Blog Birth Announcements

Blogs may be "always in process, never completed," as Steve Himmer claims, but they all have to begin somewhere, with a first post that announces the existence of a brand new bouncing baby blog. It's an important step, one that might feel a bit daunting and monumental. How do you want to present yourself to the world? What tone, stance, or style do you want to use? How detailed will you be about what your blog will do? How will you address the audience you hope to have? What kind of images will you use to convey your message visually as well as verbally? There's a lot to think about, but bear in mind that your first post is just one post. You'll have plenty of opportunities to adjust, shift, recalibrate, and even repudiate anything you say in your birth announcement, even if there's some truth in the old saying that you only get one chance to make a first impression.

To help you prepare for your big debut, we will gather here some examples of blog birth announcements. Send me links (by e-mail) to first posts that you come across as you work on your Blog Tracking presentations, and I will add them to this list. Click back here over the next several days so you can check out the examples. We'll discuss them in class next week as time permits. Remember that your blogs need to be up and running by Monday, February 20.

I selected one example just to get the ball rolling. "(Yet Another) Academic Blog" is the first post from Tenured Radical, a well-known academic blog written by historian Claire Potter. The inaugural post is from October 2006. It's short, pithy, and just a bit snarky. Even in this first post, you can see both the style and the substance that help to explain this blog's popularity and influence among educators.

"well, good morning!" is the first post from A Lovely Morning, a design, craft, and food blog followed by Amie Brown. Amie commented that she liked this post because the blogger "seems slightly overwhelmed (as I think most first-time bloggers are), and because someone commented immediately in encouragement."

"Hello, Pittsburgh" is the first post from Tom Singer's Change for a Nickel, a a Pittsburgh Pirates blog in the MLBlogs network. Baseball fan Michael Venetti submitted this one, impressed by the efforts of a new author to take over an existing blog and quickly establish rapport with the audience.

"An Open Letter to My Neighbors (My Neighbor Saga Part 1" is the debut post of Hyperbole and a Half, Allie Brosh's sly, hilarious doodle blog. Carla Lake likes this one because of the way the writer "just dives in," displaying the humor and engaging storytelling that would become the blog's trademarks, even though this first post doesn't have any illustrations. You might also want to check out the blog's FAQ page, which has some good advice for new bloggers. For example: "There really aren't any special secrets to being successful with blogging. Be nice. Try hard. If someone offers you a million dollars, say yes. Aside from that, the best advice I can give you is to just focus on what you can give to your readers."

"A Slight Introduction. . ." is the introductory post from Joey Pinkney as he joins a group blog called Hip Hop Blogs. Mike Barnes, who is designing his own hip hop blog, submitted this one. The post is a straightforward mix of introducing the blogger and explaining his approach to the subject, which he describes as "a little off centered."

"Save the Red Line"  is the first post on Japers' Rink, a Washington Capitals blog. Matt Mitchell picked it because it stands out as a first post that doesn't talk at all about being a first post. It jumps right in, taking a position on a proposed rule change in hockey.

"Welcome to 'The Girl That Runs'" is the first post of a runner's blog by that name. Adam Kerlin selected it because he has similar interests and liked the way the writer/runner introduced herself.

"Welcome to Everyday EMS Tips" takes a short, strictly business approach to the genre of the first post. Laura Cathcart selected this one because the blog is an important resource for EMS providers and managers.

"Angry Ravens Fly West" is another first post that plunges right in without explanation or introduction. Baltimore Beat Down is a Ravens blog. Stephen Pimpo likes the just-get-started style, but thought this post had a certain random quality to it that wasn't entirely appealing.

"Welcome to College Fashion. net" takes a little more time to introduce the blog and the blogger and to invite readers to become involved by sending in tips and ideas. Marriam Shah submitted this one and thought it did a good job of establishing the tone and direction of the blog.

Keiko Lynn's first post on her style and fashion blog is called simply "Introduction." Mariah Cooper selected this one because she found its personal glimpses, through photographs, into the blogger's world (dog, cats, boyfriend) and her sensibility to be effective at establishing a connection with the blogger and a clear sense of what her blog will be about.

"Motivation" is the first post on A Running Girl's Blog. Its first sentence might resonate with those of you who are wrestling with the uncertainty of the first-time blogger: "Getting started with this blogging thing is hard." Briana Kichaven selected it.

"My First Blog Entry Ever" is the first post on a Sparkpage blog that launched yesterday. Courtney Whitaker stumbled across it and submitted it because the writer talks about having a tendency to start things and then not finish them.

Yalabe Dukuly submitted an example from a friend's blog that has become quite successful. To his surprise, though, her first post is "horrible," in his judgment, because it doesn't introduce her or her blog, Good Hair Blog, at all. The moral of the story may be that bloggers, like piano players, get better with practice.

Heather McWilliams selected "Have a Merry. . .and Preppy. . .Christmas" as her example of a blog birth announcement. It's from a blog called College Prep, authored by a college senior who "love[s] anything preppy." This is another example of someone who just jumps into blogging without much fanfare.

David Clifford Turner offered "Worst Campaign Idea Ever," the debut post of men's fashion blog Magnificent Bastard, which he describes as "a cocksure entry into the blogosphere" because of its bold and confident self-presentation. The post, from July 2007, is short and snarky. In my judgment, its snide remarks about Hillary Clinton's appearance are also ageist and misogynistic, but it's got the kind of edge that often gets noticed in online writing. To each his -- or her -- own.

(Image Credit: Via.)