Blogging .. right way or a wrong way on Ex..... open for discussion

[bonniebee]

   My own opinion is  it should be whatever is on ones mind,  if they have the need to share, or vent ,or ask for help, or tell their  story or just  share what is going on in there life or in there quit . It is how i have gotten to know other Ex'ers .

    I don't think there should be rules or comparisons . Sometimes a blog is written so well and is so inspiring that it is  shared to the Best of Ex . I don't think others should feel  intimidated if they cannot "compete " with the Best .  

     I did write many more blogs in my early weeks and months because I needed that daily communication and support. Now I mainly read and comment on the blogs . 

[CommunityAdmin]

Bonnie-

There's no right or wrong way to blog. Where you put your blog is largely up to you.  If it is about quitting, we recommend that you either blog in your personal blog or in Conversations‌.  If your blog is about COPD or Being a single parent, you may decide to blog in one of the social groups related to those topics. We do have some recommendations (Different Content Types on EX and When to Use Each One ‌) so that new people and even those who moved from the previous community can get a sense for what the appropriate use of each of the different content options are. Our recommendation isn't a rule though, the choice is ultimately up to you.  If you're a long-time blogger, then use blogs.  If you're a long-time member but never felt comfortable to blog and a question or a discussion is more your style, then use one of those.  Either way, we want you to feel comfortable participating and contributing. If you're new to the site, you're probably not going to be up to blogging as it is probably intimidating so starting with discussions or questions might be your first toe in the water.

Now if you have a question about the site or have a problem with the functions on the site.  Those Questions and Discussions need to go in Community Help‌. I'm following that community and that is where I'm monitoring things (issues, feedback, etc.). If issues are posted elsewhere (Conversations‌, in  Freedom Train posts, the EX Cafe, The Daily Pledge or one of the Social Groups) then I might miss it.  Blogs shouldn't be posted in Community Help‌.  If a quitting question is posted in Community Help‌ I will be moving it to Conversations‌. Similarly if there is a questions asked in Conversations‌ about how to use the community and is not related to quitting then it will likely be moved to Community Help‌.

Here is a diagram on how we've simplified things.  Hopefully seeing a diagram will help you understand the structure. The actual locations you can posts things as dramatically decreased. The types of things you can post has increased slightly.  Polls and Videos and Documents are the three additions.  Questions are essentially Discussions with an extra designation.  Message Boards have changed form and has become Status Updates.

Updated 2/27/17 to include Personal Blogs.

Mark
EX Community Manager

[Bree19]

THERE we go!  Thanks Mark- really helpful.

[CommunityAdmin]

Updated to add Personal Blogs to structure. It's a "grouping" but not an actual place like Communities or Social groups.

Mark
EX Community Manager