WHY BLOG?
WHY participate in a RING of NATIONS BLOG?WHAT’s a BLOG GOING TO DO FOR YOUR TRIBE?
The Founding Members of the Ring of Nations are creating a Blog and a Website. For what purpose? Why should the Individual Tribes participate? What is the hoped for value?
- WHAT is the Return? Effort In = What Value Out?
First - for YOU Individual Tribal Community
- Gaining NTIA $$$’s for On-Tribal-Land Broadband Infrastructure that you will never have a chance to access again! Complete Inter-Community redo of the Tribal Community Telecommunications Services. True Broadband Power under Tribal Control!
- Changed Tribal Community Perceptions of Communication Realities! Tribal Lands are infamous for being not only extremely rural … but beyond rural they are remote to the point of never having the potential to attract discounted broadband services from the traditional National Carriers. The RoN Blog will make it possible to change the entire Tribal Community Leader’s perception as to what can really be done about the issues of being “underserved and not served”, considering high speed broadband services.
- Source to Promote Organic Marketing of the Tribal Revenue Potential. (At this time) - The Ring of Nation Project is available to each and every Tribe along the Northern Corridor from Washington DC through Wisconsin, through the Central –West, and all the way out to the West Coast Lands of Washington State. The Power of the Ring of Nations will not only be a source of inter-tribal communication restructuring, but it will answer the two most important economic questions the Tribes have: #1 – Where do you want to go (get to)? And, #2 – What business/trade do you want to conduct once you get there? In other words – What new business opportunities can the Tribe gain if they can move at the speed of light and truly compete in the Global Community!
- Two-Way Marketing: Ring of Nations Blog will provide a pathway for an exchange of ideas and a meeting place of council. From this will develop the new ideas of value to the specific needs of the Tribal participants. These ideas and concepts of “marketing at the speed of light” will begin a new era of mutual support amongst the RoN members seeking new targets for their products, services, and information projects. This power to communicate at true high-speed service rates will enable product’s flow into the Tribal Community as well as out of the tribal community. The Global community can better reach the Tribe and the Tribal Business can more efficiently reach the outside Tribal community of consumers.
- Clearer Global Picture and Perception: The Tribal member participating in the Ron Blog will be fascinated by the way ideas travel and what it will mean to participate in the enabling power of banded new marketing ecosystem. Each Tribal member will perceive the off-reservation business community differently than ever before, and additionally provide the Global community with a clearer picture (accuracy is the potential) of the Tribal Business Potential.
- A Right To Reply and Decide: Joining two-way conversations produces mutual benefit. RoN Blogging will assist the Tribal Council and Tribal Telecommunication Leadership to consider the issues of ARRA & NTIA Funding through a lot more thoroughly. Receiving NTIA Grant Funds directly for the On-Reservation Infrastructure Projects will have many impacting aspects to its process. Each Tribal Member of RoN will benefit from the knowledge of the other participating Tribal members. The challenge will be to exercise the true power of many minds dialoging. There is strength in varied perspectives. The meeting place of the RoN Blog will enable each participating member to learn together and then to influence the final decisions of the RoN Board of Directors. (The Board is – by the way – 100% Tribal Members only). RoN Blogging will provide the opportunity for more insightfulness, more new ideas, and give the participating Tribe richer opinions and perspectives. The value here is the impact this exchange of ideas will have on deciding How RoN Wins Grant Funds under NTIA.
Second – for the National, One Tribe / One Village Community of Native Americans …
- Gaining NTIA $$$’s for Off-Tribal-Land Broadband Backbone Network and Infrastructures. It is possible to connect the Tribes from coast to coast … to enable the “Where do you want to go”! The individual tribes can file for their own Tribe’s Reservation Infrastructure projects … But it will take a Community of Tribes (One National Village) to gain the NTIA Grant Funds that will be necessary to connect the Tribes coast to coast, office to office, and business to business. Imagine what this cold mean for the Indian Health Care Services, Tribal Police, Tribal Casinos, Native American Owned Businesses, Tribal Schools, Accessing Higher Educational Institutions, Research Projects, and Global Services. RoN will be a virtual – privately owned and maintained – completely organized and controlled state of the art Broadband Network. The banded and participating Tribes will never be at the mercy of the local Carriers again! This is Broadband Power under Tribal Sovereignty and Total Control!
2. WHAT is the RoN Blog?
What does it do? How does it Work?
Blogging is a funny and unusual thing. They are essentially like (similar to) a Council Meeting Place with the ability to archive the “councils exchange of ideas” in a Weblog. Blogs are just like any other new technological advance: more people have heard of them than have actually read them or participating by writing in them. However – this is the new step in how the Global World will be communicating and exchanging ideas.
The Blog can be specific by subject or it can be varied and general. It is Flexible to accommodate the desires and directives of the owners. So – what do YOU want the Blog to be? That will be your decision --- that is if you join RoN and you decide to participate in the RoN Blog. (Remember, RoN is owned and operated by the Tribal members 100%).
SO, WHAT IS THE POTENTIAL IMPACT for this Ron Blog? There is no easy answer to that question. Blogs can be everywhere and nowhere. Effective and Ineffective. Its success and value will be determined by those members of RoN that want to see it work …. It will only work as hard as the participating Tribal Member decides to make it work!
SO, WHAT MAKES UP A SUCCESSFUL BLOG?
- Time: You don’t have to become a Blog-Zealot to make this work. RoN will have assigned several “industry consultants” to write to the Broadband Issues and provide their levels of knowledge. RoN will have assigned many NTIA-Grant Fund experts to provide their continually developing knowledge and insights to how the Funding Programs work under the new President’s ARRA Initiative. RoN will have provided the opportunity of the various Tribal IT and Telecommunications experts to have their own access to writing and commenting on those issues and subjects that impact the Tribal Members of RoN at the local level.
- Time: So what is there for you to do? Any of the above (if you decide that is for you); or perhaps you will simply read the RoN Blog and thereby stay abreast of the current information and developments – you may elect to be a consistent commenter and “leave- a-question” participant.
- Effort: Most people are not blog- zealots! That is not required! No one will expect any RoN Member to participate every day. It may be that you check the RoN Blog Service only once a week. We believe it will be a god goal to check it every week before the Friday Conference Call. This is partly what it is for … to provide you with the latest accurate and fresh off the press information to assist you in the NTIA and ARRA funding mechanisms these next three years.
- Effort: It usually takes 10-15 minutes to read and write a blog post comment. A question may take you another 5 minutes. The RoN Blog-Writers and individual contributors generally will have to commit about 30-45 Minutes per RoN Blog entry. Blogging is not a sprint, it's a process to learn over a period of time to a desired purpose. Either Research purposes or eventual action purposes … longevity and consistency is what makes the value a winning decision.
- Effort: You simply have to be prepared to be patient and demonstrate “stick-to-it-ness”! This means: Just Keep At It! RoN will Word For You and Your Tribe!
Vulnerability: Blogging does require you to give a bit of yourself and when you put yourself out there, not everyone will agree with you. Be prepared to be challenged!
3. WHY Do People Blog on other Blog?
What’s the General Blogging Story?
WHY BOTHER? WHY BLOG? Perhaps the following insights will help you to decide – The RoN Blog sent out a survey to other Bloggers in the North Country Corridor … these are people that run their own Blogs of many varied purposes and goals. These are just a sampling of the comments that were submitted back to RoN as advice to you … and to the Tribal Members that may be considering participation in the Ring of Nations Project.
Here is some varied input from across the Blog-osphere World as to WHY Other People Blog – perhaps their own reasons will give you some insights as to how blogs are used … even though the RING of Nations Blog will have its own purposes and goals, different from those of the following people:
Anne Mathewson of Fishbucket says,
….Herman Melville put it best when he said, "We cannot live for ourselves alone. Our lives are connected by a thousand invisible threads, and along these sympathetic fibers, our actions run as causes and return to us as results." A perfect description of blogging, don't you think?
I started blogging some years ago largely to pass time and share experiences. A small part of me, however, was selfishly hoping for admiration and affirmation; a shallow attitude I've long abandoned. Eventually, I discovered the joy found via "invisible threads" and "sympathetic fibers" - those human connections made along the way. Blogger tend to be a wonderful comfort of strangers.
Brian Moffatt of Moffat Blog says,
.... As a writer, I love sitting down to blog. When I start a post I have no idea where I'm headed. I love that freedom. I do write otherwise. With outlines and plans. Strategies. But blog writing is like going off for a walk with no predetermined finish time or route, sometimes the walk is through the fields, sometimes along the streets. The typing: different from what I might write with a pen, the pen being much closer to the heart. The typing taps into some place in my brain. I think my best writing comes when I am not thinking. I'm just writing. Or at least that's the way I can look at it when a post is linked to. Which is ultimately the best part about blog writing! Getting a reaction!
Seth Brian says, … “Short Answer”… "To be heard!"
Michelle Goodrich says, … “ I've learned a lot about people all over the world, people I would otherwise never get to know. Through their blogs I learn about everyday life in faraway places. We are all so much alike. HTML and CSS are universal so we are able to communicate ideas in code. I think we all wonder why we blog, otherwise”.
Renee Blodgett says, … “I write about technology and blogging, but I also write about politics, music, entertainment and life’s daily smiles and grind. The latter is of particular interest to me through my recent East Coast -- West Coast transition. One of the things I’ve noticed since I started this blog is how much more attention I pay to the details. We may create new blogs with different voices on different topics as the tools evolve. Here, I write whatever comes to my mind; things that I’m passionate about, people I care about and issues that disturb or alarm me.”
Theo Sayer says, … “For the opportunity to respond and make an impact on important issues that will change mine and other people’s lives. Thanks for the opportunity to respond.”
Jim Rogers says, …”I've descended through many possible layers of answers on this one. I think I have learned that people blog because information is energy. It can be absorbed, it may be added to, and hopefully passed on. Thanks for asking.”
Amy Wohl says, … “While I could probably give some long drawn out explanation of why I blog, the truth, as it usually is, is simple. I blog because it extends me in a way that makes me greater than who I am on my own. “
Additional Miscellaneous Comments to the RoN Enquiry: “Why Blog” ?
· Fundamental topics to why we're here, and what we do. - Michael Barton
· Wanting to learn something specific from others we may not know personally – Sam Duncan
· How can we do something better? - Michelle Grant
· Blogging is way to share your opinion. – Mark Cameral
· Blogging is for personal therapy when you are unsure about the subject. – Keith Michael
· Discussing something you personally care about. Hoping to get a wider readership. – Lisa Wells
· An archive of what you're thinking. Lead to support network of other bloggers. - - AJ Cann
· Use it as a platform for influencing others. – Meagan Baxely
· Fight the good fight. – Mathew Bailey
· Freedom to discuss what you want. – Darrell Baines
· Blogging covers the gaps in the current debate. – Holly Gaines
· Blog to give different speakers a voice. – Man Running
· If we are trying to change things, how can we do it better? –Terrell Kanes
Other Posted Commentary offered to the RoN Community addressing the Question of “Why Blog”?
To Complain – (Pete Keatts)
There is nothing that can spur creative expression than a good rant. Whine, complain, bitch, moan, take something or someone to task and words may just explode onto the blank screen.
As with all such emotional vents, take care to edit and censor offensive and harmful language. And if you choose to whine and blame, be sure and offer a solution, so your rant will have a purpose, if you want one. A well-written rant is a great attention-getter for like minds.
To Pick a Newsworthy Story – (Bill Hopewell)
We are inundated with news, and not every top news story is worth your time and effort. However, there may be some interesting news bits that can set fire to your creative writing skills.
I find a lot of interesting stories from news related to my industry. Since blogging is an evolving industry, I monitor news about the writing and publishing industry, marketing and public relations, communications, and other similar industries to find out what others are doing and how what they do or say might be news or information my readers might want to know about.
But what is most interesting are the stories that are off “page one”, on the “virtual” page two or three of the news. Dig deeper into the news than just the surface to find the real stories that are often overlooked by the “big bloggers”. Make these into your own story with your own style, and possibly shed some light on a story that needs some light shone on it.
Human interest news stories can also trigger memories of your own, allowing you to tell more of your story as well as find a new perspective on the news.
To Share Your Expertise – (Lemmuel Wallace)
Everyone knows how to do at least one thing well. Most people know how to do many things well. Share your expertise on how to best do what you know. Don’t tell it all in one post. Break up the information into smaller, digestible posts over time, leading the reader through the process, step-by-step. Your experience and knowledge is important to someone, so share it. We can all learn from you.
To Teach – (Katie Daniels)
There is an art in teaching and writing as a teacher is even more challenging. I think there is a little teacher in all of us. Let the teacher in you come out and share your expertise and knowledge with your readers by educating them.
Educational material can come from a variety of sources. You can teach them how to do a particular thing, or help them figure out how to do it themselves. You can also direct them to more resources on how to do it even better.
To Guide – (Willie Conners)
Writing a guide is different from sharing and teaching. Sharing your expertise and knowledge invites the reader into your head and experiences. Teaching tells them how to do it. Guiding shows them the path to do it on their own.
Guides come in all shapes, sizes, and flavors, leading the reader along the path to knowledge. It takes some skill to write guides, but focus on your experiences and how you proceeded along your path to knowledge and write it accordingly.
To Share and Create History – (Lacy Demsey)
Write and be a part of History and History’s Change!
History is a never-ending source of story ideas, corollaries, and creative inspiration for many. I recently heard of a writer for young people who has reinvented the Greek gods to create a popular book series, which is under consideration as a television series.
Dig into history to see what may fire up your writing motor. There is so much to learn from and write about history, it may seem overwhelming. Narrow it down to something related to your blog and find out if something similar happened in history. For instance, Russian Prince Vladimir Odoevsky, 1803-1869, is claimed to having been the first to write down a clear descriptive vision of what would become the Internet and Web. Who knows what you could predict and describe today that historians would claim you “invested”?
Boston 1775 is a blog dedicated to the 17th and 18th century United States and I’ve found a ton of correlation between the news the blogger has uncovered in his genealogical and historical research into that time period with today. History is a wide open book. Start opening some pages and make some history on your blog.
To Tell a Story – (Matt Whitehorse)
Everyone has a story. Your story could be from a moment you experienced today or an event from your past. Stories are wonderful ways to make a point, support a moral or value, and to soften the blow of a more serious point you want to make.
To Review Something – (Debra Cain)
Writing about what you think of someone, something, or any subject takes some writing skills to convey your intentions and experience, but writing reviews are very popular on blogs today. People want to know before they buy, try, or do and your experiences can help them decide.
A review can be of anything, from books to tools, real estate agents and companies to government funding programs. Some blogs are totally dedicated to nothing but reviews, but reviewing something on your blog occasionally helps to promote a favorite item, or helps you really express your disappointment in something that might be of interest to your readers.
Describe Your Dreams – (Candace Shoomer)
The 70s and 80s were filled with dream books, writing down your dreams and analyzing them, hoping to discover the inner workings of your brain. Dream writing is still popular and some bloggers enjoy sharing their dreams.
A dream, though doesn’t have to be about what went on in your head while you slept. Your dreams can be your goals. Sharing them often helps to give them a solid foundation and better understanding for yourself as well as others. It can also be an open invitation to others to help you make your dreams come true. You never know who is reading.
To Interview and Ask Questions – (Dennis Kline)
Let your questions be your blog post outline, and let someone else fill in the blanks on a blog post. Interview another blogger, a family member, friend, co-worker, anyone you are interested in. Ask them how they work, why they do what they do, and what tips they have to share with others.
When you let someone else speak on your blog, you expose your readers to new ideas and concepts that you might not cover. You give them insights into how others think, and what you think of others. You also show them that you are important because of who you know, not just what you know.
To Tell It Better – (Sam Night-Goes)
They say that there is no such thing as a new idea, just an old one spiffed up in a new way. Why not take an idea, blog post, news story, or anything and tell it better on your blog. From your view point. Tell it your way. Tell it from a different perspective. Turn it on its ear. Offer a counterpoint. Play devil’s advocate. Whatever it is, I know you can tell it better. Why not?
To Inspire and Motivate – (April Thomas)
Inspiration and motivation comes from many places. Why not your blog? Blog about something that inspired and motivated you, but also find ways to write to inspire others. Challenge your readers’ way of thinking. Change their minds. Change the world.
To Write a Tip – (Ansel Cartel)
There are never enough tips and techniques for doing things in the world, and the web is becoming the number one source for as a resource when you want to know how to do something.
I want to start a greenhouse so I can have fresh veggies and herbs through the winter, and get a jump start on next year’s garden. Where do I go? The web. I am also learning about drying and preserving the fruits and vegetables from my garden through the winter. Where did I do my research? On the web. Blogs can compile all that information down from various locations.
The car is making a knocking sound in the trunk area. Do I turn to the Car Talk guys? Nope. I do a search on the web and it looks like I can live with it for a while, but there’s a big mechanic bill in my future. Add your tips, advice, techniques, and how-tos to your blog to help people learn how to do what you know how to do. We come to learn from your experiences, failures, and successes, so share them with us.
As I explore blogs in general, I’m always curious about what others recommend and link to. I find a lot of ideas and topics to blog about from what others recommend. Especially if they find the subject of interest but they only link and not discuss the topic. If it’s interesting enough to them to link, it may be interesting enough to me and my readers to link to the same thing and add more to the conversation.
To Watch Trends – (Andrew Williams)
Trend watching can bring up many blog post ideas, from what it hot to what is not. Google Hot Trends and Yahoo Buzz can help you track what’s going on in your industry, as can monitoring the many blog feeds from bloggers within your topic or industry. What’s new with your subject? By watching trends, you can not only blog about what is happening, but possibly make predictions on what will happen next.
To Find and Post Content Mining – (Sasah Bilbane)
Content mining is a phrase which describes the process of digging for article ideas. It’s like online brainstorming, following categories to subcategories, to links, and to more links, looking for that idea worth blogging about.
Quintura and Data Mining (from DMOZ Directory) are examples of sources through which you can dig for content, but you can also use any search engine or directory to just explore words and concepts, following whatever path opens up, and see what you dig up.
To Search the Searchers – (Alfred Callwood)
I’m always curious about what people are searching for. I look in my own blog stats to see what search terms brought visitors to my blog and think about which blog posts I have which meets those needs. If I don’t have much, it’s time to start writing.
There are many search engine tools which help tell you want searchers are searching for, giving you ideas for popular themes, phrases, and words on the web. Dogpile SearchSpy, Digg Spy, Lycos Top 50, Google Zeitgeist, and other top search term sites may help you learn more about what people are searching for.
Don’t write blog posts with the names of the most searched for people, or use these top search terms just because they might bring traffic to your blog. Choose the words and terms that most reflect your blog’s content, and write about them because it will help your readers.
To Post News Alerts – (Wanda Bailey)
Google Alerts and Yahoo Alerts offer “news alerts” emailed right to you with the news stories that match your keyword or phrase. The Blog gives you a place to tell others what you have found. You can put any term into the news alert and get potential story ideas and lead coming right into your email inbox.
To Make a Difference in the Whole Wide World – (Amarah Clieves)
By sharing the lessons learned and how they changed your life, you preserve a moment, and honor the person who changed your life. It’s a great way of saying thank you, but also might help change someone else’s life in the process of reading your blog.
You never know where a good blog post idea will come from. Just have the courage to use it when it arrives. Will this be you?