Who We Are: Blogging with a Global Perspective

We all talk a good game about how blogging can help us communicate across time and space… and certainly across national borders. But do you know how big your audience outside your own country is? And do you bear your global audience in mind when blogging? What does it or would it change about your blogging to be a little more accessible and welcoming to a truly international community? Sometimes it’s just little things…sometimes you can do more. If the blogosphere is a
global village this panel will make sure you’re putting out a welcome mat to the world.

Featuring: Nicole Simon, Holly Burns, Claudia Mar Ruiz and Adrianne George

Nicole Simon: Welcome to Globbing…Blogging with a global perspective. This session is about sharing our blogging issues and problems we face in other countries. Who blogs in more than one language?
Answer: some hands from audience.
Holly Burns: I’m actually English, but I have a bit of an identity problem. I grew up all over the place and only went to boarding school in England. But have a quandary, as I live in America, but am clearly British. What language (culturally speaking) do I use?
Adrienne George: I blog for the expat community in Europe, basically black women in Europe. I blog to share information about how black women have thrived in Europe for centuries and can continue to do so. Half of my readers are in America and thank me for the insight.
NS: What are the language problems you encounter?
Claudia Mar Ruiz: I blog about what’s happening to Columbians here in America
NS: What are the reactions to homeland readers?
CMR: I share harsh things happening to Columbians here in the US.
NS: We get a glowing picture of US and Europe in Columbia from the mainstream media, right? It’s nice to see different perspective. How are other bloggers received in their home countries?
AG: Racism in Europe is a big question I get asked. And yes there is. African soccer players in Europe get taunted by their own fans. But Europeans don’t understand why this is offensive and want to know why Americans are offended.
NS: How would other countries view your blog? Holly, how is the perception here as a British person?
HB: I’m a source of travel information for people…not sure if that’s a good thing just because I was there once. People ask what I think about various things. I’m not really an expert. But people think I am.
NS: Just because I’m from Germany doesn’t mean I know everything about Europe or even Germany. Don’t assume I know everything just because I’m the only one you know from Europe. Do your research. What if we want to know about South America? It would be good to have more info on blogs that explain about cultural differences or pop culture. How did you research before going to Europe?
AG: I didn’t, but maybe I should. In Belgium I was isolated do to the war, and in 2006 I moved to Switzerland and sought out other Americans. You must know the local language or you’re always on the outside.
NS: What other languages do people blog in?
American audience member: I live in Paris and blog in French and English and sometimes Spanish which I’ve been trying to learn. About the racism, it’s true in France about the immigrants. Americans are interested in art and antiques and politics. But most of my friends are French or other expats. Remember audience is global, be careful not to offend.
AG: Do you blog in more in one language on the same blog?
AAM: yes.
HB: I’ve offended on accident. Dry British humor…have to be careful.
NS: When you know they’re not a native speaker, be helpful to them. It helps and encourages them. My English is good, but not unlimited. It’s helpful to have people help me offer advice. If you know you have international visitors, read their blogs.
Canadian Audience member: I actively seek out knowledge from blogs. I follow writers in Tanzania and Scotland.
Another Audience member: Use global voices or Google translation…even though it’s bad, it’ll help you understand.
NS: Read foreign newspapers or podcasts to get back into a language you may have learned.
AAM: I love international design blogs. I find the Japanese stuff very fascinating.
CMR: Readers leave emails or comments – my readers read in Spanish and then comment after translating, even in broken English.
NS: If in doubt, stay with English, as it is universally understood. It’s not imperialism. Smaller European countries are good with English.
Australian from Denmark, living in London (or something like that): A friend of mine from Nigeria can’t get anything – bank accounts, etc – because of her IP address.
NS: Anyone experience in misunderstanding comment because of language?
HB: Do you put out a welcome mat to international visitors?
NS: I do welcome information from where you’re from. It helps me relate to who my readers are. Adrianne, how has your race been perceived?
AG: I’m perceived as an American first. But I get respect. They assume you’re educated and have money, and are not going to consume public resources. Belgium: Black Peet sp? like Santa Clause – very offensive to Americans, blogged about it. Good comments from Americans, Dutch and Belgians alike.
NS: It’s not about me or you changing, but learning to understand. Questions come from curiosity. Many of my native cultural things I don’t think about but try to answer questions when they arise. Latin American issues?
CMR: I blog about women issues to men to immigrant issues. Modern slavery, farm workers worried about being picked up by la migra – universal issues, not just Columbian.
Audience Member: Don’t be shy about commenting and thanking your readers on their blogs.
NS: I announced my San Diego trip and readers gave into to me and then I met up with them, it was awesome. What kind of readers would you like to reach?
AM: How do I reach readers about a kids online portal? How do we let them know it’s safe?
NS: Depends on whose definition of safe you want. Europe has different standards on sex and violence than the US. But in terms of reaching them, it’s about the language for Europeans if you want those readers. Have a good separation of language on your blog(s) so as to not irritate your readers. Making a decision on language can be difficult. Twitter on topic in English.
AG: I quote the original source so I don’t worry about translating it. I keep it local.
CMR: They hate it when I put things in English and then I translate it. My readers don’t like that. They know I speak English.
Sally from PR Agency: Cross boarder issues at firm. Lately, bloggers presume countries like Venezuela have same online readers or Internet penetration. Where can I find info on this?
Australian: Our Internet is crap. We’re only 8 percent of the US population. So despite English being our native, our government doesn’t think it’s necessary to improve the Internet there.
CMR: Columbia has 45 million people. 6 million computer users, 1.5 million connected to Internet. My readers are Columbian expats.
NS: Germany: 80 million, 60 percent online. But try chambers of commerce for info. In Germany, blogging is not that big, use mainstream media to reach people. France is big on blogging. But it varies by country.
HB: Blogging in UK not as big as in US.
AM: Twitter is great to get local connection and get local stats on blogging.
AG: Twitter big in Asia and Western Europe at least.
AM: Idialist.org: can you find out if you’re being censored by local governments?
NS: Ask the question about what will get you banned.
AG: Check your analytics about whose visiting.
AM: Is there a cultural language barrier?
CMR: I blog for community so I blog in first person. They care and they give advice about the Columbia or the US. I blog in Spanish.
AG: If they’re coming from other countries, I think you can assume they understand English at least somewhat. You can add translation buttons to your site to assist them. And you can visit international blogs to build your community.
NS: It’s not about language, but the topic. I’ll even pay someone to translate it if I’m interested in it. If you linked to me, I’ll link to you and read your blog. Language doesn’t matter.
Canadian: search engines going local, so it’s making research harder. Maybe we need an international blogging platform. But not all of my readers are bloggers.
AG: Zing is Euro Linked In. It’s very interactive and women from all over the world use it.
American in Paris: I took a picture and a guy in Rio used it in a collage now on display there. So many artists are collaborating with each other all over the world without even meeting them.
NS: Last words?
CMR: My Columbian passport expired and I couldn’t get anyone on the phone. I blogged about it and got a lot of feedback…turns out it was a holiday and no one was around. But we built community.
AG: I put out the welcome mat and people came.
HB: I really don’t have anything to say. Thank you for coming and staying!
NS: Globbing…Blogging with a global perspective.

Live Blogged by Christine’s wonderful hubby, Ray!