Blogging Community

What is a blogging community?

According to Anthony (2009), the word blog has only been developed recently. However, it feels like it has been around for quite some time. He also commented that with the explosion of platforms such as Facebook and Twitter, blogs have taken a whole new dimension and many have formed their own 'online communities'. Online communities as defined by Jeremiah Owyang (2007), are bodies of people joined together by a common interest using web tools.

How do you create a blogging community?

First of all, you will have to create your own blog. Once you have created your blog, get readers to read your blog! To be a successful blogger, having a blogging community is very important. Always bear in mind that you're not only showing yourself, your product or services, but your blog goes public, you are also creating a name as well as a reputation of yourself (Nikkis, 2010). It doesn't take a day to create a blogging community, it takes a long time. However, bloggers should not give up easily, consistency in updating your blog will score you more and more readers.

Types of blogging community:

The rapid growth of blogging has resulted various types of blogging community. According to Nancy White (2006), there are three main blog based community patterns with a wide variety of hybrid forms emerging between the three. The Single Blog/Blogger Centric Community, the Central Connecting Topic Community and the Boundaried Community.



Figure one: Blog based community

One Blog Centric Community: A blog manage by only one owner or organization. Readers can comment and get to know not only the blogger but the community of commentors. (White, 2006)

Topic Centric Community: A blog manage by groups such as food bloggers, mummy bloggers and travel bloggers with a particular party or issues identification (White, 2006). Topic centric community is more like a network instead of a community. People with common interests get together.

Boudaried Community: Collections of blogs and blog readers hosted on a single site or platform (White, 2006). Members have to register in order to join the community. Besides, they would also be offered the chance to create a blog. It is more or less like traditional forums but based on communities (White, 2006).

Jeff Ooi is Malaysia's most prominent news-blogger. He was once awarded by Malaysiankini as the most influential blog in Malaysia. He writes a blog known as Screenshots, voicing out opinions and criticisms that local newspaper wouldn't publish. Jeffooi.com is one of the well known blogging communities in Malaysia.

According to Onn Yeoh (2005), Jeff Ooi is not a traditionalist. However, his blogging style follows the classic blogging formula of Excerpts + Links + Commentary. This method was used by tech geeks in the 1990s to share information with others.

Reference

Anthony. (2009). What is a blogging community?. Available: http://www.thetraveltart.com/what-is-a-blogging-community/ . Last accessed 29th September 2010.

Nikkis. (2010). How to Build a Blogging Community. Available: http://www.ehow.com/how_2152382_build-blogging-community.html. Last accessed 29th September 2010.

Owyang, J . (2007). Defining the term: “Online Community”. Available: http://www.web-strategist.com/blog/2007/12/28/defining-the-term-community/. Last accessed 29th September 2010.

White, N. (2006). Blogs and Community – launching a new paradigm for online community?. Available: http://kt.flexiblelearning.net.au/tkt2006/edition-11-editorial/blogs-and-community-%E2%80%93-launching-a-new-paradigm-for-online-community. Last accessed 29th September 2010.

Yeoh, O. (2005). Jeff Ooi - Screenshooter. Available: http://oonyeoh.squarespace.com/chrome/2005/12/3/jeff-ooi-screenshooter.html. Last accessed 29th September 2010.