I am finding a little more time to return to Ciao after a long absence. Will try and catch up with o...
I am finding a little more time to return to Ciao after a long absence. Will try and catch up with old friends. As to the writing side of things... well, I have few things to write about.. Now it's just a matter of finding the time... Derek
Member since:26.04.2005
Reviews:74
Members who trust:91
Duh! I've already written under the category "Everything the Starts with B" and I want to write about Blogging. So it will have to be.. Everything that starts with W - "What's a blog?"
This review is about blogging in general. I have explained a little on how to go about it, but blogging is best learned hands-on. All I am trying to do here is share with you about the world of the blogger I suppose you could say that I have become a blogger. Hmm, I just had an idea… I might get a hat or badge with "I am a Blogger" written on it… On second thoughts… Nah!
I think most people have heard of blogs now, but for those who haven't I'll do my best to explain…
Blog is the shortened name of Web-Log. Somebody somewhere, decided to drop the "We" for from the beginning of Weblog and join the remainder together to get Blog and the name stuck. I think there is something satisfying about saying BLOG… Try it…. B-L-O-G… There, doesn't that feel good?
So what can we do with a Blog?
Firstly we can log all our thoughts and no matter how personal, we don't have to worry about getting embarrassed, because we can make our blog entries under a pseudonym and nobody need ever know who we are.
This is something that can be very cathartic about blogging - or to put it in simpler language, we can purge our negative feelings and emotions. We can "yell and scream" about Aunty whats-a-name or Uncle Bobs-ur-uncle without them ever knowing it was us doing it. Because a blogger can choose his/her own user name… For those of us so inclined, we can describe in graphic details about what we would like to do to the stunning girl (or fella) who lives down the road, without ever having to apologise or feel embarrassed - unless we believe they have telepathic abilities. But of course, most of us are not into that, are we?
For those of us that have websites, that we earn a few pennies from, blogs are a great way to promote them. A great way to show our potential customers, that we are serious about our endeavours - that we are the real person behind the website.
Blogs can be used for those who are writers and want to get some exposure for our creations, we can put extracts on our blog for the world to see and perhaps give a push in the direction of our blog to a suitable publisher or literary agent.
A great thing about blogs is that they are interactive. That means that visitors can leave messages and friendships can be struck up in that way. And if something unsavoury appears on your blog, it can be deleted.
I have a blog - well several actually - with Google's blogging service. Signing up is easy. You just go to the Google homepage (http://www.blogger.com/start ) and follow the instructions to sign up and there you have it - you have joined the ranks of millions of bloggers all over the world. If you wish, you can "take a tour" before you commit yourself.
The next thing is to create your profile with a picture of yourself if you wish - not dissimilar to what you've done on Ciao. You can then view your profile on your home page and you'll see links just under labelled, Blogger Knowledge, and Blogger Help. Clicking on these links will tell you everything you need to know about running your blog including writing in code (like html) but it isn't necessary as you can use WYSIWYG editor that is no different to using a word processor. WYSIWYG are the intials for What You See Is What You Get.
Getting your blog seen and read is also quite easy. I have signed up with a site called, Blog Explosion. Here you get to visit other people's blogs where you can leave messages and generally interact. In return for visiting these blogs, others will visit your blog. But first, you blog has to be accepted by the site as there are rules regarding pornography and hate etc.
I find I have great fun on Blogger Explosion. I never cease to be amazed by the blogs I have read. Political, religious, and some of them are wonderfully weird - especially those that specialise in posting weird pictures or stories. (Oh yes, you can put pictures on blogs).
To summarise: To get a blog you can go directly to http://www.blogger.com/start and then to look around and get a feel of what a blog is you can go to. http://www.blogexplosion.com
Oh yes... An addition here.. Most blogs are free - the ones with Google are anyway...
Have fun and happy blogging.
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Sounds great. I like the idea of starting one myself. But I just dont really have the time. I suppose I sort of do over on Handbag as I have several threads on there that I regularly update.
pinky.chaz 17.10.2006 05:49
gonna have a look at some of the sites u have given, great review!
lipsalve 15.05.2006 23:21
"Blog blog blog blog blog blog" You've got us all saying it out loud! Mine sounds like a blocked drain! Jo x
Jan 21st, 2006
exceptional by (4%):
very helpful by (96%):
