I <3 Blogging.

I know my love isn’t seen here too much, but I am just enamored with entire realm of the blogosphere. I have been reading any free eBook I can get about it. Adding more and more feeds to my Google Reader. Making a custom Wordpress Theme for a niche blog I started. And starting preliminary work on another blog I hope to become my flagship blog. I’ve also gotten two of my friends to start their own blogging based off my zeal for it.

Whenever I am chatting with someone about a possible a website for them, the first thing I think about is if the site could leverage the power of the blog. It seems as though I want every site to be a blog, but the fact is that a blog isn’t for everyone. Although I believe that some elements of a blog could be properly used in almost any website format, it must be approached carefully.

For example, my mother is a member in a group of office assistances called IAAP. She asked if I could do a website for her chapter. So my first idea was to give them a blog. It seemed like a good idea. Various members could write posts about tips to being a better administrative assistant. I assumed they might post other things like inspirational stories. They have monthly meetings so I also thought they would put updates about the meetings on there also. I also gave the blog a flickr stream so they can put pictures in their flickr account and have them show up on the site. I was positive this was just what they needed and wanted, but it just hasn’t been the case. Although I still stand by my decision that a blog is a workable solution for their website, I didn’t properly educate them about the power of blogging and motivate them to do it.

Just because a blog can be used, it doesn’t mean it should. Make sure the people who are expected to manage the blog are educated and motivated to do such. Otherwise your site is just another Wordpress theme.