1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
|
First off, congratulations on being the last person to start a blog. No need to feel bad, nor should you really feel like you're last person, it just seems that way sometimes.
In the beginning blogs required things like server space and domain names, not to mention some technical know-how. Fortunately with popularity comes simplicity.
Today you can set up a blog, pick a fancy template and be publishing your way to fame and fortune in less than ten minutes. Best of all it's totally free. Take that Gutenberg.
===Pick a topic===
There are already a lot of blogs on the web and pretty much every niche has already been filled at this point, but don't let that get you down. Your blog might not be unique but your voice will be, so make sure you blog about something you're passionate about and have experience with.
Even if there are already hundreds of bloggers writing about the same thing, quality voices rise out of the herd and new blogs gain vast readerships every day.
===Pick a provider===
The internet is littered with blog hosts, which one you go with is fairly arbitrary in the beginning. However, one thing to keep in mind: make sure the option you choose has good exporting tools, should you ever want to move your data down the road.
All of the following service providers offer very similar tools and decent methods of exporting your data should you ever want to jump ship:
# [http://wordpress.com/ Wordpress.com] - One of the first large open source blogging projects, wordpress remains a popular choice for bloggers small and large.
# [https://www.blogger.com/start Blogger.com] - Google's entry into the blogging world.
# [Xanga http://www.xanga.com/] - Part blog, part social network, Xanga offers some extra community-orietned features.
# [http://www.vox.com/ Vox] - The free version of Typepad/Movable Type, like Xanga, Vox features some extra social components as well.
===Pimp your blog===
So you've got a blog set up, now take some time to customize the look and feel of your new site. Most providers offer a variety of templates you can choose from, pick something that fits with your topic/theme.
Once you're happy with the basic look of your blog you can trick it out with blogging freebies like widgets to connect your readers, badges to display Diggs, guest maps, guestbooks, and more.
Get the word out. Very few people will ever visit your blog if they can't find it. Send out an e-mail to friends and family, In the beginning they'll be your most loyal readers. Then submit your site to social sites like Delicious, StumbleUpon, Twitter and so on.
Don't be shy. Approach some of the more popular bloggers in your field and see if they'll let you do a guest post. They get some fresh content and your get a link back to your site and potentially quite a few new readers.
==Future Outlook==
Around 2020 Wordpress will offer an in-utero installation option and thanks to the genetically engineered keyboards growing under an infant's fingers, children will blog before they breathe. No more feeling the baby kick, you'll know your child is healthy by the steady tapping of fingers typing out messages for the world to read.
artwork: I'm partial to: http://www.flickr.com/photos/karola/3623765061/ but I can keep looking that doesn't work for you...
|
