How to Set Up a Blog for Beginners

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  • This page contains information and tips on How to Set Up a Blog for Beginners. All you need to get started is an email address and something to say.

  • Introduction: What is a Blog?

    • A blog (weblog) is a special type of website that displays entries or posts in reverse chronological order. The most recently written post appears at the top. The posts themselves consist of text, images, links to other websites and, typically, a means for readers to leave comments about the post.
    • Blogs can function as online diaries, soap boxes, journalistic ventures or internet scrapbooks. They can cover any number of subjects from pop culture to politics to what you had for lunch yesterday.
    • All you need to start blogging is an email address and something to say. There's more than one free blogging service that can have you up and running in under five minutes. No technical expertise needed.

  • Step 1: Define Your Niche

    You can have a blog up and running in under 5 minutes (Photo by Renxx Garmider)

  • Defining Your Audience

    • Are you creating a blog primarily to keep in touch with family and friends? Do you want to create a blog for people in your profession or who share your interests? Is your blog an extension of your business?
    • Who your audience is will determine which type of blog host you use, the content of your blog, whether or not you publicize your blog and what success means for you in respect to your blogging endeavors.

  • Choosing Your Subject

    • If, however, you would like to target your blog to a particular niche or audience, here are some questions you might consider:
    1. What are you interested in?
    2. What are you an expert in?
    3. Would your occupation be an interesting subject?
    4. What do you think is currently missing online?
    5. Do you have a goal that you're trying to achieve that could be documented online?
    • NOTE: Take heed if you choose to blog about your workplace. Unless you password protect your blog, it is a public document. Most employers are web savvy, and even the most well-intended comments could run afoul of your workplace's rules and regulations. Don't end up like this guy or this guy or this gal.

  • Step 2: Name Your Blog

  • Checking Your Name's Availability

  • Step 3: Choose a Blog Host

    Choose the blogging service that matches your goals, abilities and budget (Creative Commons photo by Gene Hunt)

  • Hosted Blogging Platforms (The Easy Route)

    • If you are creating your first blog or don't have a great deal of technical expertise, than a hosted blog service is the way to go.
    • A hosted blog service essentially "hosts" your blog at their domain. They make creating a blog easy by providing well-designed templates, a web address and rich text editors that allow you to create posts without any special technical knowledge.
    • Some of the most popular hosted blogging platforms include WordPress.com, Blogger, Typepad and Vox. In Step 4, you'll learn how to create an account with each of these services.
    • Pros to Using a Hosted Blogging Platform:
    1. Many services are free or inexpensive to use.
    2. They make your blog easy to set-up and require to little to no technical expertise to maintain.
    • Cons to Using a Hosted Blogging Platform:
    1. Blogging hosts are not as flexible design-wise as their server-side counterparts. While many provide beautifully-designed templates, they are not fully configurable. If you have a great deal of technical expertise and would like total control of your blog's look, you may feel limited by a hosted blog.
    2. Blogging services incorporate their host name into your URL address. (Ex. www.yourblogname.typepad.com) If you purchase your own registered domain name, some services (but not all) will let you "point" it toward your blog. Purchasing a registered domain name for a year will cost you about $10, and some technical proficiency is required to use it in lieu of the URL address your blogging host provides.

  • Server-Side or Stand Alone Blogging Platforms (The Professional's Route)

    • Because this instructional is intended for beginners, we'll be concentrating on how to use the hosted blog services, but it's good to know what a "server-side" or "stand alone" blogging platform is.
    • This type of blogging platform is hosted by you on your own domain. This type of platform allows you to have full control over the design of your site and will use whatever domain name you've purchased.
    • To use this kind of blogging platform, you will need to subscribe to a hosting service like Blue Host, Dream Host or Laughing Squid and download a content management system or blogging platform like WordPress.org or Movable Type.
    • This route is more costly and demands a certain amount of technical literacy. In exchange, you get a fully customizable site in your own name, which makes it the choice of many (but not all) professional bloggers.

  • Online Diary Services and Tumblelogs

    • Fig. 1: Tumblr.com
    • If you're not especially interested in capturing a large audience or view a blog as a means to connect with family and friends, you might consider an online diary service or tumblelog as an alternative to a conventional blogging host.
    • Online Diaries
    • Online diaries are exactly that - a journal of your thoughts and experiences aimed at a small, targeted audience. Technically, this is a blog as well, but one that is primarily used to network with friends in an online community. The two most popular online diary services are LiveJournal and Diaryland.
    • LiveJournal can be used as a blogging service, a private online diary or as a means of social networking through LiveJournal's many online communities. It is free to set up and relatively easy to use.
    • Diaryland has an even simpler interface than LiveJournal and functions purely as an online diary. You can browse current members' diaries here.
    • Tumblelogs
    • Whereas blogs are thought of as online journals or publications, a tumblelog is simply a scrapbook. Tumblelogs provide a place to post the random photos, videos, quotes and links you come across online. You can also post a traditional text blog post, but tumblelogs favor the mixed-media approach.
    • Tumblelogs require less forethought, maintenance and care than traditional blogs.
    • The most popular tumblelog service is Tumblr.
    • Tumblr is free, easy to use and can be set up in less than five minutes.

  • Step 4: Create Your Blog

    • Four easy options for first-time bloggers (Image by Directional Street Sign Generator)
    • This section will cover how to set up a blog using four different hosting services - Blogger, WordPress.com, Vox and Typepad.
    • We'll be looking at these four services because they're four of the easiest, most popular and least expensive options for first-time bloggers with little or no technical expertise. A more complete list of both hosted blogging platforms and server-side blogging platforms is included in the Resources section of this page.
    • All you need to get started with all four services is an email address. If you don't have an email address, you can sign up for a free email account with Google Mail (Gmail), Windows Live Hotmail, Yahoo! Mail or AIM Mail.

  • The Components of a Blog

    • Most blogs are made up of three components - the header, the sidebar and the posts or body of the blog.
    • Figure 2: PostSecret.com: Header, Sidebar, Posts
    • The Header
    • A blog's header is the equivalent of a newspaper's masthead. It contains the blog's name rendered as text or as text combined with a banner image.
    • The Sidebar
    • A sidebar runs along one or both sides of your posts. A sidebar might contain any number of items including a short bio, a blog roll (a list of blogs that you enjoy reading), a search box, ads and an RSS button. RSS stands for "really simple syndication." Adding an RSS link to your site allows people to "subscribe" to your site - updating them whenever you've posted something new.
    • The Posts
    • Posts make up the body of your blog. Posts can include text, images, video and even streaming audio. Most blog posts also include a way for readers to comment on the post.

  • Which Service is Right for You?

    • Blogger
    • Pros: Free; No tech expertise required; Can use registered domain name
    • Cons: HTML knowledge required to modify templates and use many sidebar add-ons
    • Ideal User: First-Time Bloggers
    • WordPress.com
    • Pros: Free with some advanced design pay options; No tech expertise required; Blog traffic statistics built-in; Easy-to-use sidebar add-ons; Can use registered domain name
    • Cons: While WordPress.com's interface is simple, it's not as simple as Blogger's. Some knowledge of tech- or blog-related jargon is helpful. Templates are not fully modifiable unless you purchase CSS editing options. Knowledge of CSS required.
    • Ideal User: Savvy beginners. Because WordPress also produces a server-side blogging software (WordPress.org), WordPress.com is good for users that may eventually want to switch to a stand alone host.
    • Vox
    • Pros: Free; No tech expertise required; Built-in social networking functionality; Integrated with popular online media services like Flickr and Photobucket
    • Cons: Not an ideal platform for a public or general subject blog; Templates cannot be fully modified; Ads embedded at bottom of page; Cannot use registered domain name
    • Ideal User: Beginners looking for a social networking option and who have accounts with online services like Flickr and Twitter
    • Typepad
    • Pros: No tech expertise required; Broad menu of sidebar add-ons; Blog traffic statistics built-in; Full Photoblog capabilities and photo album interface; Can use registered domain name
    • Cons: Cost (Four Pricing Levels from $4.95/mo - $29.95/mo); Basic HTML required to use all of the available sidebar add-ons; Some knowledge of tech- or blog-related jargon useful; Limited design flexibility at Basic Pricing Level; CSS knowledge required to modify templates at Pro and Premium Levels
    • Ideal User: Savvy beginners who would like their blog service to grow with them as their technical skills evolve

  • Important Blogger Links

  • Signing Up and Choosing Your Template

    1. Getting Started Tutorial from Blogger
    2. Go to the Blogger site.
    3. If you have a Google Account, sign in to Blogger by entering your email address and password in the upper right hand corner.
    4. If you do not have a Google Account, get started by clicking on the Create Your Blog Now button.
    5. You'll be taken to a screen that asks you to create an account. Here you will need to enter in your pre-existing email address, choose a password, choose the name that will be displayed when you publish a blog post and accept Blogger's terms of use.
    6. You will next be asked to name your blog and choose your blog's URL address. (If you've purchased a domain name that you would like to use in lieu of the Blogger address, you can click on the Advanced Blog Setup link for assistance.)
    7. Next you will be taken to a screen that lets you select a template for your blog's design. Pick one, and remember that you can always change it later.
    8. Once you've chosen your template, you can start posting.

  • Your First Post

    1. Fig. 3: Blogger Text Editor: Add Image and Video Icons (Upper Right); Publish Post Button (Lower Left)
    2. Blogger uses a rich text editor that operates exactly like a word processor. What you see is what you get.
    3. Enter a title for your post in the Title field and begin writing.
    4. You can insert images or video into your post by clicking on the Add Image or Add Video icons on the upper right side of your text editor. (If you know HTML, you can view your post's source code by clicking on the Edit HTML tab.)
    5. When you're done writing your post, click on the publish button or save your post as a draft for later publication.
    6. You will then be given the option to view your blog, edit your post or create a new one.
    7. Whenever you're ready to write a new post or manage your old ones, simply click on the Posting tab of your Blogger interface.

  • Exploring Your Settings and Template Tabs

    • You'll notice that in addition to the Posts tab, you also have a Settings and Template tab at the top of your Blogger interface. (On your Blogger Dashboard, these appear as the Settings and Layout links.)
    • Under the Settings Tab, you'll find all kinds of options to help customize your blog. You can control how many posts appear on the front page, how frequently your posts are archived and whether or not your blog is added to the Blogger directory.
    • You'll also be able to add an RSS link to your blog through Blogger or FeedBurner and control the terms under which viewers can comment on your posts.
    • Fig. 4: Blogger Settings Tab
    • Under the Template Tab, you'll have the option of switching templates, choosing the colors that fit your blog, adding or deleting information from your sidebar and, if you know HTML, actually editing your template's source code.
    • Fig. 5: Blogger Template Tab

  • Your Profile Page

    1. To create a profile page to go along with your blog, go to your Dashboard. You will find a link to Blogger's Dashboard in the upper right hand corner of your screen.
    2. On your Dashboard, you'll see the option to edit your profile in the right hand corner.
    3. Click Edit Profile. Add as much or as little information as you'd like your readers to know about you on your Profile page.
    4. This profile is what readers will see when they click the About Me link in your blog's sidebar. This is a default setting in your Blogger template. The About Me link can always be removed by clicking on your Templates tab and editing your Page Elements.
    5. Fig. 6: Blogger Dashboard: Post, Setting and Layout Links; Edit Profile Link

  • Deleting Your Blog

    • You can delete your blog at any time by clicking on the Delete This Blog button at the bottom of the Basics page under the Settings tab.

  • Important WordPress.com Links

  • Signing Up and Choosing Your Template

    1. href="http://youtube.com/watch?v=MWYi... Tutorial with Chris Abraham
    2. Go the WordPress.com website. Click on the Sign Up Now button.
    3. On the next page, you will be asked to create a user name and password, give your email address and agree to WordPress.com's Terms of Agreement.
    4. On the next page, you will be asked to choose your blog's domain name and title as well as set your privacy settings. Once you've filled in these fields, simply press the Sign Up button.
    5. On the next page, you'll be asked whether you want to write a post, choose a template or visit your blog's main administration page.
    6. Clicking on the Change Your Template link will bring you to a page that allows you to choose from any number of WordPress.com's pre-designed templates. (Keep in mind that your template selection will be relatively limited and not especially flexible without the purchase of a Custom CSS Upgrade.) Choose the one you like best. You can always change it later by clicking on the WordPress.com interface's Presentation Tab.

  • Your First Post

    1. WordPress.com uses a rich text editor that operates exactly like a word processor. What you see is what you get.
    2. Enter a title for your post in the Title field and begin writing.
    3. You can insert images into your post by clicking on the Add Image button. If you know HTML, you can click on the Code tab to edit your post's source code.
    4. When you're done writing your post, you can either save it as a draft or publish it to your blog by clicking on the appropriate buttons immediately beneath the text field.
    5. You will then be given the option to view your post.
    6. Whenever you're ready to write a new post or manage your old ones, simply click on the Write tab of your WordPress.com Dashboard.
    7. Fig. 7: WordPress.com Text Editor: Add Image Icon

  • Exploring the WordPress.com Dashboard

    • The other tabs that run along your WordPress.com Dashboard allow you to switch templates, upload a picture to use as your blog's banner, manage comments, control your settings and update your profile page.
    • You also have the ability to set-up your registered domain name, if you've purchased one, by clicking on the Domains link in the Options section of your Dashboard.
    • Fig. 8: WordPress.com Dashboard

  • Your Profile Page

    1. Fig. 9: WordPress.com Blog Sidebar: Link to About Page
    2. In WordPress.com, you have a behind-the-scenes profile and an About page. A link to your About page automatically appears in your blog's sidebar.
    3. To edit the information that appears on your About page, view your blog by clicking on the View Site link at the very top of your Dashboard.
    4. On your blog, you'll see an About link in the sidebar. Click on this link. It will bring you to your About page and give you the option to edit this entry.
    5. Click on the edit this entry link. It will bring you to a text editor that will allow you to create your About page.
    6. Whenever you need to access your About page again, you will it find under the Write tab of your Dashboard at the Write Page link.
    7. To edit your behind-the-scenes profile, which is not linked to from your blog's homepage, click on the Users tab and then the Your Profile button. Don't forget to click the Update Profile button to save your changes.

  • Deleting Your Blog

    • You can always delete your blog by clicking on the Delete Blog button under the Options tab of your Dashboard. Your blog will not be deleted, however, until you click on the confirmation link sent to you via email.

  • Important Vox Links

  • Signing Up and Choosing Your Template

    2. Vox Tutorial with Chris Abraham</td></tr></table></hypertext>
    3. Go to the Vox site.
    4. Click on the Start a Vox Blog link to sign up for an account.
    5. The Vox sign-up page will ask you to create a user name, submit your email address and accept their terms of service. You will also be asked for your gender and birthday.
    6. Once you've inputted this information, you will be sent an email with a verification code and link to confirm that you're email address is legitimate. Check your email. Click on the verification link in your email. It will take you to a page that gives you three options - creating your Vox profile, setting up your Blog's look or writing your first post.
    7. Click on the Set Up Your Vox link to choose a template for your blog. The templates page will let you create the look and feel of your blog's layout and design. You won't be able to alter the templates in any substantial way, but you can control the contents of your sidebar and customize a banner if you choose.

  • Your First Post

    1. Fig. 10: Vox Text Editor: Add Media Buttons
    2. To post your first entry, click on the Compose a Post link at the top of the page.
    3. The Vox text editor is a simple, word processor type interface with special buttons along the top to help you add different types of media to your post.
    4. Enter a title in the Title field and write your post.
    5. Insert any images, video, audio or Vox Collection you'd like. You can also add "tags" to your post to make it searchable by other Vox users.
    6. Click the Save button when you're done to publish your post.
    7. You'll be given the option of viewing or editing your post, bookmarking it online or sending it to friends.
    8. Whenever you'd like to write a new post, click on the Compose a Post link at the top of your Vox Dashboard.

  • Exploring Your Vox Dashboard

    • Your My Vox drop menu allows you to access to all of your posts, uploaded files and profile. You can play with the layout and design of your page by clicking on the Design button.
    • Next to your My Vox menu are buttons for Neighborhoods and Groups. Neighbors appear on your homepage and consist of family, friends and other Vox users that you add to your page. Groups are Vox users organized around common interests.
    • You can also send messages to family, friends and other Vox users through the Vox interface by clicking on the Messages button in the left hand corner of your page.
    • Fig. 11: Vox Dashboard: Compose Post; My Vox Dropdown Menu; Account Button

  • Your Profile Page

    • To edit your Vox profile, click on the Edit Profile button located in the My Vox drop down menu. You'll be able to enter in as much or as little information as you'd like, but remember that because Vox emphasizes social networking, your profile is an integral part of your blog's homepage.

  • Domain Mapping

    • Vox does not offer a domain mapping option at this time.

  • Deleting Your Blog

    • You can delete your Vox account at any time, by clicking on the Account link in the upper right hand corner of your Dashboard. On the Account page, you'll find a Your Account link at the bottom of a list of links on the left hand side of the page. Click on Your Account, and a Cancel Your Account option will appear directly beneath it.

  • Important Typepad Links

  • Signing Up and Choosing Your Template

    1. Typepad Tutorial with Chris Abraham
    2. Go the Typepad site.
    3. Click on the Free Trial or Sign Up buttons to sign up for an account. (Typepad is a pay service with four different pricing levels ranging from $4.95 - $29.95 per month. There is a free 14-day trial period. Your account can be canceled at any time.)
    4. On the sign up page, you will be asked to submit your email address, create a blog address and agree to Typepad's terms of service.
    5. On the next page, you will be asked to choose a pricing plan and submit a valid credit card number. You will not be charged until after your free trial ends. (Canceling a Typepad account is not a hassle and can be done with the click of a button.) Review the pricing plans carefully as some plans offer features that others do not. For instance, only the Pro, Premium and Plus plans allow you to assign a registered domain name to your site.
    6. After entering in your credit card information, you will be asked to design your blog and assign its privacy settings. You will choose from a number of design and layout options as well as decide whether or not you want your blog to be public, public but unlisted or password protected. Don't worry about which template you choose. You can always change it later. Whether you choose to make your blog public or private is entirely up to you and depends largely on your blog's content and target audience. You can change your blog's privacy settings at any time.
    7. You will then be asked to confirm your registration. Once you've reviewed your information, click continue. You will be brought to your Typepad Account's quick start page.
    8. Keep in mind that you won't be able to see your blog online until you've written your first post.

  • Exploring the Typepad Dashboard

    1. You can start a post by clicking on the Begin a Post button, or you can explore the full menu of text and design options by clicking on the My Weblog link in the Quick Start box. (This link will change to reflect your blog's name once you've assigned it one by clicking on the Configure tab and filling in the Weblog Name field.)
    2. Fig. 12: Typepad Quick Start Box: My Weblog or Blog Name Link; Begin a New Post Button
    3. Clicking on My Weblog (or your blog's name) will bring you to your blog's administrative dashboard.
    4. You'll see that you have two sets of tabs. The top level includes your Photo Albums, Typelists and account Control Panel. The second level includes your blog's design and post-related options - Compose, Design and Configure.
    5. Starting with the top level, the Control Panel button lets you control your blog's settings, account information, statistics and personal profile.
    6. Typelists are lists you can create and add to your blog's sidebar. Typepad has several built in options that let you add your favorite books and records from Amazon.com. A Typelist can, however, contain anything you want - a blogroll, text, a picture, a search bar, etc.
    7. Under the Configure Tab, you'll find options related to the way your blog archives posts, what it is named and how it is publicized. You'll also find an option to add a feed or RSS button to your site so that readers can subscribe to your blog's posts. If you choose a Pro, Plus or Premium plan, you will find an option to "point" a purchased domain name to your Typepad site.
    8. To play with your site's design, click on the second level Design tab. You will be taken to a menu that allows you to manipulate your blog's design by adding new text to the header, choosing a new template or rearranging your sidebar's contents.
    9. Fig. 13: Typepad Dashboard: Two Sets of Tabs

  • Your First Post

    1. Fig. 14: Typepad Text Editor: Add Image Icon
    2. On the second level of tabs, click on the Compose link. This will bring you to Typepad's text editor.
    3. Enter a title in the Title field and choose any categories you want to use to archive your post form the drop down menu.
    4. Type text in just as you would on a word processor.
    5. You can add images, and if you know HTML, you can edit your post's source code by clicking on the Edit HTML tab.
    6. Once you've finished writing, click the Save button. This will publish the post to your blog. If you'd like to save the post as a draft, you can choose that option in the drop down box on the lower left hand side of the text editor.
    7. You can view your blog at any time by clicking on the View Weblog link in the upper right hand corner of your page.

  • Your Profile Page

    • You will find a link to your Typepad Profile page under the Control Panel tab of your Typepad interface. If you'd like to include a link to your finished Profile page in your blog's sidebar, you can add it by clicking on the Select Content link under the Design tab.

  • Deleting Your Blog

    • You can cancel your Typepad account at any time by clicking on the Control Panel tab. There you will an Account Info sub-tab. Under Account Info, you will find the Cancel Account link.

  • Step 5: Write Great Blog Posts

    Great blog posts provide value to readers (Photo by Bazilrr)
    • In the world of blogging, content is king. If you want to generate an audience for your blog beyond your immediate friends and family, it is essential that your posts be well-written and provide value to readers. It's also essential that you update your blog with new posts on a regular basis. Creating a blog is easy. Maintaining a blog is hard.

  • General Tips on Writing a Blog Post

    1. Be Passionate. You're writing a blog because you have something to say so say it with style, enthusiasm and grace. Your voice is the only thing that will make your blog stand out for the millions of others out there.
    2. Be Funny. Never underestimate the power of humor in blogging. Humor makes your posts enjoyable to read and more likely to be linked to by other bloggers.
    3. Be Consistent. It's important to post on a regular basis so that your readers keep coming back. Don't post if you don't have something to say. No content is better than bad content, but maintaining your blog should be a priority if you wish to reach an audience beyond your peers.
    4. Be Useful. Provide value to your readers. It might be entertainment value or educational value, but reaching out to readers means giving them something they need but didn't have before - an insight, a joke, a tool or a new way of looking at something.
    5. Be Readable. Remember that you're writing text for people reading from computer screens. Your posts should be short and easy on the eyes. If they get lengthy, consider breaking up the text visually with bullet points, images or selectively bolded text.
    6. Be Responsible. Blog posts almost always contain links to other websites. It's important to give credit where credit is due and link back to a site if you've used it as a reference.

  • Popular Types of Blog Posts

    • Lists
    • People love lists. They are easy to read and fun to write. Lists are often linked to by other sites and can help your blog gain attention online. The best lists are original, comprehensive, provide value to readers or are just plain funny.
    • Reviews
    • You have an opinion, or else you wouldn't have started a blog. Review films, books, gadgets or whatever else might be pertinent to your blog's subject matter. If your reviews are thoughtful enough and your blog gains a following, you may even be able to solicit companies for products or materials to review.
    • How To
    • "How To" posts provide value to readers, and if done well, have a longer lifespan than your average blog post. They are frequently linked to by other sites and allow readers to benefit from your expertise.
    • Attack Posts
    • While they should be managed carefully, there's no denying that posts which attack a story, product or person can generate attention for your site. Combine this with the list strategy, and you've got your first "10 Things I Hate About..."post.

  • Step 6: Build an Audience

    Cultivate an audience with a few simple strategies (Creative Commons photo by Nickd)
    • It's estimated that there are over 71 million blogs in the world with another 100,000 being created daily. Standing apart from the crowd isn't easy, but if you do decide that you'd like to cultivate an audience outside of your mom, here are some tactics you might consider:
    1. Add your URL to Google. This tells Google's army of robot spiders to check your blog's content - adding it to Google's search results. To maximize your rank in Google's search results, be sure that your posts' headlines are clear and on topic. Keywords are more important than cleverness.
    2. Claim your blog at sites like Technorati and Blog Top Sites. These are blog directories that allow people to seek out blogs on subject matters of interest to them. You can also apply to be added to the moderated directory Blogarama or try a relatively new service like BlogRush, which will advertise your blog's content across a network of related blogs.
    3. Remind your readers that if they like a post, they should add it to sites like Digg, Delicious, Netscape, StumbleUpon, Ma.gnolia or Reddit. These services can help attract new readers to your site.
    4. Link to other sites. The owners of the sites you link to are likely to check out your blog particularly if the link from your blog drives traffic to their site.
    5. Become a regular commenter on blogs that cover similar topics to your own. You're part of the blogosphere now and therefore a potential player in a community. Provide useful and thoughtful comments on other people's blogs, and it's all the more likely that they will check out yours.
    6. The old-fashioned way. Tell everyone about your blog. Add its URL to your email signature. Put it on your business cards. Network at blogging conferences. Kiss some hands and shake some babies, or is that the other way around?

  • Step 7: Measure Your Traffic

    • Services like Site Meter help measure your blog's traffic
    • Blog hosts like WordPress.com and Typepad keep track of your stats for you. They will tell you how many people have visited your site and when.
    • If you'd like a more in-depth set of statistics including where people are visiting your site from, what pages received the most views and detailed graphs of your site's popularity, there are a handful of free services you can use to track that information.
    • The most popular include Google Analytics and Site Meter. Both services give you step-by-step instructions in how to set-up their services on your blog although some familiarity with basic HTML coding is helpful.

  • Step 8: Monetize Your Blog

    • While you shouldn't quit your day job, there are a handful of quick and easy ways to monetize your blog. A basic knowledge of HTML coding is helpful when using these services, but most blog hosts will walk you through how to add these services.
    • Google AdSense
    • Google Adsense will search your blog and add ads relevant to its content. These ads can appear in a number of different text and image configurations. You make money when people click on the ads.
    • Yahoo! Publisher Network
    • Yahoo!'s version of AdSense.
    • Amazon Associates
    • An Amazon.com program that places ads relevant to your blog's content on your blog. You make money when readers click on the ads and make a purchase through Amazon.
    • Adbrite
    • A network that lets blog owners sell text ad space directly to advertisers.

  • Legal Resources for Bloggers

    • Fig. 15. Creative Commons Logo
    • There are some legal issues that all bloggers, but particularly those aspiring to capture a large audience, should be aware of. Most deal with the use of images, video and audio files. The Electronic Frontier Foundation has a complete legal guide for bloggers online.
    • You may also want to copyright your own original work through Creative Commons. Creative Commons offers several different kinds of licenses. Some let people use your material freely but with attribution. Some let people use your material for anything but commercial purposes. You can check out the full list of Creative Commons licenses at their website.

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