How to Start a Blog

I'll show you how to start a blog in less than 5 minutes.

Let's start off with some blog basics and FAQ's to help you be better prepared. Read these basics then click on the link to get started.

Why I recommend TypePad to Start Your Blog:

• With TypePad there is no software to download onto your computer or on your server.
• Typepad is online blogging software for which you pay a monthly fee and it has built-in templates from which to choose.
• You use a email address and password to access your blog from typepad.com.
• To update your blog - meaning write in it, or post to it - you can either login in at typepad.com or email your posts and the blog will update automatically.
• You can map a domain name to your blog if you don't want the long blog address of blahblah.typepad.com which automatically comes with the blog. If you map a domain name, all you'd need to do is type your domain name into the address bar and up your blog shows up.
• TypePad is user-friendly, organized, clean.
• They have great customer service.
• It's affordable.
• It's flexible: you can update your blog from any Internet-accessible computer - including a PDA.
• In many ways, it's better than a web site.
• You can upload files.
• You can upload photos or link to video.
• You can create custom categories.
• It's my personal choice for blogging software.
• I use TypePad for my blogs, such as this one you're reading - Juggling Hats.

After the 30 day free trial ends, a TypePad blog will only cost you $8.95 at the Plus Level for up to 3 blogs. You may only want to use one, but there are three available. You can always cancel your account within the 30 days if you're not pleased, but believe me, you'll be pleased. You can always upgrade or downgrade your account as well, if need be.

Why You Want the TypePad Plus Level at $8.95 per month

1. You get to use custom headers to make your blog stand out better
2. You are allowed to create up to 3 blogs for your convenience
3. You can map a domain name to your blog so you don't have to use TypePad's longer address

Click on this link for TypePad Blogs - Get a 30 Day Free Trial! which will take you to the TypePad home page where you can sign up for the 30 day free trial.

After you sign up, TypePad will take you through a series of wizard screens where you'll choose the name for your blog, the template design, the items you want on your blog, the order of the items and so forth.

That's it, you're finished.

Now you can begin posting - or writing in - your blog. The other nice thing is there's a spell check feature and a preview feature so you can view your post before it goes live on your site. But the other nice thing is at any time you can delete a post or modify it in the event you re-read what you wrote and don't like it.

Blogs Are Wonderful

Blogs are a wonderful marketing tool to showcase your businesses services and talents and to begin engaging with your customers as opposed to only talking at them as is is the case with a web site. TypePad is the best choice to start your blog for business.

Recommended Reading After Creating Your Blog

When you're finished setting up your new blog, I, without a doubt, recommend you read The Corporate Blogging Book by Deb Weil. It's the book I recommend to my clients who consistently say it set the perfect foundation for starting a blog and the tips were immeasurable.

Comments

[Debbie Weil]

Leslie,

Thanks for your kind words! I often recommend TypePad too.