Blogging 101 (a basic introduction)

May 12th, 2009 by Sexy Mom · Viewed 911 times · 5 Comments

Was supposed to share this with the mothers at Expo Mom 2009, but did not have the chance to.
Blogging is one of the most phenomenal things in the Internet today. Millions have taken to blogging like fishes are to water and the number is growing still every day. For those who have no clue about blogging, but would like to join the fold of the blogosphere, here an answer to the basic questions you have about blogging.

What’s a blog? A blog, short for weblog, is your diary on the Web. It’s an online repository of your thoughts, ideas, and opinions, free for the world to see. In simple terms, you can call it your personal web site – your home in the wide Web world.

Why should I blog?

To express yourself. A blog is a perfect way to communicate what you feel and what you think to your family, friends, and the rest of the world.

To network. You would be amazed to know that many relationships, personal, professional, and business, are forged through blogs. For example, many start their career as online writers and Internet professionals through their blogs.

To earn money. Blogs offers a way for people to earn money while doing what they love best—writing. This is what makes blogging an ideal income-generating activity for people, especially for those who stay at home.

What can I write in my blog? You can write anything and everything you want in your blog or blogs. Some blogs are personal, mainly intended for family and friends. Some are work-related. For example, journalists often have blogs to showcase their works, both published and unpublished. Company web sites also have blogs that update clients, customers, and the rest of the public with the latest news about the company.

How many blogs can I have? You can have as many blogs as you want. For starters, you can choose to have a personal blog just to get a feel of blogging and get used to it. Once you feel confident that you can handle more than one blog, there is no one stopping you from creating another one that focuses on a more specified topic of your choice. It could be your hobby or you latest interest. Some popular niche topics for blogs are food and cooking, photography, fashion, entertainment, and travel.

How often do I have to write in my blog? As often as you want! You can write daily, weekly, or monthly. It is entirely up to you and your purpose for having a blog. If you’re only writing as a hobby, then you can do so at your convenience. However, if you’re planning on earning money from your blog, then you have to write regularly and consistently.

Can I really earn money from my blog(s)? Yes, you can and there many ways to do it. You can earn by:

posting advertisement on you blog

accepting paid posts from advertisers through paid posting sites,

being good at what you write. If you are good at what you write, people and businesses will come to you and ask you to blog for them in exchange for something. For example, if you’re good at food writing, a restaurant may invite you to a menu tasting, free of charge of course, in exchange for a blog post.

How do I get started with blogging? First, you have to get a blog. You can create one at free blog hosting services like Wordpress or Blogger. The bolder novice will opt to have a self-hosted blog, with its own domain name. If you’re just testing the water and unsure, I suggest you go with a free blog.

There are many sources in the Internet that explain every aspect of blogging, and they will help you start your blog. If still you are in the dark, just send me a comment in the comment section, and then I will try to guide you. And yes, you can take a look at the book Blogging from Home.

Good luck! I started blogging 2-1/2 years ago, was groping during the first few days (thanks to my children—they have been very patient with me). Since then, blogging has become not really as a direct income generating venue, but my network to the world.

Tags: Blogging and the Internet · Information

5 responses so far ↓

Deo // May 13, 2009 at 11:45 am

informative ma’am hope continue this one and please visit my blog also Deo’s Web Blog
Lester // May 13, 2009 at 12:00 pm

thank you for this! ms. dine, you are the reason why I start blogging!
whatsAcoder // May 14, 2009 at 10:58 am

you’re a great writer compared to me which sucks at writing… hope I’m talented like you in this field
nica // May 20, 2009 at 12:49 am

I’m like Lester. I started blogging because of Ms. Dine
Jing // Jul 24, 2009 at 4:05 pm

Hi Ms. Dine! I was browsing through the net trying to find a work-from-home job and chanced upon the link to you blog site if that’s what it’s called. I just resigned from my recent job because my husband and I agreed for me to stay at home in the meantime. It is difficult since I have already been used to be on my toes and in an office environment during weekdays. So being at home with not much to do after finishing the household chores really bores me. A friend of my husband’s is into blogging and thought that this might interest me. However, I do not know much about it. Well, to summarize what I want to say is.. thanks for sharing this information (Blogging 101) to others as this shed some light to my question as to how I will be able to start my own blog or how to start blogging. I was often told that writing is my strength but I have never really given it some thought until now. Your tips are clear and easy to follow. I understand that starting may take a while since I will need to develop my skills in navigating the net but with the challenge and the encouragement you have shared on your blog I know I will be able to show you one of my works one of these days. Thanks and God bless!

The D Spot

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