Happy 5th birthday blog!

I can’t believe it’s 5 years since I started blogging here!

I started writing it while working in the ICT Hub at NCVO and it was pretty much a record of me getting to grips with “new media” technologies. I wrote about finally understanding what RSS feeds where, downloading my first podcast, experimenting with social bookmarking and even having my first Skype call.

There was a bit of lean spell through 2009 and 2010 but I picked it up again in 2011 with (what I hope are) more useful posts describing how charities can use these tools, such as an introductory guide to blogging, using technology to be more effective trustees and social media for campaigning.

2012 is my year for blogging. I joined up to Weekly Blog Club, a loose group of bloggers who not only write interesting posts themselves but also read and comment on mine, which is so encouraging. The Twitter body that is @weeklyblogclub always nudges to get a new post every week and I think I’ve only missed about 4 or 5 this year (mainly due to getting married). Regular writing makes you a better blogger, at least that’s what I’m hoping.

Even after 5 years I haven’t got it right yet. I tend to only post links once which is ridiculous, I don’t spend time finding similar blogs to comment on and cross link, I don’t listen out for conversations to share my relevant content with… but I should. And this year I am really trying hard to make it work.

My top 5 posts in this time have been:

1. Creating your own data visualisations
2. A recipe for the perfect database (AKA how not to get undercooked data)
3. Hosting a Google hangout for charity freelancers
4. Social media campaigning on my own doorstep
5. Dealing with the impending cookie monster

And if I can get 172 of you to have a look at my blog today I will hit 10,000 views on my blogging birthday!

(For the rest of the year it’s not about the numbers but just for today, it definitely is).