Got something to say? Blog it!

So if you’ve spent any time at all exploring the internet, chances are you’ve read a blog (maybe even without realizing it – like this one!)  Blogs are a great way to make yourself heard on the internet. And with the tools available, it’s super-easy.  Anyone can blog – why not you?

First things first: What the heck is a blog?

“Blog” is a shortening of “web log” – a website with regular additions (posts) of content. Think of it as an online journal, newspaper, or newsletter. A blog is your personal opportunity to spread your words/pics/thoughts/rants across the Internet. Of course, this can be a good thing and a bad thing. Remember that, unless you carefully adjust your privacy settings, ANYONE can read what you write. ANYONE.  See our tutorial called What’s your Digital Tattoo? to learn more about what you can be doing to control your online “presence.”

What would I blog about?

Who, me? Really, there are many reasons you may want – or need – to create a blog. Professors are increasingly assigning blogs to students instead of the classic essay. Maybe you’re in a club and you want to get the word out on activities or recruit new members. Perhaps you’re crazy about a particular subject or hobby and want to share your findings and meet others like yourself. Blogs can also be used to create an e-portfolio to show off your talents and skills to potential employers.

How often do I have to post?

The short answer: whenever you have something to say! Some bloggers (especially if they’re getting paid for it) post multiple times a day. Others, especially hobby bloggers, post once or twice a week or month.

OK, I’m convinced. Where can I set up a blog?

There are many free blog options. Some people make blogging a source of income or a representation of their business; therefore, sometimes they will choose to use a site with a small fee in order to have more tools, customizable options, and visibility on the web. But to start, usually a free site is completely sufficient.

When choosing your blog publisher, take some time to look around the site. Read the FAQs and check out the other blogs hosted there. Check out comparison charts and reviews such as the ones here (TopTen Reviews) or here (Weblog Matrix).  A little research will give you an idea about any limitations that might be placed on blogs, what sorts of blogs use the service, what templates and customization are available, and if the publisher posts ads on your blog.

Some of the most popular sites are as follows, with yours truly’s probably-biased commentary:

• Word Press – there are two options here: WordPress.com and WordPress.org are not the same (though they use the same software).  The .com is easier for beginners, offers more limited customization, and will host your blog for free. The .org is seen as requiring more technical knowledge and will not host your blog for free; you’ll have to purchase a domain name and hosting space elsewhere, but it more easily allows one to make money from a blog. A big benefit here is no ads cluttering up your free blog!
• Blogger – owned by Google and one of the largest providers. Automatically adds your site to the Google blog directory, so you’re more likely to get exposure.
• Xanga – noted for easy audio and video uploads, and an add-on tool can enable fast multiple-image uploading too. Some ads on the free version.
• Blogster – a bit of a combination blogging and social-networking site, including communities and chat rooms to connect with like-minded bloggers.
• LiveJournal – another one that combines blogging with social networking; users can join or watch communities that interest them.
• Typepad – from $8.95 (US) a month for hosting. TopTen Reviews indicates it is excellent at providing exposure for your blog and includes built-in statistics tracking.
• SquareSpace – from $12 (US) a month for hosting. Relatively new and higher-priced than others, but TopTen Reviews indicates this one has far more customizability than other options.

NetworkEducation

1. Go to whichever site you’ve chosen to host your blog – let’s say, WordPress.com, but feel free to choose any.
2. Click on Features and check out what this free blogging tool can offer.
3. Think about what you’d like to blog about. A hobby? A study group? An e-Portfolio for jobhunting?
4. Think of an appropriate name for your blog. It should be concise and reflect what the blog will be about.
5. Click the orange Sign Up Now button on the main page. Fill in the information required.  Usually, any blog site will require
   • a unique URL  (You usually cannot change this later, so think about it before you choose!)
   • a user name,
   • your email,
   • a password  (Remember to add the details to your password manager – check back in a few days for ideas on this!)
   • a more descriptive and snappy blog title
6. “Think Before you Ink” moment: Is this a public blog or do you want it kept private? It’s always best to err on the side of caution – you can always make it public later on, once you have the hang of blogging. Or you can make it available to individuals, like potential employers, on an as-needed basis.  Choose what level of privacy settings you want here.Visit the Digital Tattoo page called “Adjust your privacy settings” to think more about how public you want to make your blog. The information there refers to social networks, but it’s just as applicable to blogging.
7. Go to your email. Activate your account by clicking on the link in the activation email.
8. Log in to your new blog. The Dashboard has lots of information – look around it. Here you can save drafts, quickly post, see stats from the past week or day, see a summary of comments, and more.
9. Click on the “You have 1 page” link and then the “About” page title to see the default text there.
10. What is your blog about? Replace the default text with your own words. If this is a private blog, make sure you check the “Keep this page private” box to the right. When you’re done, click “Save”.
11. Create new posts or drafts on the Dashboard right away if you want. Don’t forget to log out of Word Press when you’re done.

What did you decide to blog about?  Post your idea (and URL if it’s public) below. We’ll be your first audience!

Links:

http://www.dailyblogtips.com/one-simple-blogging-rule-to-keep-you-out-of-trouble/ — just one rule, really!

http://www.dailyblogtips.com/category/blogging-basics/ — a whole list of articles on blogging basics.

http://www.bloggingtips.com/2009/07/30/5-quick-ways-to-improve-your-blog/ — five tips to help you take your blog to the next level.

This lesson was created for the Digital Media Project, a joint project of UBC School of Library, Archival and Information Studies and the Irving K Barber Learning Centre.  This post has been modified from its original form.