Since my post last week on "why you need a blog" I have received numerous e-mails asking me how to get started. It really is easy, even if you don't have any computer experience. I know bloggers who are professional writers and I know stay at home moms who write for fun. All it takes is an interest in a particular subject and a passion to write about it. My interest tends to be Detroit and Detroit radio, but I also talk about sports, my kids and whatever else comes into my bald fat head. Here is a step-by-step guide to starting a blog. You can have your own Internet address in less than an hour, I can even show you how to make a little extra pocket change.
1. Pick a theme: Decide what you are interested or experienced at writing about. You don't need to be an expert, just have a passion to write about something. You blog can have a single focus or you can just start an on-line journal. I personally read about a dozen blogs a day from personal finance at The Simple Dollar to sports at Deadspin. Decide on your theme.
2. Choose a platform: I use typepad for GreggHenson.com but I have also used wordpress and blogger. I find Typepad to be extremely easy to use for beginners. It has an easy interface and doesn't require and HTML knowledge. Wordpress has more bells and whistles than Typepad, but you need to know a lot more about HTML to get started. I suggest you try typepad and as your blog grows you can alway move it to wordpress. Blogger is easy too, but I haven't used it recently. Many people use Live Journal as well, but I don't have any experience with it.
3. Configure your blog. This step is easy, but you will need to make some decision about your actual blog layout. Two columns or three, how your posts are archived as well as the overall look and feel of your blog are just some of the decisions you need to make. Have fun with it, you can change it any time.
4. BLOG! Get started and have fun with it. Don't worry about grammar to start, people aren't reading to test your grammar skills. They are there for the content, to read about things you have in common with the reader. I suggest that your first post be about your blog and what you hope to bring to the audience. A simple "welcome to my blog" post is a great way to start. If you are unsure, keep your early posts short while you get comfortable.
5. Stay Focused. Try to keep your post to what you know and to the theme, but it is OK to occasionally get off topic to let the audience know a little more about you personally. It adds soul and texture to your blog. If you audience knows you personally they are much more likely to keep coming back.
6. Publicize your blog. Most blogging platforms will automatically "ping" the major web log tracking sites when your blog is updated. Don't worry if you don't know how it works, I don't either, but it let's people know when you update your content. Let your friends and family know you are blogging, most will bookmark your blog and read it regularly. Also, comment at other blogs with a similar theme, most bloggers won't mind if you drop a plug for your blog after your comment. Put the blog address in the signature line of your e-mail. If you want to get serious, get some free business cards at Vista Print and hand them out with your domain name.
7. Write regularly. The best advice I can give you at this point is to write regularly. If you aren't updating your content daily, people will lose interest and stop coming to your blog. It doesn't take long to update your blog, so make sure you carve out some time everyday to build a relationship with your audience.
This is simple step 1. I would be happy to explain how to monetize and grow your blog if you are interested just e-mail me.
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