Have you ever felt overwhelmed by the amount of cool blogs out there that you want to read? I have often wished to myself, “If only there was some way to combine the updated posts of all of the blogs I want to read…” WELL. Guess what? THERE IS. And I only found out about them yesterday (probably a million years after most people), at the Netroots Nation LGBT Pre-Con, thanks to the friendly and “plugged-in” people I was sitting next to.
One thing I have already learned at Netroots Nation? The people here know their stuff. And by “stuff”, I mean “techie things I have not even thought of”. SCORE.
Programs that allow you to aggregate all of the blogs out there that you want to follow: (Each are a bit different, so you can find the one that is the best for you!)
– Zite
And, in terms of learning new things… a bit of blogging advice from the LGBT blogosphere:
From Pam Spaulding, of Pam’s House Blend
– Use “Witty, pithy and short statements”
– Don’t be afraid to cross post!
– Make note of the audience that you are intending to write for. Tailor your post to the style of the blog that you are writing for and do not assume that people know anything about your issues (spell out acronyms!)
On How to Create a Dedicated Following, by Joe.My.God
– Don’t be allowed to welcome feedback and content from readership (such as links, photos, etc.)
– Try to make the blog as collaborative as possible
– Create open threads, it creates ownership and investment in the site for readers
– Be very generous with link sources (“Spread the link love”)
LGBT HealthLink, The Network for Health Equity 