How to Start a Television Blog

Everywhere you go online, people are starting blogs about their favorite subjects and pastimes. Everywhere you go in real life, people are watching television and talking about their most and least favorite TV shows, characters, and actors. It's easy to be an armchair critic, but it takes a little more effort to write your thoughts down in a format that's engaging enough to attract regular readers. If you're very opinionated about television, however, and always have something to say about what you're watching, there's no better way to build up an audience of individuals with a similar interest than to start a blog devoted entirely to TV or even just one specific television series, genre, or performer. Here's how to get started the right way.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Television
• Television-related magazines and publications
• TV show recorder
• Web browser

1. Choose a name for your blog that will immediately tell readers that it concerns television. For instance, any name with "TV," "television," or "tube" somewhere in it will instantly indicate what your topic is.
2. Determine if the blog will be hosted on its own website or if it will be hosted by a blogging service that is free. In the first case, you will have to purchase a domain name and web hosting service from established companies, such as GoDaddy and Media Temple, respectively, and then set up blogging software like MovableType to publish your writing.
3. Select a blogging platform that doesn't require payment for use, such as Blogger, LiveJournal or WordPress, if you prefer a free blog. Note that even if your choose to blog at your own purchased domain, blogging platforms like Blogger and WordPress are compatible, and you can use them to publish your writing.
4. Continue to watch the television shows you normally do, but begin to view them with a writer's eye. For example, instead of passively taking in what happens, listen for interesting dialog, watch for particularly memorable moments, and analyze plot developments that seem unusual or special.
5. Write about episodes of the television shows you watch, using the details that stick out in your memory to help guide you. Since writing for the Web is best when it's short and to the point, keep your articles focused, at a reasonable length, and free of overly complicated words and grammar. A conversational style is often most appealing.
6. Supplement your articles about television shows with current news. Read TV-related magazines and websites on a regular basis to become familiar with events in the industry. You can use this information to either enhance the content in your articles about episodes or create separate articles focused entirely on industry and celebrity happenings.
7. Research specific genres or niches and pick one or two to focus your blog and target a more specific audience.For instance, some television blogs revolve around horror shows only or a certain actress and her career alone. Writing in a niche might lead to a blog with a smaller group of readers. Yet, it's more likely that those people will return on a regular basis to read what you've written, participate in discussions about topics they care about most and possess a keener interest in your posts.

Tips & Warnings

• If you really want to have a television blog that stands apart from the crowd and establishes you as a well-informed writer, you should study certain aspects of the TV industry. For example, learn how to read Nielsen ratings data and master when the different television seasons and sweeps periods begin and end.
• Readers will be more likely to visit your blog again if your writing demonstrates genuine passion for the subject. Bland articles are a dime a dozen, which is why you must have strong opinions about television if you want Web users to take note of your work.
• Mix it up a little. Don't just write about what you like or love. Make sure to include stuff you're indifferent to and hate, as well.
• Never report gossip as fact, always quote the work and words of others properly, and give due credit to original sources without fail. The Internet makes everything faster and more connected, which means published content not only spreads quickly, but very far and very wide. Don't make the mistake of getting caught pushing rumors as fact, twisting someone's words, or stealing the content of others. It could destroy your reputation, online and off, and potentially lead to legal action.