Blogging 101: HANDOUT 2: How to Put Up a Blog

Here's a quick intro to launching your own blog.

1. Buy a domain name through dotster.com. I bought jeannesblog.com, assertivepatient.com, and jeannesather.com.

2. Use a blog-hosting Web site. This will give you a template, so you don’t have to do the technical parts from scratch, plus tech assistance. These are inexpensive.
I use Typepad.
http://www.typepad.com/

All the info on pricing and getting started is on the Web site. ($15/month for the plan I have)
Others include: blogspot.com

3. Choose and customize a template.
http://www.typepad.com/t/app/weblog/design?blog_id=503983

You can choose the layout, the colors, etc. Some customization is possible, especially if you are comfortable with html. Mine works well for me and looks professional (I think).

4. Posting.
I write the posts for my blog in Word, and then cut and paste into the template. I use some html in the body of my posts, mostly for font changes, links, and to place photos.
http://www.typepad.com/t/app/weblog/post?blog_id=503983

5. Drive traffic. This is Web-speak for getting readers.

A. Technorati
Technorati is a blog directory. It lists more than 3,000 blogs about cancer, and probably several hundred thousand blogs total. 55 million blogs?
http://technorati.com/

My blog has a listing on Technorati.
http://technorati.com/blogs/http://www.assertivepatient.com

B. Links from other blogs. Technorati rates on “authority”—which is the number of links your blog has.

C. Press releases
http://www.assertivepatient.com/press_releases/index.html

D. Get out in the blog world and post on other blogs and Web sites. Take part in the dialogue, always with a link back to your blog. This is key.

E. Put good keywords on your posts. These will be picked up by Google and other search engines.

F. Communicate with readers. Answer e-mail from readers. I have a separate e-mail account for this.

G. Estimate: 8 percent of the U.S. population reads blogs. Most of these are also bloggers. But with proper key words and links, people will find my blog when searching on Google.

H. You can tell where your readers are coming from with the stats page.

I. Making money with a blog. Right now I'm using Amazon ads and Netflix.

@ Jeanne Sather 2007. All rights reserved.

Comments

[Teri]

Wonderful instructions on creating a blog, Jeanne! May I link to it on my recent attempt at blog instruction?: http://cheekylibrarian.blogspot.com/2007/09/how-to-create-blog-thanks-to-jen.html
Your post is a gold mine for anyone considering writing a blog! Thank you -Teri

[jeanne]

Teri--absolutely. Also, when you have time, would you look for a cancer support group in your area that might bring me in to make this presentation?

I only need them to pay my travel costs and a modest honorarium.

Jeanne