Getting Started in Blogging

pgwingman · #1 (**permalink**) 05-11-2008, 12:20 PM

After some other advice on this website, I've decided to start writing my own blogs. I would like to start one about my life as a college student. My only problem is that I have no guidance! The list of programs and websites for blogs seems endless, and I would bet that certain blog sites attract certain readers. I was hoping that some of you more experienced bloggers out there could help me with getting started. Here are some of main questions:

1) Does creating my own blog mean creating my own website? This seems like a good bit of work.

2) Are there certain websites designed specifically for hosting blogs?

3) How do I attract readers to a blog?

4) Are free blogging sites the way to go?

As for a "mission statement" of sorts, I'm not really looking to make or lose money right away, I'm more concerned with improving my writing, finding a voice, and getting out my message.

James · #2 (**permalink**) 05-11-2008, 02:09 PM

Blogs are sites, but a special type and templates are available so you don't have to design them from scratch. I will let some more experienced bloggers give you their experienced based preferences, but there are a couple of underlying issues for you to decide for yourself.

Blogger.com is a free way to go that you can set up quickly (they say five minutes). Wordpress is more complicated, especially if you put it on your own site. Most people probably go the easy route first, then make the change later; I usually take time to learn the skills, spend a little more money , and take the long term approach IF I know I am going to stay with it for the long haul. Your options are greater with your own hosting, but a lot of people seem happy with blogger. Either way is ok, but you need to choose your own approach based on the way you prefer to work, not so much on recommendations.

There are a lot of ways to attract readers, but your statement ("I'm more concerned with improving my writing, finding a voice, and getting out my message") shows the most important is in your mind already. Nothing else matters if your content isn't good, so I would just focus on producing good content for a while. When you get a good handle on that, then look at some of the posts on this site for advice on increasing traffic.

lisa · #3 (**permalink**) 05-11-2008, 02:46 PM

Blogs are not considered websites. They are run by a series of scripts and the content is generally published and displayed by date and organized by categories. Websites are usually published by an FTP program or web software of choice and in some cases the content is not updated as frequently as blogs. There are many more differences but those are some of the main ones.

Attracting readers to your blog is very similar to attracting readers to a website. Of course there are sites made specifically for blogs like www.technorati.com, www.blogrush.com, etc. but regardless of what you use, it has to start with quality content and getting inbound links from people who enjoy your site.

I'm glad you're more concerned with quality content because that should be your first order of business. Really defining what you want to do with your site and who you want to reach. Depending on how you feel your content is best presented that will help you determine if you should start with a blog or a website.

TechieGuy · #4 (**permalink**) 05-11-2008, 08:04 PM

I agree with what as been said. I currently have a blog on Blogger, and have had no issues with it. The only cost I have incured has been my domain name, since Blogger is free to use. Blogger is probably the easiest platform to use.

I'm not sure what your experience is with regards to HTML, but if you have some experience you may want to go with a host and Wordpress. This provides you with the most flexibility.

The one thing I would pay for, regardless if you are starting a blog or a web site, is a domain name.

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