Starting a blog??

[jaydot]

Looking for advice and tips here guys.

I'm looking to get into the blogging side of things. I would like to be a freelance journo/writer one day and music is something which I'd be interested in writing about. I;d say my level of writing was ok. I sent a piece off to a music website which has c40,000 fans and they're interested in getting a contribution from me. I've also studied journalism at degree level and spent a summer for a company writing their blogs/SEOing them.

Is it worth doing, just for the fun element and to help get people recognised? It would be a good thing for me to get people on the map in whatever capacity..... I think Itd be rewarding.

The focus will be largely dubstep with maybe a smidgen of drum and bass with a leaning towards unsigned artists in the early stages.

This is just an initial idea btw nothing in progress yet.

Any tips, suggestions, thoughts greatfully revcieved.

Cheers, J.

[setspeed]

yeah it's definitely worth it.

i started bassmusicblog about 9 months ago and it's been a great learning experience - people start sending you PR material and you start learning about how all that shit works, and it forces you to keep on top of new music. it's also good to hit up other blogs for link swaps, get chatting over email to other people who do blogs, see if you can't help each other out a little bit.

only downside is it's a lot of work!

[jaydot]

I'm not too fussed about the workload as I have not a lot to do atm (on a "gap year") and I know the results may be rewarding.

I'll check out your blog mate btw. Cheers for the heads up.

[jaydot]

http://boombasstic.wordpress.com/

So I decided to do it, done the first post and feature, and will be updating it three times a week or so and seeing how it goes.

Anyone know how to embed soundcloud players into the blog post btw? If so that would massively help.........

Cheers

J.

[hedmuk]

Hey man, we started out relatively recently aswell. It's worth it, really gives your music listening a direction and improves your writing. Your blog looks good, nice one.

[ShutThatShitDown]

Yeah get on it, fun to do and helping get good music out there is good to see.. I'm enjoying writing our blog anyway.

hit me up on aim sometime : gotyoudancing

[jaydot]

Cheers for the encouragement. When it gets up and running I'll post a link of your blogs on the site.

[blackdown]

my tips are...

- do it
- look to find your own voice and style
- think about how your blog can be different to a forum
- avoid just blogging YouTube videos, thats air
- only start if you're in it for the long term, many blogs go dormant after a year or so
- maximise the use of new media we have at our finger tips now: text, images, video, audio, realtime video etc

[manuel]

Its well worth doing. I find writing posts really addictive.

I started mine about 3 months ago, basically just whatever music I like so not just one genre. Mostly brand new music though

Ill try and stick some of your guys blogs up in my family collum at some point. It doesnt really work well in IE though. Nothing shows up on the sides.

But yeah Blackdown has good advice, Keep posting! A lot of bloggers post loads at first then just die out. Keep your readers wanting to come back. Keep your posts relevant to what your blog is about.

[jaydot]

http://boombasstic.wordpress.com/2010/0 ... a-go-down/

Couple of ideas for the blog^^^

Looking forward to keeping up with it....

Still dumbstruck as to how to embed the players. I've done what everyone has said and it isn't working.

[setspeed]

so you've tried pasting all this nonsense into your post?

<object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf ... w"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf ... um-preview" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/i-d/i-d-baobinga- ... eview">I.D. & Baobinga - Bass Music Sessions Album Preview</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/i-d">I.D.</a></span>

[jaydot]

Yeah and it MUST have html enabled otherwise the pic wouldn't show up.

So talk me through it step by step.

Here's how I've done it

If you could go to the artists' soundcloud and copy exactly I need to paste that would be great....

( http://www.soundcloud.com/dropnroll ) the tracks I want to embed are I Am, the free 320 on the second page and another one but once I know what the code looks like I can do it myself.

Basically there's too many codes to copy/paste and it's confusing.

[setspeed]

if that doesn't work then i'm afraid i have no idea - the reason i use posterous is because it's designed for idiots like me!

[bizarreon]

I use WordPress, all I do is click "Share" on the SoundCloud player ( on the SoundCloud site ) then click on the WordPress icon in the box that appears. Copy and paste that text. It shouldn't be a massive amount like mentioned above, just a short line.

Good work setting up the blog. It looks cool. I got one as well, it's damn good fun doing it. Does take up most of my evenings though, but I love finding new music every day!

Check mine out:
http://www.bizarreondubstep.wordpress.com/

I'll add you to my blog roll

EDIT: This is what the code should look like. This is for the Drop n Roll track:
[soundcloud url="http://soundcloud.com/dropnroll/i-am-7"]

[jaydot]

I have been doing that and it's not showing up which is a total mystery....I'll have one last try though.