words, pictures, and music oh my!

As I look at my own blog, I realize that I am sorely lacking with the option of using various forms of communication to share my messages.  Honestly, this isn't something that I had even considered before reading these articles.  I feel like to me, I didn't consider it, because my topic hadn't called for it.  I am an English major with a focus in Creative Writing.  Verbal communication is the form that I am most comfortable with. 

I believe this is a flaw of the blog that I have up until this point been constructing.  Now that I actually think about it, I know that for everyone, this is not the form of communication that everyone is the most comfortable with.  I would like to take more advantage of the options available to me in future posts, including pictures, links and diagrams where appropriate.  I know that I have things available to me, I would just like to tyring to find a way to incorporate them into my topic naturally. 

I believe that the ability to combine words with other types of communications is a huge strength of the Internet and other arenas.  Words cannot always accurately convey an idea, an emotion or a message.  Neither, on the other hand, can images.  I believe that is through the joining of these two things that we can come the closest to ideal communication.  I believe that like much of the technology that we have discussed in class, it should however be approached with caution.  If we begin to rely to heavily on words and symbols to represent our ideas we could potentially lose the ability to express ourselves as effectively with words. 

On reflection

After reading some of the other about me and descriptions I have found a few things that I would like to change.  In my about me, I still like that it is focused on my connection to the topic and builds my credibility but it could be a little less resume like.  I would still like to include the information that shows I know what I'm talking about, but maybe do it in a less formal way.  I do joke a bit in the draft, but there are parts where it still sounds like an answer to a job interview question.  I would also like to add a picture, I feel that its easier to connect with someone that you have an image of. 

As for the blog description draft, I like the basic formula for mine, but I just think that I should shorten it a bit.  Some of the others in this class had very short to the point blog descriptions and I think that felt effective to me.  Someone doesn't want to read a whole paragraph to decide if they want to stay.  So I would like to keep the direct, and informal approach in my draft, but shorten it at least a little bit. 

blog descriptions examples

The blog description that I liked the most is from Cristina Maria Special Events, Everything Events Blog.

          http://www.networkedblogs.com/blog/cristina_maria_special_events_everything_events_blog/

 

"My blog is for those planning their events and for those who like to attend events. Whether your event is big (weddings, bar/bat mitzvah, anniversary parties, milestone birthdays, etc.) or small (dinner parties, cocktail affairs, etc.) we have something for you.

Come visit my blog for "everything events!" Need tips on how to save on your wedding? Want to know what DC-area galas, festivals, fundraisers are going on? Want to find out about Trunk shows, Bridal shows, Mitzvah shows, Expos, and Venue Open Houses? Need tips on planning your dinner party? Need a Diamond Ring Shopping 101? Want to learn about different DC-area vendors and venues? Recently engaged and need advice on how to get started? Want to get ideas from some Cristina Maria weddings and events? Want to view some inspirational pictures of our favorites things to possibly spark an idea for your event theme? You have come to the right place.

Come and visit often!"

What I think the strengths of this description are is that it is purpose drive, explaining what it hopes the reader will gain from it, as well as being personal, addressing the reader directly. 

My draft:

Hello!  This blog is designed for those of you like me, who oddly enough, love planning things!  Anything from concerts, to weddings, parties, and fundraisers have some of the same key elements, and are just as fun to create.  The blog will be geared to newbies hoping to learn some tips or experienced event planners looking to brush up on the theory.  Events and Everyday Catostrophes will use my experiences planning the University of Rhode Island Senior sendoff as well as working in the Programming Office of the university to provide (hopefully) entertaining anecdotes to help connect with skills and ideas to help you run your own events. 

about me example

The blog that I found with an about me section that I thought was really effective happens to be a company rather than a single person.  I still think the same type of writing can apply for one person.  The about me section conveys the credibility of the authors, and shows why people should trust their experience and the tips/ advice that they give. 

This excertp is from the Alison Events Planning & Design Blog.  http://alisonevents.blogspot.com/

AE Planning+Design is a full-service event planning & design firm, specializing in high-end custom events and destination weddings. Alison Hotchkiss, Principal of AE Planning+Design, wrote a book with photographer Thayer Allyson Gowdy called, "Destination Weddings; The Ultimate Guide to Planning a Wedding from Afar," published by Chronicle Books in 2009. AE has been featured in all the major wedding magazines including Martha Stewart Weddings, Destination Weddings & Honeymoons, Elegant Bride and Brides Magazine to name a few. AE Production Manager and social media lover, Alyssa Brown, posts about real weddings and events, inspirational ideas, planning tips, magazines and blogs AE has been written up in, and spotlights vendors, venues and destinations loved by the ae team. Alyssa posts every Monday morning, so stay tuned! You can get in touch with the AE team by emailing info {at} alisonevents.com"

My About me Draft. 

Hi All, I'm Valerie Damon-Leduc a senior at the University of Rhode Island.  I will be (hopefully) graduating this may with a Bachelors degree in English and minors in Communication studies and Leadership studies. Since I was in highschool I have found that I love planning events. Odd pastime for a kid, I know, but it stuck.  So as I made my way through college I found myself become fundraising chair in various organizations, planning what would become annual events for my sorority, and getting involved in the leadership program at the university.  Now about to graduate and hopefully start a career in this hectic field I have learned some things along the way. I have taken classes revolving around leading large groups of people, conflict resolution, and stress managment etc.  I've interned in the Student Programming Office at the University, advising around 40 campus organizations in their planning, and currently intern in the Alumni Center as an Event Coordination and Marketing Intern.  And I've also planned some fairly large events, as the youngest member on the Executive board for the RI state pagan pride day commitee.  The fun part is I know that there is still alot to learn.  So this semester planning the senior sendoff should be filled with some great experiences, and i'm sure frustrating setbacks, because in this field, there always are...

my enthusiast blog...

My goal for my enthusiasts blog is to create something that is informative, relatable and entertaining.  I want people to be able to enjoy reading it while taking away some of the skills that I have learned to be a successful event coordinator.  I also intend to relate how to use these skills to handle many specific problems and issues that come up in event planning.  My audience will hopefully be those people who have an interest in learning about event planning, plan events themselves and can relate to the joys and frustrations that come with it.  I hope to pull people in by making it conversational as well as funny, using my own sarcasm as well as the many strange and frustrating things that come up when planning for large amounts of people.  I also hope that it will be compelling because of the information and tips that it can offer as well as a way  for readers to know that when something goes wrong while planning an event, its not the end of the world, it happens to all of us.  Its the nature of planning for something to go wrong...

Looking at some blogs...

So what are the starting points that make a strong blog?  After looking at the three blogs "The Future", "Through a Gypsies Eyes" and "Stitched Personae"  I have seen some things that I think help make these blogs successful as well as some small things that I think may take away from them.


"The Future"  has a really great Blog Description that is optomistic, and purposeful.  It take a real concern and puts it into perspective as well as gives a more hopeful way to look at it.  It is also relatable, using "we" to connect the author with the readers.  I think that the title could be focused a little more, however, and that his about me could be changed a bit.  I think that is very relatable which is great but at the same time almost depreciates blogging which some readers could find insulting. 

"Through a Gypsies Eyes" blog description engages the reader directly with an extremely conversational tone and addressing them directly.  Its a topic that a lot of people are interested in but may be a little broad. The about me is very open, sweet and helps the reader get to know the author.  Her personality really shines through in both sections, as well as in the photos.  I don't like that she chose to use all caps for the writing, and I think that she could have been more purposeful in creating the statements.  State why she is writing it, make it for the reader in some way. 

"Stitched Personae" has an interesting blog description about a very specific and focused topic.  It is something that likely doesn't have as many blogs written about it and that will help.  She also does a good job of explaining something that a lot of people may not be familiar with.  I don't like that she referenced the about me, that as well as some aspects of her writing style make it seem very formal and stiff.  The reference to the fact that the blog is for a class does the same in her about me section.  The about me also focuses the blog on herself rather than on the readers which I see as a problem, but others might not but does the important thing of showing her credability. 

So in summary some things I would take from my impression of these blogs is to be conversational and reader directed, but also purposeful.  I would like to show my credability and allow readers to feel like they know me.