Tumblr is a microblogging and social networking platform that you can use for a myriad of purposes. Whether you want to showcase your artistic talents, keep up with your friends’ latest news, or find a niche-interest community, Tumblr provides you with the possibility to do so.
Are you already a regular Tumblr user? If not, here are a number of great ways that you can use this platform. With its numerous capabilities, Tumblr is a tool that is really worth trying out. If you have more ideas to share, leave us a comment at the end of this article!
Reconnect with friends—or make new ones!
There is a good chance that at least one of your friends already uses the platform to share their voice on the world wide web, so what better way to use Tumblr than to reconnect with a mate? Tumblr provides an alternative to social networking sites like Facebook. You’re not bombarded with updates, but you can pick and select the ones that you actually want to receive.
Tumblr is very flexible, however, and the platform doesn’t force you to have “friends”. You can follow anybody you find interesting (unless they’ve blocked you), and you can have private chats with them if their “Ask Box” is set as “open”. You can meet like-minded individuals on Tumblr, and look for people who share your hobbies and interests. Your anonymity on Tumblr could even be an advantage, if this factor gives you a sense of freedom to flex some creative muscle on the Tumblr-sphere.
Start a Photo Blog
Do you fancy yourself a photographer? It seems like every other person has a DSLR these days, and basically everyone has a camera-equipped smartphone. Just take a look at the cultural phenomenon that is Instagram. There must be billions upon billions of photos on the web, but still, if you have some talent, why not start a photo blog? You never know who may like and appreciate your work until you start showing it off.
No matter what type of photography you engage in, you’ll be able to find a suitable theme for your Tumblr. There are photo blogs of travel photography, wildlife photography, urban photography, surrealism, and more. What’s your passion?
Promote Your Business
If you’ve got a brand you need to promote, or a small business, Tumblr is a great place to start. Many successful brands already use Tumblr and other social networking sites to increase visibility, capture a wider audience, and showcase their products in an engaging manner. Nike, Adidas, Marvel Comics, and Topshop are just a few of the brands that use Tumblr for this purpose.
Whether you’re an independent designer or a corporation, you can use Tumblr to display your products and creations. You can also easily use the site’s “delay post” functionality to release posts on a predetermined schedule.
Or, use the platform to talk about your favourite brands! For example, the unofficial TheBMWBlog on Tumblr posts all things BMW-related for fans and car enthusiasts. Type your favourite brand into Tumblr’s search bar to see if they have a blogging presence.
Document Your Travels
Some users share artistic pictures, and some use the site to increase brand awareness, but there are those who use it to show others where they have been. These types of blogs are typically more down to earth and personal. If you are an avid traveler, this is a great way to share your experiences with your family and friends.
Travel blogs are also a great way to scope out a destination before actually heading there. Through the eyes of travellers who share their experience on Tumblr, users can browse photographs of new places, cusines, and even recreational activities. Put that together with written accounts of travel experiences, and you’ve got a great resource to go to.
Blog Your Hobbies
Do you have a hobby that you’re passionate about? Perhaps you like to cook, talk about art, drink, play video games, listen to music, browse innovative design, or keep up with the latest in the fashion world. As a blogging platform, Tumblr facilitates connections between people who have similar interests – there isn’t an easier way to share what you love doing best.
Cooking enthusiasts can check out recipes, videos, and photos from various bloggers, or even find blogs like the Cooking Channel. Individuals interested in dog grooming can view photos, ask questions, and read posts by professional dog groomers. Fans of TV shows, movies, books, or any obscure cultural reference points will be able to find blogs dedicated to their interests. And I probably haven’t even scratched the surface of just how many different types of hobby blogs you can find in the Tumblr universe.
Build a Digital Portfolio
Many art aficionados take to Tumblr due to its usability and features. You can elect to receive up-to-date posts on your dashboard from all your favourite up-and-coming artists, or you can simply browse to find new talent that might pique your interest.
If you’re the creative type, Tumblr’s straightforward user interface plus customization options make it a great platform for you to display work that you are proud of. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a writer, photographer, comic artist, illustrator, or an in-my-free-time sketcher. If you’ve got work to show, Tumblr’s a great place to start.
Of course you can also share and reblog stuff that you like, so you’ll play a direct role in increasing exposure for creative work that you like.
Join a Huge Community: 158 Million and Growing
According to Tumblr, there are 158.8 million blogs on its platform, with a total of 70.2 billion posts to date. Heck, as of this moment, in today alone, 105,882,638 posts have been created. Facebook might pride itself on being a great social networking platform to talk to and connect with friends, but Tumblr prides itself on being a great social networking platform to share just about anything. Like they say on their website, “Tumblr lets you effortlessly share anything. Post text, photos, quotes, links, music, and videos from your browser, phone, desktop, email or wherever you happen to be.” And guess what? People do.
Did you know?
Tumblr’s tagging capabilities also make privacy easy. Small groups of individuals with shared interests can track each others’ activities by using special hashtags only known to the group’s members.
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Photo Credit: Flickr / toddwickersty
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I tested out Tumblr, but don’t actively use it. However, if I were to start a personal blog, Tumblr is probably the platform I’d use.