If you have an email address and something to say, you can be up and blogging in minutes with a WordPress blog. This page outlines how to use the free WordPress.com service to create a blog.

• WordPress is a free blog publishing system known for its ease of use, search engine friendly pages, and theme/plug-in architecture. WordPress.com is its hosted solution, where all you need is a name for your blog, an email address, and access to the Internet. Let's get started with WordPress.com!

• Signing up with WordPress is quick and easy.

1. Access the WordPress.com website
2. Click on the Sign Up Now icon.
3. Create a user name and password, provide your email address and agree to the legal conditions.
4. Select the circle that says Gimme a Blog, and proceed to the next page.
5. Choose a domain name and title for your blog.
6. You'll be sent an email with a link to activate your blog.
7. Click through the link to complete the sign up process.

• After activating your blog, you'll have a choice of View your Site or Login. Login with the user name and password you created in step 1. This will take you to your Dashboard page.

1. At the top of the Dashboard, there will be a link to update your about page. Click on that link.
2. Add a few sentences about yourself to the text box in the middle of the page.
3. preview your changes by using the preview button in the top right hand corner of the page.
4. If the page looks good to you, return to the edit page and click on the update page button immediately below the preview button. This will save your profile.
5. You can update your profile at any time by returning to the Dashboard.

• WordPress starts you out with a standard template. Before posting, you'll want to customize the appearance of your blog.

1. Click on the Appearance button which you'll find on the lower left of the dashboard.
2. That will take you to a manage themes page.
3. Select a template, and click Activate once you've decided which one works for you.
4. You can change your template at any time, using either a standard WordPress template or a third party design.

• WordPress' editor functions the same way traditional word processing software does, so it's intuitive and easy to use.

1. Select Posts from the left hand column on the dashboard.
2. Select Add New
3. Write the title for your post in the space immediately under Add New Post.
4. Write your post in the text box, using the toolbar above the box to customize the font, add images, bulleted lists, and so on.
5. Preview and update your blog the same way you did for your profile.
6. Congratulations! You're published.

• Introduction
• Step 1: Sign Up With WordPress
• Step 2: Create Your WordPress Profile
• Step 3: Select a WordPress Template
• Step 4: Write Your First Post