How Do I Start Blogging?

[Bloggeries]

Lot's of people are wondering how do I start blogging? I figured there is no better place then this forum for them to visit if that is their question.

This thread is dedicated to helping newbies get started in blogging.

Be sure to visit these Blogging Guides

That section has many articles on blogging. Also be sure to visit this article on blog software; it familiarizes you with the different types of software.

If you have ANY QUESTIONS at all please ask us here; we're here to help!

Members: If you have a any advice or encouragement for new visitors curious about blogging please post here. We'll be helping new bloggers and maybe get some visits in the process. Win - Win!

[Katalina]

What I have learned about blogging in the past year is just start.
Writing that is. I have spent way too much time worrying about themes and widgets and tweaking the way my blogs look. While it is important that your theme looks nice, the writing and the content is more important!

[kristiane]

I think the "just start" theory from Katalina is dead on. Another thing to think about after you start is what your goal is from writing. And who you want to read what you write. If you want masses of people to visit, keep your topics broad. If you are noting the daily habits of your new tropical fish, likely you will not get repeat visitors, unless they have the same exact interest. If you want to start a subject specific blog, try to stay on that topic.

[evelester]

here are some video's for beginning bloggers-

YouTube - WordPress.com - Step-by-Step Tutorial on How to Blog

YouTube - Make Your Wordpress Blog Search Engine Friendly

hope this helps!

[Educator]

I found it extremely difficult to manage my time when I first started blogging. Then, once I moved to a self hosted site, I found it even more difficult to manage my time because of all the bells and whistles available on a self hosted site.

What has helped in the past few weeks is that I try to focus my time on specific tasks during one sitting at the computer. For example, two weekends ago I was in the 'writer zone', so I spent a good chunck of time writing lots of posts, future dating them so one would appear each day. Last weekend I spent on marketing my site (waste of time as it didn't produce any results). This weekend I have focused on some past due tasks on the site (like placing Ad sense ad within the posts to take it out of the upper right corner so I could place a slide show there).

But, at the start I agree with those earlier to focus more on the content, what you are trying to focus your subject matter on and the rest will flow, eventually.

[skleiner]

I learned I have become a blogaholic, and once you start, look out! You will be sleeping at the computer just like Rob & Paul do!

[Bloggeries]

Originally Posted by skleiner

I learned I have become a blogaholic, and once you start, look out! You will be sleeping at the computer just like Rob & Paul do!

LOL! You noticed?

[Inhibitor]

Originally Posted by Bloggeries

Good thinking; if you be ORIGINAL and YOURSELF you'll get people who want to hear what you have to say. If you copy someone why would they visit you when they can go to the original for the original story? Most things HAVE been said people just like hearing things from certain people; become one of those people!

That's the point I think most new bloggers miss entirely. To them, "original" means "something no one's talked about before". Trust Uncle Hib on this one...there tain't no such animal. (Don't make me link to the "nasal sex" thread two times in one day just to prove a point.)

You must be original...but that doesn't mean "new", that means "like no one else". Your blog should say things that no one else could or would say. Try this:

"Monkeys are a lot of fun. You can see them in the zoo, where you can feed them peanuts. Be careful, though...they are known for throwing their own feces at people when they get in the mood."

Or this:

"Monkeys...I have a problem with monkeys. Never mind that they're supposedly so freakin' smart. If they're so smart, how do they all wind up in the zoo? I mean, this is a group of animals whose idea of intellectual stimulation is flinging poo at the people trying to feed them peanuts.

Actually, now that I think about it...if you can get someone to feed you for free while you're throwing your own poo at them, maybe you're not so dumb after all."

Neither one of those two passages are "new"...almost everyone is familiar with monkeys. But, while neither is "new", the second one is "original". Why? because I doubt that anyone else would have said it in the same exact way as I did.

Tell anecdotes from your personal life, relate stories from your own experience, and let your personality guide what you say and, more importantly, how you say it. And don't forget to grow an opinion, and then exercise it regularly.

"Oh yeah?!?" always gets more readers than "Me too!"

[skleiner]

Loved that..LMAO!

Soon bloggeries come up 1st for monkey poo!

[PaulR]

Originally Posted by skleiner

I learned I have become a blogaholic, and once you start, look out! You will be sleeping at the computer just like Rob & Paul do!

Who says I sleep.