Reasons to Blog
1. Express your thoughts and opinions
2. To connect with people with similar interests/beliefs (Christians, Texans, artists, photography, food, family life)
3. To record life for family and friends
4. To have fun
5. To help others
First Things First
Choose your subject. Read other blogs and decide what appeals to you most. Make sure it is something you are passionate about or it won’t work for you.
Set up a site. Start simple
Start posting. They do not have to be long. Short is fine. Using pictures within your posts adds appeal and interest to your blog.
Google's Blogger tool is so easy that you can create a blog and publish your first post within 5 minutes.
1. Go to: http://www.blogger.com/
2. Sign in using your Google account. If you do not have a Google account click on the "Create A Blog".
3. Enter a blog title. The title will appear at the top of your blog.
4. Choose and enter a blog address. This is the address that visitors will use to get to your blog. Do not use any spaces or odd symbols. The computer will check for availablity to make sure that no one else has used it already.
5. Complete the word verification and click the Continue arrow.
6. Choose a template that you like and click the Continue arrow. (You can always change it later.)
7. Click the "Start Blogging" arrow.
8. In the title field, enter a title for your first blog.
9. In the body (message) area, enter some information.
10. Click the "Publish Post" button at the bottom of the scree.
11. Click the "View Blog" link to see your creation!
Beyond the Basics
Gadgets to add to a blog: backgrounds, music, polls, favorite lists, pictures, followers, etc.
Backgrounds:
http://www.thecutestblogontheblock.com/
http://www.shabbyblogs.com/
Fancy Fonts - Titles or Signatures
http://www.mylivesignature.com/
Tips for New Bloggers
http://tips-for-new-bloggers.blogspot.com/
