Personal Blogs Found on News-Press.com

You’re a snowbird back in SWF. You’ve just finished reading a Sam Cook article in the News-Press (paper or online) in which he’s made snide remarks about the creative driving habits of senior citizen snowbirds and you’re livid about the liberties he has taken. But rather than shouting expletives from your lanai, you logon to your News-Press blog and present an antitheses of his thesis and perhaps in appropriate words mention, "where Sam should go and what he should do".

Your opinion of Sam and his column will now be posted on the News-Press Web site available to literally thousands of readers rather than heard by just a few of your neighbors.

If you’ve read any of the News-Press blogs I’m sure you recognize their value. Unlike a Letter to the Editor which limits the number words you can submit, a blog allows you to pontificate to your hearts content.

Whenever I mention blogging to older adults more often than not their eyes glaze over. And if there’s any response at all it’s thank you very much but mastering Vista is time consuming enough. Why would I want to spend time creating a blog?

Why? Because in addition to being a personal bully pulpit because it’s free and extraordinarily easy to maintain, a News-Press blog can be an effective and inexpensive way for an organization to establish a presence on the Web.

No experience is necessary to establish a blog. It’ll take about as long as it takes to read this column. And should it be your organization’s blog, no experience is necessary to maintain it.

The News-Press provides all the tools you need to create an effective personal (public or anonymous) and/or organization blog site. You can upload photos, receive and respond to messages, provide an opportunity for readers to make comments and design attractive Posts using sophisticated word processing tools to include adding photo and videos. There’s even an option to create links to alternative Web sites or blogs.

A Post can be published immediately upon completion, on a specific date and time or saved as a draft until ready to post.

The News-Press Web site not only provides a convenient location with extraordinary exposure, with its convenient search feature you’re guaranteed your blog can be found.

You’ll have no problem creating a personal blog, but if you need advise creating a blog site for your organization contact Michelle Hudson (mhudson@news-press.com).

Here’s wishing you a Good Boot.