The Who, What, Why, When, and How of Blogging

Some time ago I read an article about the tremendous growth that blogging was experiencing and it really caught my attention. I feel like I have a lot to talk about and a blog seemed like a perfect venue to write some of the things I wanted to share. I took the plunge and created my own blog and I am very glad that I did. Maybe you are considering blogging as well. Here are some answers to the common questions about blogging.

Who Should Blog?

I think that everybody has something to say. If you have something to say then you should have a blog. You might be asking, "What would I write about" Good question. Here are some answers. What are your hobbies? What are you passionate about? What do you consider yourself an expert in? What do you find yourself talking about? Are you interested in politics? Can't get enough news talk radio or TV? Love football, basketball, baseball, hockey, NASCAR? Fascinated by celebrities? Love to cook? Love to travel? Raising kids? Watching movies? Reading books? You can start a blog about anything that you are interested in. Write good articles and people will come and read them. Most blogs also allow their readers to post comments on the articles, which has the added impact of building a nice online community.

What is a blog?

A blog (short for web log) is like an online journal. There is a lot of free software available that makes running and maintaining a blog very easy. A blog takes the articles you write (called posts) and organizes them by date and category so that people who visit your blog can easily find, read and enjoy them.

Why a blog?

A blog is not only a great way to talk about your ideas; there are also some very real possibilities of making money. There are programs like Google Adsense, Affiliate Programs, Click Banks, and opportunities to sell articles that you write. A blog is also a lot simpler and quicker to set up than a traditional web site.

When should I start?

There is no time like the present! If you are interested in blogging then I want to encourage you to go for it. There are plenty of available options when it comes to getting started. There are places where you can get a free blog site. There are places to get hosted blog sites. If you are planning on trying to make money from your blog than you should probably consider going with a web-hosting company where you pay a small monthly fee. With some of the free sites there are restrictions about the way you monetize (make money) from your site.

How do I get started?

The Internet is filled with information to help you learn all that you need to get your blog off the ground. Do a little research and then take your own plunge. I am sure you will be glad that you did.