What's a Blog?

A "blog" is a shorthand way of saying "web log." The "log" part refers to entries you make that are dated and sequential, kind of like a ship's log.

In addition to the continuous nature of the entries (posts) in a blog, these commentaries can be archived (stored) by month and by category, so even if people don't learn about your blog right at its start, they can read your posts any time they choose.

A blog is a less formal website, in many ways. You can "be yourself," however that self chooses to present itself to the rest of the world. Even a business blog can be less serious than a typical website.

But your blog should also be part of your "brand" identification and should really reflect the way you do business or exhibit yourself on a normal basis. It's a conversational extension of yourself, your thoughts, your passions, your teachings and your new ideas.

A blog, for example, is a way for me to get basic information out to people in a more detailed fashion than I can on my website. My website has well over 90 pages of marketing resources and self-promotion tips for authors, coaches and home business owners.

One of the self-promotion tools is the blog, which all of us can use to spread our ideas and information globally.

Seth Godin says that blogs work best when they are based on (1) candor, (2) urgency, (3) timeliness, (4) pithiness, (5) controversy and (6) utility.

My blog Blogging with Barbara is a "utilitarian" blog with pithy instructions that get your blog up and running easily and quickly, once we get past this introductory section - so you know what blogs are, how you can use them to inform others and make a name for yourself, and how you can make money blogging.

The reasons for blogging are many.

1. You can create an internet presence - a blog website - for free or for as little as $4.95 a month. In other words, a blog can be a website substitute.

2. Even non-technical people can easily create and post to a blog - no need to hire a webmaster. (Typepad blogs are especially easy to work with.)

3. Blog tools and add-ons keep multiplying.... and most of them are free to use.

4. You can "point" a domain name - one that suits your business or interest - directly to your blog, so it acts like a website URL.

5. You can easily create and host multiple blogs. For example, with Typepad, $14.95 gets you an unlimited number of blogs written by an unlimited number of authors - great for schools, businesses, churches, entrepreneurs, authors of numerous books, network marketers promoting niches within their field and more.

6. A blog keeps your information current. No need to wait two weeks or a month for your next newsletter to get urgent, time-sensitive material out to people who need it.

7. You can use a blog as an alternative to a newsletter. If you speak to a particular audience about a topic they want to stay on top of, you can obtain as many subscribers to a blog as you can to an ezine... more, even.

8. With the spam problem and the blocking tactics of email filters, many ezines are having trouble being delivered. The way blog updates are sent and received eliminates this problem, and gets your news out immediately.

9. Your blog messages are available to everyone in the world with a computer, and not just the few hundreds or thousands on your email list.

10. Your blog can be your soapbox. Because a blog is so easy to create and update, you can get your message out to more people quickly - every time you feel the urge to convey new information to your blog's readers.

11. A blog is interactive, if you allow "comments." You can converse with your blog readers and develop relationships with them.

12. It's easier to promote a blog than a website these days. With a website, you have to keep adding fresh content for the search engines and be constantly finding new places to promote your site. With a blog, you also have to create fresh content, but your blog posts are automatically announced every time you update. With Typepad, most of this capability comes built-in with the blog. I'll have instructions in the "Create Your Blog" section on how to activate your feeds.

I chose the Typepad blogging platform as my instructional basis for the simple reason that it’s easier to learn than the more advanced Wordpress blog. Someday I’ll learn Wordpress and maybe pass along some tips.

But for us non technical (right brain) folks, Typepad is an excellent choice. Reasonable price, attractive designs to choose from, very easy to post, lots of built-in “widget” add-ons and subscriber options, too.

Yes – If you like to write and are happy to spend a little extra time editing and proofreading your writing before publishing it on your blog… and to the world.

Yes – If you have a message to share with a particular group of people.

Yes – If you are happy writing new, relevant material at least once a week.

Yes – If you have the time and discipline to stick with it.

Yes – If you like getting attention. Blog posts can go out far and wide, through the linking efforts of your readers.

Yes – If you have time to read other people’s blogs and occasionally post comments about them or write about them on your own blog.

Yes – If you enjoy “socializing” online… and just plain being online.

Yes – If you’re able to write on a consistent theme and give subscribers something enjoyable, entertaining, valuable or inspiring.

Yes – If the technology doesn’t scare you away (that’s why I’m writing about Typepad blogs – they’re easier to work with than most).

Yes – If you know that people are looking for the information you’re offering.

Yes – If you can see yourself writing on the same topic for at least 12 months.

No – If you’re a person who is more comfortable with face-to-face relationships than virtual ones.

No – If you don’t want to invest the time and research to make yourself well known through blogging.

No – If you haven’t figured out your niche topic or niche audience.

No – If you don’t have cable, DSL or some fast way of connecting to the internet. (You can do it, but it will probably drive you nuts trying to blog via dial-up.)

No – If you don’t have much to say or teach or if writer’s block is a problem. The best bloggers tend to be passionate about their subject and attract others with a similar passion.

No – If you’re really thin-skinned. Blog posts can be seen by a lot of people, not all of whom will agree with you. And bloggers don’t mind letting you know this, through comments or trackbacks.

Weblog (blog for short):
A chronological publication or journal that is available on the web and updated with regular frequency. In other words, a blog is a website you update youself instantly, frequently and easily - from anywhere in the world.

Blog Platform:
Blogging software for creating and updating your blog. Free platforms include Blogger and Wordpress.com. I work on the Typepad blogging platform (which I suggest for people who are technologically nervous). More advanced blog platforms include Movable Type and Wordpress.org, which require some expertise to set up.

Blog Post:
An article that you publish on your blog. "Posts" are also called entries. Blog posts are arranged in chronological order, with the newest at the top. Posts can also be sorted into monthly "archives" or categorized by topic.

Archives:
Because blogs tend to have many posts per month, most blogging software arranges the posts by month and year. When the bottom-most post gets bumped off the blog's home page by the newest post, it is stored in the archive for the month in which it was written. Archives are like a filing cabinet. In addition to the monthly files, you can create categories by topic and "file" your posts in one or more categories as well, for easier lookup by your blog visitors.

Comments:
You can choose to activate or de-activate comments by your blog's readers. These are responses typed into the "comments" section of a particular post by readers who wish to comment on what you have said. When someone clicks the comments link, they are taken to a form where they enter their name, email, comment and a link to their blog, if they have one.

Trackback:
A comment on your blog about someone else's blog post (and vice versa). Instead of commenting on their blog, you comment on yours and link back to the original post. If that person's blog accepts trackbacks, the readers of their blog can see who else is writing about them and what is being said (and vice versa). I guess the idea is that it "tracks back" from you and your blog to the original article's blog.
 

Read more about blogging at www.bloggingwithbarbara.com

Get detailed instructions on:

1. How to name your blog,

2. Register a domain name with GoDaddy

3. Set up your email account at GoDaddy

4. Register with Typepad

5. Point your domain name from GoDaddy to Typepad

6. Set up your blog

7. Create your first post...

8. See cool blog topic ideas

9. And then learn how to promote your blog

10. Gain blog subscribers

11. Set up useful and fun Widgets...

12. and more to come