Give Me Something To Look At!

What makes a web page something that you want to visit over and over again?  Content, of course!  However, once all those words start to blur together, give me something  visual to look at.  That's where the use of multimedia tools come into play.   Multimedia tools are tools that allow you to insert text, audio, still images, animation, video, or some type of interactivity content to your web page.  The use of multimedia tools should enhance your site (Sniderman, 2010).    The picture of the moving waterfall came from a site called Photobucket.  This site has tons of animated pictures that can be used for a variety of purposes.  You can even add sound.  I started to add sound to the waterfall, but I thought it might be too distracting for some people.  That brings me to my second point.  Too much multimedia might not be such a good idea.  Can you say sensory overload?  

Now, let's pretend I was writing a blog about a trip to the zoo.  It would be one thing for me to describe the majestic beast, perched on top of the rocks, with a roar that put fear in everything within a one mile radius, or I could simply do this : 

Okay, so maybe he wasn't really perched, more like sleeping, but wasn't the video nice?  The video is thanks to a site called PhotoPeach.  This site allows you to take your pictures and create a story.  You can add music, sound and text.  All of these things enhance your story, and allows the viewer to live in the experience, exactly like you did.  

Every multimedia tool will not work for everything.  As a writer, you must consider the message you are trying to create, your audience, and the method of dissemination first. Once those details have been worked out, finding the perfect tool will make your page much more creative, entertaining, and appealing. 

Zachary Sniderman (2010). How to: Add multimedia to your blog. Mashable.
http://mashable.com/2010/07/28/add-multimedia-to-blog/

This Lady is Crazy! And I Love Her!

The Bloggess

While I was perusing the list of the "Top 25 Blogs," I came across one that captured my attention solely because of the name, "The Bloggess."  I believe the title captured my attention so abruptly because it called out to my inner diva, something that all women have, but may not easily admit.  As I clicked link after link on her page trying to determine the purpose of her blog, I found it, sitting right there looking at me.  "I wrote for the Houston Chronicle, but I needed an uncensored space to say the F-word and talk about ninjas."  This lady is crazy, and I love her!  But why?  What makes her blog so successful?  She has widgets to Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.  This helps her readers share the content that they love with others, which brings in   more followers (Guest Author, n.d.).  Her content is also full of unscripted wit.   And who doesn't love a natural comedian? The Bloggess' page also has links to other sites that contain information she thinks her reader may find interesting and helpful.  Or, at the very least, funny!

THE BLOGGESS' BEST PRACTICES!

1.  She decided what she was going to blog about, Life!

2.  The name of her blog is synonymous with diva, and anyone of the female persuasion loves that, and men just want to see what women are talking about....#nosy!

3.  Her theme and logo, well it's obvious no expense was spared here.

4.  Widgets and buttons, she's definitely not afraid of social media! (Guest Author, n.d.).

The New Super Hero, or Shero, maybe Villain?

There's really no need for me to continue with my count of  The 12 Steps to having a Successful blog.  The Bloggess has covered all of them.  Her page is a sarcastic, insightful, foul mouthed trip into the life of being female.  Any one who knows a female, is a female, once was a female, thinking about becoming a female, or likes or dislikes a female should check this blog out!

Reference:

Guest Author (n.d.). 12 steps to launch a successful blog. Retrieved from 

www.dailyblogtips.com/steps-to-successful-blog/