How can I develop my blog?

How do I develop my own blog?

• Answer:

  You can either run a blog-centered web site mostly by yourself or use a developer-hosted blog service to start a blog. If you want to create a web site controlled mostly by you (i.e. a stand-alone/self-hosted blog), then you would likely need money - $10 to $160 - to pay for a web host and/or domain name (prices vary regarding time range and offered features). You may need to purchase blogging software as well. There are some services that are all-inclusive - web hosting, domain name, blogging software in one package. See http://www.problogger.net/archives/2006/02/15/choosing-a-blog-platform/ for more details regarding your choices. There are typically free options, which are developer-hosted blogging services, where most of the blogging functions are automated and provided by the blogging service. Rules regarding content may be more restrictive. You would have to check the site's policies regarding the use of their service to generate profit or advertise. Less web page coding skills are required. Also, visitors may need to be a member of the service and/or a connected "friend" in order to comment on content. Social-networking sites have features that extend beyond just blogging and are geared toward connecting with other profiles. Investigate and register with one of the following services to begin creating blog entries: Free blogging services: Blogger/Blogspot (http://blogger.com ), Wordpress (http://wordpress.com ), Livejournal (http://livejournal.com ), Vox (http://vox.com ), Typepad (http://typepad.com ), Travelpod (http://www.travelpod.com/ ), Tumblr (http://www.tumblr.com/ ), Yahoo! Shine (http://shine.yahoo.com - already registered just go to the site) Free social-networking services with blogging capabilities: MySpace (http://myspace.com ), Facebook (http://facebook.com ), Multiply (http://multiply.com ), Xanga (http://xanga.com ), Windows Live Spaces (http://spaces.live.com/ ), Ning (http://ning.com ), Yahoo! Profiles (http://profiles.yahoo.com - already registered just go to the site). Bebo (http://www.bebo.com/ ) and Gaia (http://www.gaiaonline.com/ ) are sites geared toward teenagers. See these sites for general blogging tips. You would have to consult the Help pages of the blog site/platform that you choose for further service-related specifics: Problogger: http://problogger.net Daily Blog Tips: http://www.dailyblogtips.com/ Blogging Tips: http://www.bloggingtips.com/ You may want to check out http://blog-services-review.toptenreviews.com/ and http://social-networking-websites-review.toptenreviews.com/ which provides a listing of top services and features (excluding Y!360 from the blog list).