Have a Blog You Can Be Proud Of

Blogging is by all intents and purposes a worldwide phenomenon. Some may argue that it has replaced the traditional media such as newspapers and television news.
It’s a place where opinion leaders or just the average person with an opinion can go to voice their concerns, issues and passions.

It's a place where communities of people exchange ideas and dreams.

It is for me, a place where I indulge myself in the knowledge of others.

Blogging has become a passion of mine, a home in which I feel safe and secure.

My colleagues in the #8 Wifi class will all agree, that blogging is the way of the future.

Although we are all very diverse; we all have one common goal, to become well known writers. It is a big task but the quality of the content from this class has been amazing.

The secret? We have all found our own personal groove's and styles- and were sticking to it.

Blogging is not a one size fits all format. Its about personalising you're writing, being yourself and forming educated opinons.

There are millions of sites telling you how to be the best, the most wonderful blogger, but at the end of the day it is simple.

Find your passion, write about it, learn about and you will see the results. And if you love what you're writing; thats even better! 

So congrats to all my colleagues, for impressing me (not an easy task) and sharing your knowledge. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1e2qW7olMg0

Little Known Ways to trend on Twitter

Our mission should we choose to accept it, create a social media campaign for the newly launched book, the Ika Journal.

It shouldn’t be that difficult right? I mean I just have to spread the word on my facebook, instagram, prezi, blog and twitter.

Easier said than done.

With so much crap on these sites it’s hard to stand out. You have to interest people and once your topic ‘trends’, its like a flame and spreads through the blogesphere like wild fire.

A trending topic is defined as a user created hashtag that gets popular and if the volume is right, it gets featured on Twitter’s list of most discussed topics (Wikipedia, 2012).

There are a few rules and guidelines to trending and its about quantity over quality.

The first thing you must remember is that you cannot trend a topic if YOU tweet more frequently. Believe me I tried this, adding #ikajournal to all of my tweets did nadas.

According to the Twitter info site, hashtags depend to a certain level of frequency to trend and that means you have to make your message meaningful in order for other people to tweet about your topic. 

To help your chances of trending a topic there are a few things that you can do to help it along.

1. Tweet other people

See what the trending topics are at the moment, is there a major event around the corner e.g. a book fair? If there is, postpone your tweetup- during the time of the Ika Journal launch I tweeted to @ParisReview and even got a retweet. 

2. Gather a group of interested people who can support you.

If possible, get an influential person on Twitter. There are a few authors in Auckland with 800+ followers, so getting them interested in #IkaJournal will allow for a wider audience and the likelihood of #IkaJournal trending after their tweet.

3. Run a competition

This is a good strategy if you can pull it off. Its easy to screw up but if you get the basics right, its easy to make it a success. You can either run a quiz, where one nominated person (or many) asks questions and seeks replies with the particular hashtag. If you can’t find people interested, add in some value by giving away a prize e.g. a book voucher. Remember, its not about what you give but how you present it.

So there you have it, some clues on what makes a trending topic on Twitter, and what does not. Although these techniques work, they also make assumptions. For example, you NEED to establish a rapport/ relationships with an author. You also need to network within the writing community in Auckland to research what events are happening.

Twitter trending relies on 2 basic things;

1. An interesting topic

2. People power

Collaboration Poem: A class exercise

While our lecturer Robert was away, we had the delight and the privilege to have IT expert Daniel come in to teach us all he knew about the online world.

Now let me tell you one thing about Daniel, he really eats and breathes the virtual medium. He is self trained, but in a way that is best because he has a wealth of real life knowledge and examples that we can actually relate to. 

His lectuers were like masterclasses. He would teach and then it was up to us to run with it. 

One of our exercises was to create a collaboration poem on a shared wiki space. 
It was easy for me because I know computers, its like an extension of my arm but there were a few people who really struggled. 

However under the direction of our class president Mafi we got there and the outcome is surprisingly good.
The poem has flow and rhythm, amazing considering it has so many diverse styles and voices. 

Here is the poem:

It begins...in the island of Tonga - the promised land,
Awaken the giant within, paddle that waka 

to the great ocean of moana nui a kiwa

Untouched, encounter a world as nature intended  

Un-spoilt by greed, 

Authentic Polynesia, protected beauty and cultural authenticity, 

Tonga ‘jewel in the pacific’ 

Where time begins...

Where time stands still...

Chaos and order play off one another in a deadly game of chess.

Is this Aphrodite's Island? is it the wind that touches my neck? 

Who and whose breath?

Yes, yes it is...the island where the sun's rays sparkle on the shining sea.

The sea is here, the sea is there, the sea is all around.

Tagaloa calls.

Can we see? can we feel? can we hear? Smell.

The waves as they crash upon the rocks. 

Draw that as the spray swirls around your head, around your body, taste  the salt! 

Upon your lips, upon your tongue.

Hurl your hair. Your core.

From afar the coral is serene, within the coral all is war.

Mataki au ki nga waka, u ana mai ki uta.