What is a Blog (Web Log)? Businesses use blogs for marketing, branding and public relations. Individuals use blogs to share thoughts with friends and family. Blogs are a simple and inexpensive solution to getting your own media and voice online. And, if you don't have a website and not sure how you want to invest in this resource yet, blogs are a great starting place.(wiki)
It is always easy after you have been using a blog, but how do you get started? Following are some recommendations.
Recommendations:
Start checking out blogs, what blog software are they using (this can often be spotted in the footer or side panel and you can always ask the blogger), how are pictures displayed, use of videos, flickr, social media integration, subscription features, advertising...? A basic blog provides the ability to post text and upload pictures. The fancy social media integration involves add-ons (often called widgets or plugins). See what you like so that you know what to request when you ready to get started.
Ask people you know with blogs what they are using. Did they set it up themselves, ease of use, positives and negatives? Remember every software has its advantage and disadvantage--your goal is to choose a package that has more advantages suited to your needs.
Pick a blog software that people you know are using, this creates an extra resource when you have problem or questions or want to learn new tricks. When you can't find a friend, google your particular question. Include the blog software and version. Chances are lots of people have already asked this question and the blogging community is wonderful at providing answers or suggesting solutions.
Types of Blogs: Are all blogs created equal?
No, but none are better or worse than any other. Each blog software has pros and cons.
The first question to answer is do you want a hosted or a self-hosted blog? The hosted blog is free--no domain registration or hosting cost. The main drawback includes not having your own domain name. Also, many of the fun developer contributions (the plugins or widgets) are not available.
Start a blog--Not Self-Hosted:
Start a Blog--Self Hosted Blogs
To get started with a self-hosted blog, you must purchase a domain name and have a hosting company. Request the type of blog you want and your hosting services should set this up for you.
Reading information on this topic:
Steps:
1. Choose your blog type
2. Decide if you are using a free theme or get a designer (for hosted or self-hosted)
3. Decide features (also called plugins or widgets) that you need
4. Set up and blog!
