People throughout the aviation world will strongly agree that all pilots share the same personality when it comes to talking about flying. “Hangar Talk” as some call it, is commonly known as pilots talking amongst one another sharing stories either about their own flying experience or what is new in the aviation world. Now, with the use of the internet becoming almost a necessity in modern society, pilots are tending to post their stories, ideas, and information on weblogs. Although it may seem difficult to get used to, blogs can be a great way for pilots to become well known throughout the community and express their knowledge to a larger audience.
Brainstorming Ideas
Because topics concerning aviation are so vast, it can sometimes be hard narrowing down what you would like to discuss. Coming up with new topics each week can also be difficult because posting regularly is essential in order to bring readers back to view your writing. I find that the easiest way to brainstorm ideas is to look at current issues that are affecting pilots and research what is coming out in the media with new technology potentially shaping the future of flying. Readers never like seeing a subject discussed over and over again which means that blogging about current events will help create a strong foundation for viewers to enjoy. Recently developed airplanes, extraordinary firsthand experience, and new regulations are topics that every pilot will appreciate.
From Thought to Print
Blogging is hobby that takes time and allowing yourself to get a good amount of posting in each week can be problematic at times. Jobs, school, and flying in general can take up most of your time but there is always room each day to get at least part of a post completed so that at the end of the week there is a solid amount of information on your blog. Posting regularly each week will help develop a healthy routine that makes the mind flow easier into writing.
Outsiders
Information from outside sources is extremely helpful in developing a blog but you must be cautious in avoiding plagiarism. News articles, aircraft manuals, and statistics are great sources that support your points in each topic. The information must also be credible and pertain to the subject at hand. Never be rushed into writing a blog because at times when you want to finish quickly it is much easier to copy down the information word for word. Stealing other’s ideas always must be avoided, and blogs are no exception because it can extremely damage your reputation as a writer. Cheating is a habit that gets increasingly worse and can damage your style of writing, so it must always be avoided. Always make sure to put a link or some form of citation on your blog when referencing outside sources.
The Attention Grabber
I feel that the most important aspect of every blog comes at the very beginning of each post because the first words and pictures will determine whether the reader stays or goes. A catchy title has proven effective by making your writing stand out and seem interesting to anyone browsing through the blog. The title and introductory sentences need to jump out at readers and not just sit idly by and be easily skipped over. A common saying is that a picture says 1000 words, which is proven over and over again in every blog you post. Your picture is physical proof of why people need to read your blog, but at the same time it must still pertain to the information in the post. It should also stand out and be out of the ordinary such as a rare airplane or home video of an actual event either in flight or on the ground. Regularly check your stat counter to see which posts are bringing in more readers and examine what aspects it has that is grabbing their attention. Stat-counters give an abundance of information on the status of each post such as how long people are reading them, the number of unique visitors, and the popularity of each post. I guarantee that a unique title and picture will always result in a high number of readers.
Don’t Be Lead Astray
Never lose connection with the aviators reading your blog. Each post must be dedicated to the same interests that pilots in general love reading and discussing. A mission statement should be posted immediately after you create a blog to clearly lay out who you are gearing your information towards and what information you will be including and updating. If there are noticeably high counts of visitors on a certain post, give the readers what they want and make a second article either updating or adding on to the details of your first. Readers will gradually not return if they aren’t seeing what they want each week, which again stresses the point of continually updating your blog with new posts to keep the site alive and kicking. Always pay close attention to user comments because they could be made by other professional pilots out there adding crucial points to your topic. People reading your posts are pilots just like yourself, which makes it much easier to know what interests them rather than if you were completely uneducated on aviation.
Be Yourself
Writers can sometimes find it difficult to develop and sustain a voice throughout their blogs, but the key is to place your personality in your posts almost as if they were a journal entry. Never forget to maintain a professional attitude, but at the same time include your own thoughts, criticism, and vocabulary. Third person is not necessary in blogs like it always was in high school composition; instead expressing your thoughts and knowledge is what keeps your blog original and unique from other news articles and books.
One Last Thought
Remember to have fun with your blogs and explore what you want to learn more about in aviation. I found that blogging on your personal choice of topics will yield better results and prevent any repetition and a sense of boredom in the writing. If you see a really cool airplane or have a wild experience flying, write about it and share with the rest of the community. Your readers are or were once in the same shoes you are currently in with your flight training so personal experiences with airshows or even your favorite flight lesson can be a topic of interest to them and bring back fond memories of flying.
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