Nov

My 5 Answers to the Blogging Questions

[ Read all the previous posts in the Blogging 101 for Pastors series, including 5 Questions responders. ]

Cory Miller is …. hey, that’s me. I’m writing a fast, lazy bio for myself! Can I do that? I mean, is that proper here?

Hey, I just wanted to answer my own questions, although I feel inadequate to do so after reading the previous posts. Read more about me here if you’re really bored.

Here’s his (my) answers:

1. Why (or how) did you start blogging?

I originally started using blogging technology as an easy way to keep my personal site updated. It’s a chore doing that without a good content management system.

Then in July or so, I decided to start this site and blog as a way to record my experiences and ideas as a church communications director.

Blogging has lowered the bar for what it takes to produce halfway decent Web sites. That’s how I got started.

2. What subject do you post most about?

Here, of course, about church communications, which includes public relations, marketing, advertising, hopefully soon more case studies. And yeah, blogging this month.

This month? Stay tuned for the Building Rockin’ Church Web Sites series.

3. What are your favorite blog tools?

I used to say Blogger as my favorite blogging platform, but I’ve been having a lot of trouble lately with it. I am fascinated with WordPress and have been tinkering around with it. I kind of wished I had started with it. Is that bad seeing as I recommend fledgling blogging pastors start with it? Here’s some other tools.

FeedBurner — Push this button
Bloglines — For reading upwards of 30 blogs now
Google Analytics — For stats
Express Email Marketing — For my email newsletter (Get subscribed here).
Gmail — Nobody mentioned this really, but it’s been vital to my blogging and I haven’t been disappointed.
Del.icio.us — Easy way to remember where I’ve been through bookmarking
The Ultimate Free Tag Generator
Technorati — Even though I can’t figure out how to update my feed, I still have to have this site

I need to mention some Web sites blogging pastors should visit and learn: ProBlogger, CopyBlogger, Tubetorial, MicroPersuasion, Bad Language, Evotional (the example to follow), ProNet Advertising, Seth’s Blog, SEOMoz, Performancing, Creating Passionate Users, Church Marketing Sucks, Blog Ministry, Steve McCoy (I think one of the first blogging believers/pastors I read regularly) and the New York Times technology and media/advertising sections. (Just to name a few).

4. How often do you post?

Too much. Since the Blogging 101 series started, I’ve posted about 2-4 times a day.

If you want readers (and I do — at least I’m honest), you have to post consistently. That doesn’t necessarily mean every day, but on a regular basis, whatever that is.

5. What one piece of advice would you give for prospective blogging pastors?

Read the other 50-plus responses who answered my 5 Blogging Questions. That’s the best one piece of advice I could give. There’s a wealth of wisdom there from those who have pioneered using this technology for ministry. I’m deeply honored they even took the time to respond.

But if you want more advice from me specifically … it’s contained in the previous posts for Blogging 101 series. Bad answer, right? Not really, I originally named it the “I Help Pastors Blog” series.
[ Read all the previous posts in the Blogging 101 for Pastors series ]