We recently switched our blog system from WordPress Multiuser to IDoBlog, in order to increase speed and interoperability. Now, starting a blog is as easy as logging in and clicking the "Write Blog Entry" link in the user menu. Clicking "View Your Blog" takes you to your particular blog page, clicking the big "Blogs" link oni the top horizontal nav takes you to a view where you can see everybody's.

I've been using blogs for ages, and have figured out some of the more vital aspects of using this medium to communicate. Those who are new to blogging and those not should read the below to get an idea of what content will work well well here.

• A Blog is a place where you post information regularly. Whether anybody reads that information depends on whether it's any good. Personal journal-style blogs tend to be less interesting and readable than ones that post content on a specific topic. Because Hotbox Magazine focuses on the Drug War, you will be most read if you post things that are at least tangentally connected.
• If you write something, read it over and ask if it has any value. Would you take the time to read it, if it had been written by a total stranger? If not, total strangers will likely not read your work. Audience is key.
  
• The IDoBlog system lacks an autosave function. While we wait for the component's author to work on that, it is advisable to compose all your entries in a program like Microsoft Word, then paste them into the "Write Blog Entry" form. That way you won't lose your work if Joomla! logs you out due to session length or hitting the "Back" button in your browser!
  
• Watch your spelling! There is a spellcheck function built into the blog software—use it!
• Similarly, you have the ability to italicize and bold, as well as underline. You can change sizes and other things. Typing anything in capital letters—whether it be a section headline or in EMPHASIZING a word—is lazy. When writing, any use of all-caps for emphasis can generally be changed to italics, and hection headlines to one of the default ones listed near the text align buttons.
  
• That said, don't abuse headlines too much and use plaintext for your body paragraphs. Over-formatting makes text hard to read.
• You get 1 point every time you make a blog entry. If it's good, you will get many more. Using services like Digg or Smokkr to publicize your work is a fantastic way to earn extra points.
  
• Publicity is huge! Don't post on forums being like "Hey, lulz, check out my blog!"—you probably won't be well received. However, use  your blog's RSS feed to publish entries automatically to Facebook and other social media. RSS is HUGE; learn to use it if you don't.
• Local content is good! Don't be afraid to post about what's happening in your city! If you go to pro-legalization rallies, bring a camera and maybe a voice recorder and cover it! You are a journalist!
• You can do tonnes of different things with blogs. You can write political commentaries, you can write manifestos, post photo work, link to other blogs or pages, post interview transcripts (Especially good if you just use a few sentences when writing a piece), whatever!
• That said, if you post about anything specifically illegal that implicates you in any way, realize that the Internet is an open forum and consider using a pseudonym.

       

Written by :

Janus Jones