After over 15 years on the internet blogging and publishing religious websites I have learned a lot and I have observed many different trends and changes. I have also seen many good blogs and bloggers come and go.
Many started blogging in 2005 and 2006 because their friends did and it became the popular thing to do. It was a golden time when 1000’s of new blogs came into existence every hour of everyday. Some of my favorites and even some of the best blogs of that era no longer exist.
The Pope once said: “Technology cannot replace God”. Here’s a great quote I found today responding to that idea from GMO blog:
"Technology can’t replace God. God is God. He always will be. We need Him. BUT technology can help us to tell others about Him.”
Practically everyone and every business demands an email address from you these days. Purchasing flowers online, booking a room or a flight, to access a news site, setting up a blog, joining a social network, downloading a new program, leaving a comment on a website, or keeping in touch with family or friends. Any or all demand your email address.
One of the strangest facts for a new blogger to fully comprehend and accept is that when one writes a blog article it is actually copyrighted and its use is subject to the writer.
There is a great blending and sharing of stuff through social networking sites and through private emails that many times totally disregard copyright propriety.
Disconnecting from the internet and blogging is actually a very good thing to do every once in a while—especially vacations.
Also, once in a while I will take a necessary weekend off from it all just to relax and get the creative juices flowing again. This is really important—to be in it for the long haul you must learn to disconnect once in a while no matter how 'painful' LOL. Vacations are not only beneficial for your off-line work but for your on-line longevity also.
Personally I have put a lot of thought and effort into the colors showing on all of my blogs and websites. However I have not always been entirely successful.
ABOUT? WHO ARE YOU?
It is a mere afterthought on so many blog and websites yet the ‘About’ page is the second most viewed page on every site. Not only that but also the second destination of nearly every new visitor that comes aboard.
This is for all of you bloggers who have woken up one morning and discovered an offensive ad generated by Google AdSense on your site. If this hasn’t happened to you then you are either new or you haven’t monetized your website with AdSense or something like it that generates ads on your site that are ‘supposed’ to target and compliment the content.
What to Do With Offensive Ads
"In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." -Matthew 5:16 ESV
There is already so much garbage on social media. I use Facebook to keep in touch with my family which lives on both coasts and in between. It is a wonderful tool. And I intend on encouraging and blessing others in the process.
Early on many bloggers were anonymous or assumed fictitious names to ensure their privacy. Even a number of pastors took this tact in order to be free to say whatever they wanted to online without creating a controversy in their church.
However in the long run ‘trust’ became an issue particularly among Christians. If bloggers were unwilling to share their real identities then could their observations and stories be completely trusted? Also some actually went out of their way to create controversy and responded rather badly at times to fellow believers and leaders. Transparency is now winning the day and Christians in particular should be very open and truthful about who they really are. It is a matter of integrity and credibility.
According to AVG, the Internet security firm, nearly 92% of children in the U.S have some type of online presence by the time they reach just 2 years of age. The young children either show up in articles and pictures in their mothers social net page or they have their very own site.
We are seeing the rise of a new phenomenon with the lives of people receiving full documentation on the Internet from the time they are born and even before.
Holidays present a number of unique opportunities for ministry on-line but also can bring on quite a few scheduling problems with added church and family commitments. Sometimes it is a balancing act.
Nevertheless, I have found that around Christmas time folks are looking for posts telling the Biblical story of the birth of Jesus. Then around Easter, articles about the Resurrection are very popular. These holidays give ministers an opportunity to reach people on-line with the gospel story like no other.
Here’s an interesting internet case. An 8th grade student was suspended from school for “cyber-bullying” and humiliating another student online in a YouTube video. Her parents took the school to court and last month a federal judge in Los Angeles ruled that the school had gone too far. Students do have a 1st Amendment right to be nasty in cyberspace. Implications for internet ministry:
Integrity and credibility are two issues that everyone online are going to be involved with one way or another. Whether you are writing a blog, publishing a website, or just reading and commenting. For the Christian blogger or social networker it should be absolutely crucial and obvious.
We really should be asking ourselves before we hit the ‘publish’ or ‘send’ button –How will this reflect upon who I say I am. If I am presenting myself as a Christian does it reflect favorably on Christianity or the church? Is this article, comment, or observation really reflective of what I want to do and be Online?
We have written about how the Internet is a new ‘Roman Road’ making it possible to reach the ‘unreachable’ all around the world. In the first century the roman roads made it possible for Christianity to spread quickly around the known world. Not only that but English is the dominant language (the new Greek) and many people around the world are becoming literate in it through its use on the Internet and in new media.
The First 11 tips:
1. Have something to say
2. Be specific
3. Choose simple words
Facebook has over a Billion users which includes nearly half of all those on the Internet worldwide. According to a LA Times article Facebook execs are shooting for the rest:
"We’re not a company that is just trying to add more people," said Chris Cox, Facebook’s vice president of product. "What we are trying to do is build a service that everyone in the world can use."
Here’s a great idea: using Google Earth and Google Maps to do virtual intercession.
What a wonderful use of technology. An incredible tool for intercessors. Google Earth and Google Maps can take you downtown and into every neighborhood in your city right from your computer, ipad, or phone.
It can even take you to Washington DC, the White House, Congress, or the Supreme Court. .What an incredible tool for Intercessors and ministry prayer groups.
Here’s a helpful guide to some common mistakes that I make every once in a while and you probably do to. Written by Brian Clark of Copyblogger: “Five Grammatical Errors that Make You Look Dumb”
He lists five mistakes to avoid when blogging and writing web copy:
Read what he has to say about these common errors. I have broken them all at one time or another. Very helpful!
PLUGINS
For those working on a WordPress platform (WordPress.com or WordPress.org), plugins play an essential part in setting up and maintaining your site. It certainly can be confusing to new bloggers and even those of us who have been blogging for years.
Those working with Blogger don't have to worry about Plugins since everything is provided by the Blogger program. It is the perfect program for those with little time to invest in a website or blog, like pastors.
