How my cell phone helped me keep blogging when I didn’t have Internet Access
Many of you may already know by now that I’ve recently relocated and that move has left me without internet far longer than I had anticipated.
I had planned on about a week or so, but that week turn into two…into three…into…almost losing my entire mind!
On the day that my service was finally supposed to be connected, we had a terrible storm in our area that caused our appointment to be rescheduled until several days later.
All I could do was laugh hysterically and resort to my usual blogging via my Samsung Eternity. Of course, the cell phone has its limitations to what I could do, but once I downloaded the OperaMini internet browser from getjar.com, that opened up so much more.
With this little browser, I could finally view a mini version of most blogs as opposed to the mobile view. I was once a great fan of creating a mobile verision of blogs, but those mobile versions limited what I could do. I couldn’t easily retweet a post or stumble it the way I could with the mini version.
With this mini version, I could interact with blogs almost as well as I could with my computer, with the exception of having to use my thumbs to type my comments (which slowed me down by the way).
I could even schedule and publish blog posts on my blog. Of couse, it took a bit more time to navigate and there were many WordPress functions that I couldn’t access. For example, I couldn’t insert pictures unless I had the HTML/URL and I couldn’t add links to anchor text because my phone doesn’t allow me to highlight and select text.
Regardless of the limitations, my phone enabled me to stay in contact with the blogosphere via Twitter and other social networking sites. The greatest asset, was that I was able to publish posts in a pinch.
While my phone certainly helped me through my no-internet period, I truly couldn’t have kept my blog going without the wonderful members of the We Blog Better Team. Thanks to Jean, Tia, Evelyn, and some awesome guest posters this blog is still growing and climbing towards the top.
I hope you will help me thank them by stopping by each of their blogs and sharing their content on Twitter, Facebook, StumbleUpon or whatever networks you frequent. Be sure to follow them on Twitter and Subscribe to their feeds.
Jean – VirginBloggerNotes.com – Twitter: @jeansarauer
Tia – Bizchickblogs.com – Twitter: @bizchickblogs
Evelyn – EvelynParham.com – Twitter: @evelyn_parham
Before you go, if you have ever tried to maintain a blog during a period without internet access, I’d love to hear about your experience. Please share how you overcame this period in the comment section below.
About Kiesha Easley
I find not been near a pc but having my phone flustrating as it lets me almost blog but not quite!
sash recently posted..Ringing sounds in the ear
I have experienced no internet days,need it so much that I need to calm down first, and only after thinking about the solutions. However, mobile saves but when you really need is more than a PC / notebook.
Internet is the most needed in blogging, How can you check your blogs or post something in your blogs if you don’t have internet access,:) It happens accidentally when there are having storms , hurricanes that cause to lost of internet connection. hahaha. :) If there’s no internet access just sit anbd relax. :D Just visit this site.
jpcmbusiness recently posted..25 Gram PAMP Suisse Gold Bar 9999 Fine Bullion
I have experienced of no internet for a week but some how it passed and for me I can’t even access through my cell as it is not supported.. And I don’t want to experience that anymore..
Saket Jajodia recently posted..Lock Your Computer Screen With ClearLock
I did this recently while camping. I have a Droid so it’s a little bit easier, but not something I’d like to do all the time. I guess I really wanted to do it because I could. :)
I only hope there would be more free apps for blogging, example blogger, wordpress or other platforms for mobile phones and smartphones.
Virtual Agent recently posted..Inteliwise FAQ Agent
I wish I had a phone that connect to any website. Sadly, it can only log in to FB! Good thing internet shops are just walking distance away from our home now that my computer’s down, I’m at one right now. :)
c5 recently posted..Jewelry Crafting
Hi Kiesha,
Honestly, if I had no internet access, I would have been m.i.a.
You are truly dedicated to what you do and I admire you for that.
Thanks for the shout!
Take care!
-Evelyn
Evelyn recently posted..10 Things that Make me Happy
My laptop crashed last week!!! None of the techies who came to my house could sort it and the best they could offer was a new replacement laptop in 4 weeks time. As I am just getting to grips with blogging and could see my traffic nose-diving if I wasn’t there to remind them I was still around it was a bit of a meltdown moment. I don’t have a fancy mobile phone so couldn’t do as you managed to do.
A friend came to the rescue and loaned me a laptop till my new one arrives. Phew, I can blog to my heart’s content but for 2 days it was not good. I don’t have the $$$s to buy a replacement so if this should happen again I will definitely need a backup plan.
I did go to the local library to see if I could use a computer there but the limit is 1 hour a day even if no-one else is using them, so I had time to check my emails and that was all.
Patricia Perth Australia
Patricia recently posted..Lavender Growing-Pots on the patio or containers on balconies
ya you are right, i also have Nokia E71 and i blog from my mobile whenever internet goes off..
Digital Gupshup recently posted..Mediatemple Hosting Maximum Discount Coupon Code Working
Twitter: Ileane
says:
Kiesha, I heard a little about your move but I didn’t know you were without internet. I don’t know what I would do…I guess hang out at McDonald’s or Starbucks for hours. LOL! My phone sucks and I don’t even think I can tweet from that old thing.
Hang in there!
Ileane recently posted..Bloggers- Zemanta Is Not Some Exotic Beauty
If i would have had no internet access then i would surely have visited some cyber cafe or a library or something.
Twitter: weblogbetter
says:
Hi Computer Repair :)
Yeah, I visited Burger King and the library a few times, but Burger isn’t open all night here and the library limits your time on their computers.
Thanks nice Kiesha. I use my iPod Touch to write blog post at times or to jot things down
Twitter: weblogbetter
says:
Hi Kharim,
I didn’t know you could do that with an iPod Touch – how cool! I use my phone’s voice recorder, too when I need to capture an idea before it leaves my memory when there’s no paper around.
When there’s no Internet access, open up a .txt and get to work! That’s what i do.
Josiah Staggs recently posted..Add Twitter Retweet Button to WordPress
Twitter: weblogbetter
says:
Hi Josiah,
Yeah, I did that, too. But there were so many times when I needed to do other things online. Plus, sometimes I needed the inspiration that the blogosphere can provide at times.
Loved the post. I was just looking around my twitter account and I found your article. Great information. It has always been my fear that I would be locked out by my internet service. It is great to find an alternative.
Kenneth Elliott recently posted..Product Testing With Strider Pre-Bikes – Is Your Balance Bike As Strong As This
It’s been a joy to work with you and the rest of the team, Kiesha! I’ve only been without internet access for brief cable outages and during self-imposed digital sabbaticals and travels. Even then, there are so many internal tugs to go check email and facebook and do other things on the internet. I’m sure I’d go quite nutty with a few weeks offline. It would be awesome for my creativity though!
Jean Sarauer recently posted..How to Criticize Our Fellow Bloggers
Twitter: weblogbetter
says:
Hi Jean,
It’s been a joy to work with you also! Yeah, I get those same tugs to check email and Twitter – I don’t know what I used to do with myself before they existed… oh, yeah I do, I was in college in addition to being married with kids… :)
My situation is I have to go to army for 1 or 2 weeks every year for 10 years, and within the weeks which I had no internet access and worst not even a phone with internet access, I usually write my post before hand and schedule them out and informing my readers and subscriber their comment will be accepted once I’m back from my army days.
The hardest time is I had to write about 6 unique articles to schedule… which took quit a long time.
The Bad Blogger – Down & Dirty Secrets Not For Kids recently posted..The Bad Blogger Swears Under Oath That He Will Delete Your Comment If You Did Not Follow The Rules Of This Particular Blog No Matter Who You Are !
Twitter: weblogbetter
says:
Hi Down and Dirty,
Wow, I don’t know how I would maintain my sanity with no access at all for that period of time – I thought I was loosing it with what I had to deal with. I commend your dedication.
Hey Kiesha,
You must have a lot of patience having to type out a blog post on a phone. Not only do you have patience but the heart of a winner. You didn’t let it slow you down or stop you.
Have a great weekend…
Josh
Josh Garcia recently posted..Is Guest Blogging Really Worth it
Twitter: weblogbetter
says:
Hi Josh,
I can’t take the credit for typing out blog posts with my phone, but I think I did everything else. I typed my posts on my laptop – but there were posts from other authors that needed to be reviewed and scheduled. Then there were comments that needed responses and so many other things that needed to be done online.
Thanks for the shoutout, Kiesha!
I have a Blackberry and while I approve comments via the Blackberry, and sometimes I even comment on other blogs using it, I haven’t tried blogging with it. Like Brian, I’d probably just take the time off!
You are dedicated. And reaping the rewards!
Best,
Tia
Tia Peterson recently posted..Follow Friday- 13 Awesome Posts from Our Circle
Same, I have the 9700. BBs are by far the best for business. I really hesitate to move to an android phone because I might miss the keyboards BBs have.
Josiah Staggs recently posted..Add Twitter Retweet Button to WordPress
Twitter: weblogbetter
says:
Hi Tia,
Thanks! I’m so glad to have you on the team – I know I keep saying that, but I just can’t thank you enough. I didn’t want the time-off to hurt the blog – I’m looking to the future and I didn’t want any regrets :)
Ok. Now I need a REAL phone. Only way I can blog from the sidekick is by email. Bout to set up a paypal donation button! LOL
Erica recently posted..Good eats- Fall favorites
Twitter: weblogbetter
says:
Hi Erica,
Sometimes email can save you when you’re really in a pinch – good luck with your donation button! :)
I have an Android phone so I have the cool WordPress App for it. I usually don’t type out full posts on it but I sometimes at least start them or jot down my ideas while I am on the go. Then later I can upload them to the drafts of my blog and finish.
Really handy and helps you stay connected to your blog at all times. I even get alerts when I have new comments so I can approve them and reply!
Wayne Howard recently posted..Back To Your Roots
Twitter: weblogbetter
says:
Hi Wayne,
Wow! That’s a cool phone you’ve got.
Twitter: bbrian017
says:
Kiesha you are so dedicated to this blog it’s unbelievable. If I went out of internet I would gladly take the week or two off.
But again I was never faced with a situation like that so I don’t know until I’m placed into your shoes.
I think I would be more worried about blog engage and how it was doing rather then my blog but that means we have similar interested in our sites.
bbrian017 recently posted..Functionally upgrades for blog engage
Twitter: weblogbetter
says:
Hi Brian,
Thanks! I’ve been working so hard on this blog, I couldn’t let anything ruin it – I had to do what I had to do. :)
Twitter: dragonblogger
says:
I actually write most of my poetry and haiku’s on my blackberry while my wife drives to town on weekends. I do get the blackberry thumb. But for blogging, I use my laptop and Windows Live Writer to blog on airplanes or when at a place with no internet. Nothing works better, and it reads in your blogs theme so you look like you are writing to your blog in real time. Just upload when you get internet access again and voila. I am able to write 40% more content and faster with Windows Live Writer and its completely free.
Justin Germino recently posted..Create a Custom Twitter Newspaper
Twitter: weblogbetter
says:
Hi Justin,
I was actually able to type some posts on my computer, but when the time came to uploading them – that’s when I hit the snag. Plus, I had some last minute posts coming from other authors that needed to be reviewed and scheduled, so I had no choice but to put out the cell.
If I had no Internet access I would have to find a library or something as my phone doesn’t have Internet access and I don’t have a smart phone… Yet! :)
Twitter: weblogbetter
says:
Hi Eric,
I actually did go to the library a couple of times, but on busy days, they put time limits on your time. Once, I was right in the middle of an important email when I had to give up the computer to the next user. Frustrating!