How does blogging help your business?

As a tech support help person at the historic and amazing BlogathonATX, I am being asked a lot about “blogging.”

I absolutely hate the term. I rarely refer to myself as a blogger. Um. I guess I am. I guess this <points fingers to all four corners of the page you are reading> is a blog. But don’t remind me of that, okay? I prefer to think of it as a WordPress-enabled website. I am writing all kinds of things including a blog. But don’t focus on the word “blog.” Just learn to write. Express yourself passionately, with vigor and pointed word selection. Call it whatever you like. But get in the habit of WRITING DAILY.

So, what is this writing/blogging stuff if it’s not a blog?

• a book
• a magazine
• a website
• a conversation
• a rant
• a confessional

And therefore what am I?

• a poet
• a writer
• a radical
• a tech writer
• a lunatic
• a blogger

I am NOT a blogger, dammit. Get that straight.

So what has got my “blogging panties in a bundle?” I think it’s the term BLOG. Let’s not call it that anymore.

I want to be a “writer” when I grow up. I don’t want to be a blogger, for goodness sake.

I share. And I share about blogging. And for YOUR convenience, I’ll string a little Blogging 101 reference here. Just for today, you can call me a blogger, a blogger’s blogger, a blogger who blogs about blogging. But that’s not *really* what I do.

John McElhenney — let’s connect online
Facebook & LinkedIn & The Whole Parent

And Just For Fun, here is ChatGPT writing a blogger manifesto based on my data.

The Blogger Manifesto:

1. Write: As a blogger, it is important to consistently produce high-quality content. This means taking the time to research and carefully craft your writing, using proper grammar and spelling, and presenting your ideas in a clear and concise manner.
2. Submit: Once you have finished writing a blog post, it is important to submit it for publication. This may involve uploading it to your personal blog or website, or submitting it to a larger platform such as Medium.
3. Converse: As a blogger, it is important to engage with your readers and encourage discussion around your content. This means actively responding to comments and questions, as well as seeking out opportunities to join online communities and participate in relevant conversations.
4. Be Nice: As a blogger, it is important to remember that your words have the power to influence and impact others. Therefore, it is crucial to be respectful and considerate in your writing and interactions, even if you may disagree with others’ viewpoints.

PLEASE READ: Letters to a Young Artist in the Digital Age from John Oakley McElhenney

>> Explore more writing ideas here: The Writer’s Notebook >>

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My MUST-HAVE WordPress Plugins

• Wordfence < this should make things pretty solid and unhackable
• Google’s SiteKit < Analytics and GA4 plugin
• P3 (Plugin Performance Profiler) < see what’s might be slowing your blog down
• Jetpack < don’t use all the Jetpack features, but it’s a great addition
•  WP-reCAPTCHA < spam killa, easy, simple, thorough