A blog is a personal space on our server for you to share your thoughts, ideas and expertise with others.
Fellow forum members can respond to your blog updates, but it's different to the way the forum works. Your blog centres around you - you are in charge.
We use the excellent vBulletin form platform and the Blog update also comes from the vBulletin team. Wayne Luke, from vBulletin, sums up the difference between a blog and a forum neatly:
"Forums are a community oriented discussion platform that is often described as a many-to-many discussion area. Anyone can make topics and anyone can reply.
Blogs are more personal. Individual users control their blogs. They can create topics and others can reply provided they have permission from the owner. This is a one-to-many discussion platform. Blogs also allow the user to customize the experience in different ways, essentially creating their own space on the internet."
A blog is a better place to express yourself in many ways. It's easier for others to keep track of what you have to say, show and tell over time.
The forum is still the recommended place for sharing information in general, and you will continue to get more exposure on the forum. You you can also promote your blog using the forum. A forum board dedicated to the blog system has now been set up. If your blog turns out to be very good, then you could attract a lot of regular attention...
Ian, great idea, is there a direct link to todays updated blogs. its a great way to say why we do what we do and how we do it.
Or has the red wine kicked in early tonight
Ian, great idea, is there a direct link to todays updated blogs. its a great way to say why we do what we do and how we do it.
Or has the red wine kicked in early tonight
Hehe, well it was a last minute idea to install it and I had to go home and cook dinner
There are quite a few entries in the Blog section already, it promises to be an interesting place to be and I would encourage all members to look in regularly and contribute, either by commenting or starting their own blog.
There is a potentially great series being started by kennykodak aka John on Learning Photography. John has a wealth of knowledge and experience in the photographic world and I think we could all learn something from his series. I'll also be interested to see how the blogs started by Gina and Mike Parr develop, I'm pretty sure they have lots to offer
Just so you don't miss anything, think about subscribing to the RSS feed via the link on the left of the Blog page. If you have a newsreader facility it should be easy. If I'm not mistaken Firefox has one built in, not sure about IE as I never use it
There are quite a few entries in the Blog section already, it promises to be an interesting place to be and I would encourage all members to look in regularly and contribute, either by commenting or starting their own blog.
There is a potentially great series being started by kennykodak aka John on Learning Photography. John has a wealth of knowledge and experience in the photographic world and I think we could all learn something from his series. I'll also be interested to see how the blogs started by Gina and Mike Parr develop, I'm pretty sure they have lots to offer
Just so you don't miss anything, think about subscribing to the RSS feed via the link on the left of the Blog page. If you have a newsreader facility it should be easy. If I'm not mistaken Firefox has one built in, not sure about IE as I never use it
Yes, IE7 has an RSS feed tracker - it's the orange button next to the 'home' button on the toolbar.
Yes, IE7 has an RSS feed tracker - it's the orange button next to the 'home' button on the toolbar.
Ian
Great stuff, so it is very easy for members to get an RSS feed. I've just done it in Firefox and put the feed link on my Bookmarks Toolbar. I simply put my mouse on the DPNow Blogs link and all the blog entry links appear as if by magic It will be possible to have a feed for every persons blog. Really cool
Yes, IE7 has an RSS feed tracker - it's the orange button next to the 'home' button on the toolbar.
Ian
Ian is it not possible to have a tag or shortcut in the forum menu for the Blog? Ii am finding it less than intuitive to find other peoples Blogs I found them once but can't remember or find how to get there again.
Ian is it not possible to have a tag or shortcut in the forum menu for the Blog? Ii am finding it less than intuitive to find other peoples Blogs I found them once but can't remember or find how to get there again.
Patrick
There is a link to the Blog home page on the forum nav bar, inbetween 'Galleries' and 'Unanswered'.
Once at the Blog home page you can list all the bloggers, each one linked to the respective blog, from the Blog Statistics in the vertical panel to the left. Click on 'Total Blogs'.
Alternatively, you can use RSS feeds - your web browser should have an RSS client built into it.
You can also add blogs to your browser's favourites.
There is a link to the Blog home page on the forum nav bar, inbetween 'Galleries' and 'Unanswered'.
Once at the Blog home page you can list all the bloggers, each one linked to the respective blog, from the Blog Statistics in the vertical panel to the left. Click on 'Total Blogs'.
Alternatively, you can use RSS feeds - your web browser should have an RSS client built into it.
You can also add blogs to your browser's favourites.
Ian
Thanks for that Ian I have simply put a bookmark on the relevant page.
For any newcomer to the DP now forum I can't see a way for them to be aware of the blog, but then I am an inpatient sort and if it doesn't hit me straight away I loose interest. I can't help thinking I am not alone at being inpatient.
Just another question is it possible to add more and expand on an existing blog, or do we have to start another under a new subject.
Thanks for that Ian I have simply put a bookmark on the relevant page.
For any newcomer to the DP now forum I can't see a way for them to be aware of the blog, but then I am an inpatient sort and if it doesn't hit me straight away I loose interest. I can't help thinking I am not alone at being inpatient.
Just another question is it possible to add more and expand on an existing blog, or do we have to start another under a new subject.
Patrick
I will add a margin update extolling the new blogs.
You should be able to edit an existing entry if you wish. (See the pen/pencil icon to the bottom right). But if you aren't simply adding to the same topic previously published, simply use the post to your blog link to create a new entry.
I will add a margin update extolling the new blogs.
You should be able to edit an existing entry if you wish. (See the pen/pencil icon to the bottom right). But if you aren't simply adding to the same topic previously published, simply use the post to your blog link to create a new entry.
DPNow blogging has arrived!
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