Choosing the right platform for your blog(s)
If you decide to start blogging about your research, you have several options in choosing a suitable platform for your blogs. In this video, Dr Niko Wanders explains which different options you have and what will be the pros and cons of such platforms. He adds useful insights on how to engage your audience, where to get help, and how to make sure that an editor will publish your blog.
Tips and tricks
Three options
In finding the right platform, you have three different options:
- Start your own channel to reach a unique fanbase.
- Contribute to an external platform/outlet on a regular basis.
- A bit more ad hoc: start with an idea and pitch it to the editor of a suitable platform.
Pros and cons of these options
- Pro: You can follow your own rules and preferences. There’s no need to convince an editor to publish your stories. Also, the people that follow your blog will get to know your research and probably read it because they like you or your work. The readers of such a platform can be a very loyal audience, as they have purposely decided to read your blog.
Con: Starting and maintaining your own blog takes quite some time. You also need to create your own fanbase and visibility. This could take time and you have to build it all from scratch. - Pro: The fanbase and outreach is already there. It takes less time than managing your own platform. Your contribution doesn’t have to be very frequent as the readers on such a platform will have other things to read as well. It will of course mean that your blog is part of a longer list of other posts and does have to stand out a bit - but it will give you access to more readers and more impact.
Con: You still have to commit to regular contributions, for example once per month. - Pro: You can pick the right moment to write a contribution and seize the opportunity to relate to current affairs. Especially if you don’t have a regular blog, but you do want to relate to an ongoing event in the news. You can really take advantage of the right time and the right place / platform for your story.
Con: You have to ‘sell’ your story to a media outlet/editor. There also might be some strict deadlines and/or guidelines for how to write a blog. You might not be as free in the formatting and you will not talk to a specialized audience. This could mean that you sometimes have to tune your message more specifically to that platform.
Pitch your idea to a blog editor
Every blog starts with an idea, something you would like to write about. Whether it’s a research finding, something in the news or a topic you have an opinion about. You can pitch this idea to a blog editor – or maybe they will even approach you. Good to know: you don’t need to have a full-fledged story ready yet!
Ask for tips and advice
Let your peers, colleagues, family/friends or a communication advisor of the university read along with your story, to see whether it’s understandable for and appealing to a broader audience. They can give you useful tips and advice.
Convince others
Is it hard to write a blog and get it published? Yes, it can be quite difficult. But remember: if you are enthusiastic about the story you want to share and really feel the need to get this perspective out there, then it will be easy to convince others as well.
WordPress for researchers at Utrecht University
Utrecht University offers the possibility to create your own WordPress website where you can post all your blogs. Contact the communication department of the faculty you are attached to for more information.
Don't be discouraged when you get some negative reactions
Once your blog is out there, you might get reactions from readers. These can be both positive and negative. Please don’t be discouraged if you get some of those negative reactions: there will always be people that don’t have to like your story, but that doesn’t mean it is a bad story!
If you want to know more about handling these kinds of (negative) reactions, also watch part 7 of this blog training!
Reading tips
External platforms that might be of interest, recommended by Niko Wanders.