A guide to blogging

by Kirsty Johnson

Blogging is something that is now enjoyed by those from the ages of 8 to 80 and onwards. It can be a way of keeping a journal online, expressing your thoughts and opinions about the world, staying in touch with friends and family or even making money and getting noticed. Depending on what you want to use your blog for and your existing level of computer literacy you`ll be able to set up a blog in a matter of minutes. However, building a blog for professional purposes can take a little bit more time and effort.

Basic Blogging

To get started with a blog, you can use popular blogging sites such as Blogspot, LiveJournal and others. These sites give you the opportunity to create a profile, choose a basic theme and layout for your blog and then begin to write and publish your posts as and when you are ready. Little or no web design knowledge or understanding of HTML (the language which defines the style and layout of a webpage) is needed for this entry level blogging as all of the tools are provided by the site itself. However, most blogging sites will also allow you to access more advanced controls which you can operate as you learn more about the software and the particulars of website design and blog management. You can make the learning curve as gradual or sharp as you see fit.

Writing a Blog and Advanced Blogging

If you want to build up a popular blog that gets lots of regular readers then you will of course have to keep it up to date. This is why the most successful blogs are written by people who have a particular area of expertise or a passion about which they can write engagingly, interestingly and most importantly frequently. There are many different platforms for publishing a professional blog and blogging websites themselves offer some solutions. You will of course need your own domain name and enough skill to create an attractive and easy to use blog layout so that visitors will want to return for more.

Word processing software such as Word 2007 even integrates the ability to publish blog posts straight from a document, though compatibility with various blogging software and platforms is something you will need to explore. The important thing to remember about blogging is that, like the internet in general, you will become part of a wider community rather than existing as an isolated entity. It is useful to read the blogs of others and see what kinds of ideas are successful and interesting. You will also be able to build up contacts in the blogosphere if you read a blog and make a comment on its content. Getting other bloggers to link to your blog or put you on their list of friends and recommended blogs will quickly result in a plethora of hits for your own blog.

Learning to Blog Effectively

Many people have the passion and drive to write a blog but lack the necessary technical know how to produce something unique. If you feel that this is the case then why not study internet & web design courses to help you get your bearings and learn the tricks of the trade. There are some courses designed specifically to help budding bloggers find a platform for the expression of their ideas. Advice on blogging and the correct methods of advancing your career as a blogger can be found online and off. The importance of blogging in our modern world is also something which has become clear. With bloggers in Baghdad and Tweeters in Turin influencing our perception of global events, the power of the blog is undeniable.