their point so much better by so doing.
Sorry, next reply will be very short indeed. Your contributions will be sorely missed.
Keep up with the study and concentrate on that memory, it will prove beneficial.
Love, katyzzzmum....I think I've been rejected elsewhere, I guess I'll just have to learn to take it. I'm pretty tough, despite being a sef-confessed wowser, of which I'm quite proud.
Comment by David
Comment by Norm
Consumption Malfunction
Equal and Opposite
Arses and Elbows
Footy Power
Comment by Norm
Consumption Malfunction
Equal and Opposite
Arses and Elbows
Footy Power
Comment by Ahmed
Video Gamer Kids
Little Green Foosballs
PolyKicks
You're a poser because you've turned your blog into a discussion community
Why? Because you need to be able to run a computer to be a successful blogger that's why. It never ceases to amaze me how many a so-called "expert" or "pro" blogger I've come across have very little or no background in computers before starting their blogging career.
I can't entirely say I agree here, if you can use computers to post stuff on your blog then thats all you need.
I'm not talking about being a web surfer either. I mean you should at least have experience and knowledge with such things as web design (HTML, CSS etc.), and be able to perform things that are associated with maintaining your blog.
After all, if you're going to pass yourself off as an "expert" on technology related topics, then please at least have the good sense to know what you are talking about.
It also amazes me when I see "expert" or "pro" bloggers that can't even design their own blog, preferring instead to outsource it to an "expert". Or their blog looks like it was made on Microsoft Word, but they are never lacking in giving us the benefit of their advice (or criticism). It really makes me go hmm sometimes.
If you're not going to be a blogger on CSS or HTML then there is nothing wrong about getting other people to do it for you, thats how the blogger who knows CSS and HTML makes a living after all..
While it is true that often times bloggers repeat stories it isn't often the case, I know for a fact bigger blogs make traffic simply by repeating old news stories, thats all well and good for them of course, thats their niche.
Every blogger has to find his/her niche in the end.
Comment by Hellvis
Earache Hotel
Comment by JoshZ
JZ
Comment by Deorre
Stress Alive
Man Lessons
Comment by Questionable Content
Try saying "blog" 25 times like the original poster did up there, and tell me you don't think it sounds retarded.
To be honest, I cringe when I admit I write a "blog". It's such a bandwagon, bullshit buzzword these days. Sure, there are a number of intriguing blogs out there, Free Plug Number 1: MIND ORGASMS and Free Plug Number 2: DIARY OF A STRIPPER (who needs to post more) and Free Plug Number 3: The Dope Chronicles, but consider the thousands of people who think they can do it because they have a keyboard and an Internet connection. They have absolutely nothing compelling to write, at all.
LIKE THIS GUY. I'm going to suggest he isn't an expert blogger, nor one who cares about giving the seething masses something interesting to read. This is what gives "blogging" the cringe-worthy status, in my books.
Perhaps this comment was off-topic. Perhaps not. I don't claim to be an expert at anything, but fuck - I'm a great drinker and a pretty solid writer. I can obviously handle computers otherwise I wouldn't be here. But never will I pretend to be an expert. I'm not posing, either. I'm Questionable Content.
That is all.
Comment by Bhumika
Political Minds
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Now that Ive sufficently confused myself...
Signing off as an amatuer blogger with a professional attitude who is an expert on what he likes and dislikes.
Comment by Mike Crowl
Webitz
Work Report
I think this is an excellent description of many bloggers.
Comment by KylieW
Celebrity Obsession
Beside, many "experts" can be real "posers"
Comment by Luke
Old Movies
Cane Toad Warrior
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Comment by Optomistic Opportunism
Bohemian Hiphop
Japanese Jazz Funk
Optomystic Opportunism
I write with conceptualism in mind, as opposed to being expressionistic.
Until I feel emotional about something.
I don't write blogs. I write. Even if I only write in blogs.
I hope noone else uses that as an excuse.
So... am I a poser?Maybe if I pose as a poser...
Opto
Comment by Lilla
From The Home Front
Enviro Warrior
Dream Herald
Esoteric Bookshop
'X' is an unknown quantity, and spurt is a drip under pressure...
Having said that : is there anyone here in Orble who would honestly say that they started their blog to be seen as an X-spurt?
None I've seen : nor I... I blog becuase I have a need to write, to be published, to gain feedback on my words. I don't blog to be professional ...or to make money (anymore)...
I'm with Questionable Content ...
*Cracked me up* (thank you QC) ...
Personally, I think the X-spurt's quoted here (Lorelle and Co.) are ... quite frankly?
[I]Posers![I]
Comment by katyzzz
Photography Tips
MS Paint Art
What happens when you don't fit either category?
It seems you've all had a lovely time here, together, I'm happy to see people being happy.
Thanks for all the contributions.
katyzzz
Comment by AnthonyB
Put me down for poser... I have very little in experience and don't know a whole lot about any subject I blog about. In fact, pro bloggers hate me because I expose the truths of all pro bloggers - that in fact, none of them are pro !!!
Or some, but anyway, I'm not one of them.
Great post, Katyzz. I don't know how many of us on Orble are Pro, I'd love to hear from some that are..
Comment by katyzzz
Photography Tips
MS Paint Art
Keep up that exercise, you're bound to be an expert on that, alone.
Yes, some more views would be good, considering the sum of the Orblers on line.
katyzzz
Comment by Adrian
Philosophy Blog
Comment by katyzzz
Photography Tips
MS Paint Art
Are you coming out for Peg.
I'm, sticking with my aesthetically pleasing icon.
We don't see much of you, do we? Good to see you laughing.
katyzzz