We've all heard about blogs. Maybe from friends and family. Certainly in the media with the proliferation of sites like MySpace.com*. But what the heck's the hype about?
Dear world: I have something(s) to say. The term 'blog' (a shortened form of 'Web log') can be defined as a personal...well, anything. Diary, photo and/or video journal, political or personal rant–it's a place where you can be you–or any variation of you–and showcase it for the world.
Think of it like a Web-site dedicated to you–where people drop in through the revolving Internet door to see what you have to say. They might even leave comments behind and invite you to visit their blog. And you can be fearless in your approach. Sure, you might be soft spoken in real life. But on the Web, your blog can portray a powerful force of nature with your views on every subject under the sun. Or maybe you just want to talk about your life on a day-to-day basis including the strange vegetables you encountered at the grocery store and the laugh-out-loud sitcom you watched the night before. Your blog is your syndicated Web-reality show where you are the director, the camera guy, and the star.
Coaxing your inner star to blog. There are many free blogging sites to choose from, all of which make it easy to get started. You don't have to be an expert computer user to understand how to make it work. In fact, you just have to know how to open a Web browser. Beyond that, they'll walk you through the process quickly and painlessly.
So take a look around the blogging landscape. See what others are doing. We'll give you a list of free blogging sites to get started. Once you've signed up for a free account, here is what you can expect:
- Create blog entries with ease. Type your genius post and click the publish now button. It's almost like sending an e-mail to the world, and yes–it's that easy.
- Post images and video. Upload your favorite photos, a video of Uncle Mike winning the pie-eating contest, whatever.
- Create your 'star of the show' profile. Make up a fun alias name based on your interests like 'KnittingChic,' 'DiabolicalGenius,' 'Sk8rGirl,' 'FliesFast'–you get the point! Plus a bit about who you are, what you like, what you do–remember, you're the star.
- Receive feedback from adoring fans. It's great when visitors take the time to read and respond to your blog posts. You'll probably even get invitations from other bloggers to visit their sites.
- Add me to your RSS feeds. 'RSS' stands for Real Simple Syndication. With RSS your avid readers can subscribe to your blog and receive a notification when you've created an epic post that absolutely cannot, under any circumstances, be missed.
- Create a blog page that screams YOU. Most blogging sites let you choose your layout, color scheme, fonts, you name it. Don't hold back–show the world who you are and how you look in taupe, green, or whatever colors you choose!
- Link to other sites or blogs you like. You may find, once you become a blogging aficionado, that there are blogs and sites that you like to regularly visit–if you do, add them to your page and share the glory!
So you're no spring chicken. No excuse! The Web is not like Fort Lauderdale on spring break–everyone's welcome! Whether you're a spring-chicken, mid-lifer, or are celebrating the 45th anniversary of your 21st birthday and every age in between and beyond–it makes no difference. You've got something to blog and the world is ready to read it!
Start your blog today! Here are some free blogging sites:
Delve into the world of RSS feeds by getting your RSS reader today:
