Science Metropolis – Boston

Dear Readers,

Thank you so much for joining me in my exploration of blogging these past two months. It’s been a learning experience and I thought I’d take advantage of my recent “technical difficulties,” to share with you some of my observations from running a Website. Perhaps this will help some of you who are thinking about embarking on this journey yourselves.

- Recently, I’ve recommended that my friends, most of whom are writers, develop an online presence. It’s essential nowadays to show up on that first page of Google, especially after an evening of networking. Having a Website is the best way to do that. Develop a brand and plaster your name all over it. Learn how to add your pages to Google and Yahoo. Use Facebook, YouTube, e-mail signatures and your friends to get the word out. You many not have 100 hits a days, but at least when someone is looking for the quality of your work, it’s an instant portfolio.

- A professor of mine once said, the difference between print and video, is that video is timeless. I would argue that is no longer the case. Treat each post like it is an entity of its own. With the way Google and tagging works, you never know which of your essays, articles, podcasts or videos will be searched for weeks, months or years later. A review I did criticizing PBS for airing “The Brain Fitness Program” is my most popular page, and has received more visitors than any other post.

- A Web story is not a print or broadcast story. If there is some way to make it visual, try to find that perfect photograph or illustration. Plus it just looks nicer and gives the post a more professional feel. Don’t just steal an image from the Web either, put that digital camera to work. Size also matters. Your 900-word essay on ethanol may not be as readable on the Web as it would in print. Unless it’s a thoroughly researched story, I aim for 500-600 words per post with short paragraphs. Any supporting evidence is where hyperlinks come in handy.

- Make it useful. This is Rule #1. Give readers a reason to come back. If you plan on using your Web space to talk about how much fun you had over the weekend, stop now. Many online writers are finding specific niches to report on and are able to grow and retain a loyal following that way. This allows you to generate authority, (very important on a blogosphere site like technorati), and find richer subjects to write about.

- Don’t be a techno-addict! It’s very easy to become consumed by your blog. If everything in life turns into a potential post, call a friend and ask for help.

- Look ahead. My dream for Science Metropolis is for a digital and physical Boston science community, one in which visitors go together to local events, and talk to each other on and off line about something they are passionate about. Blogging is very isolating, but it doesn’t have to be. Use it to make new friends. Invite people you know to contribute. That’s the true power of the Internet.

If you have any questions or want someone to bounce ideas off of, there’s a human behind these words and I’m willing to help.

Thank you again for your continued support.

Joseph Caputo