Do you remember back a few years when blogs were first getting going. Like a lot of people back then I thought “Oh yeah, another fad.” I was so busy with working on getting my websites ranking and spending hours getting my fledgling affiliate marketing business going that I didn’t think I had time to waste on another scheme.
Then one day I took note of what was happening and when I saw the potential in blogging I was hooked.
These days, blogs are common place simply because they are one of the easiest ways to get a website up onto the internet. You don’t require any programming or html skills so absolutely anyone can create a blog about something they are interested in. And if you take advantage of the free blogging services that are available then you don’t need to purchase a domain name or hosting service. Google just loves blogs because the content is updated on a regular basis, so a blog that is looked after by its owner has the ability to rank really well in Googles search engine.
Don’t know what a blog is? Well you are not alone. Although blogging is quite common these days, it is not always apparent to someone who has never seen a blog or used one before. With some of the templates that are in use, it is not always completely obvious that you are looking at a blog as in a many cases they can just look like a regular website.
So for those that don’t know what a blog is then here is a definition from Wikipedia that might help with your understanding:
A blog (a contraction of the term “Web log”) is a web site, usually maintained by an individual, with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in reverse-chronological order. “Blog” can also be used as a verb, meaning to maintain or add content to a blog.
So that is the technical explanation now let’s break it down to make it even easier to understand.
A blog (a contraction of the term “Web log”) is a web site…
I’d have to agree with this, a blog is essentially just a website and a website is essentially a group of pages which includes a home page and is managed by one or more persons. A blog works in the same way.
..usually maintained by an individual…
Unless we have some actual stats on this, we really don’t know if this is correct or not although from experience I would have to say that a large number of the blogs I’ve seen are probably maintained by an individual. On the other hand, if you check any business website these days you will most likely find a blog attached to it and this may indicate that more than one person manages the blog.
…with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video.
This is correct although I think it is lacking a bit here in that it is not just commentary or a description of events. If we take this blog post I am writing right now for instance, I wouldn’t really call this commentary or a description of events. I would call it information.
Entries are commonly displayed in reverse-chronological order.
This is one of the main characteristics of a blog that distinguishes it from regular websites. Take a look at this blog and you will see the dates at the top of each blog entry. You need to be on the home page to see this in action. The dates run in reverse order so that anything new added to this blog goes to the top of the blog home page.
“Blog” can also be used as a verb, meaning to maintain or add content to a blog.
It’s a good idea to get used to the terminology used if you are going to be developing your own blog. These are the most commonly used words and examples of each.
Blog
“I have a blog”
“I am working on my blog”
“I am adding content to my blog”.
“He has a great blog”
“I wish I had a blog”.
“I am going to blog today”
Blogger
“I am a blogger because I own a blog”.
“Bloggers are great people”
Blogging
“I spent the day blogging.”
So how do you get your own blog?
Essentially there are two ways to go about this. You can go via the free route which means you won’t have to pay a cent or if you are really serious about blogging then you can take the paid route which involves paying for a domain name and hosting.
1. Free Blogs
There are two major players that offer free blogging services:
– Blogger
– WordPress
Both allow you to create a blog quickly and easily.
Advantages
– Hey, it’s free! That has to be one big advantage.
– Free hosting
– Free domain name
– It’s easy to set up.
Disadvantages
– You are stuck with using their domain name
– You are limited as to what you can do in terms of customization
– You have to follow the Terms & Conditions as set by the blogging company
2. Paid Blogs
This involves a bit more work but in the long run it is worth it. If you are really serious about blogging then you should go via this route.
1. You will need a domain name.
2. You will need hosting – look for a hosting company that has Fantastico installed as part of your hosting package (just ask the hosting company before you purchase). With Fantastico installed you will be able to set up your WordPress blog with just a few clicks of your mouse.
Sign up to the Newsletter
I've got nothing to give you but good advice, tips, hints and valuable information on how you can become a better blogger.