Blogging For Dummies

The bestselling blogging book--updated in a new edition!

Ready to make your mark on the online world? Start a blog! Blogging For Dummies provides you with information on blogging basics, the anatomy of a good blog, and the tools required to get started.

Plus, you'll get advice on a blog topic, choosing a domain name and host, writing your first post, planning an editorial calendar, and using your blog as an important part of your personal brand.

• Decide which of the major blogging platforms will work for you

• Use SEO to drive traffic to your blog

• Monetization through advertising and sponsorships

• Create content that draws readers in

Covering shifts in popular blogging platforms and tools, changes in social media, and the latest best practices in the blogosphere, this new edition sets you up for blogging success!

Auteur

Amy Lupold Bair is the owner of Resourceful Mommy Media, LLC, and author of the popular parenting and lifestyle blog, Resourceful Mommy. In 2008, Amy invented the social media marketing tool the Twitter Party, and in early 2009, she created the Global Influence Network for bloggers. A former English teacher and mother of two, she is also the author of Raising Digital Families For Dummies, a guide for parents raising digital natives.

Texte du rabat

• Use your blog to build your brand
• Create social media-friendly content

• Customize your blog to stand out The bestselling guide to blogging Ready to make your mark on the online world? Start a blog! This bestselling book provides you with easy-to-follow guidance on blogging basics, the anatomy of a good blog, and the tools required to get started. Plus, you'll get advice on picking a blog topic, choosing a domain name and host, writing your first post, planning an editorial calendar, and using your blog as an important part of your personal brand. Inside...

• Decide which of the major blogging platforms will work for you
• Use SEO to drive traffic to your blog
• Monetize through advertising and sponsorships
• Create content that draws in loyal readers

Résumé
The bestselling blogging bookupdated in a new edition!

Ready to make your mark on the online world? Start a blog! *Blogging For Dummies* provides you with information on blogging basics, the anatomy of a good blog, and the tools required to get started.

Plus, you'll get advice on a blog topic, choosing a domain name and host, writing your first post, planning an editorial calendar, and using your blog as an important part of your personal brand.

• Decide which of the major blogging platforms will work for you
• Use SEO to drive traffic to your blog
• Monetization through advertising and sponsorships
• Create content that draws readers in
  Covering shifts in popular blogging platforms and tools, changes in social media, and the latest best practices in the blogosphere, this new edition sets you up for blogging success!

Contenu

Introduction 1

About This Book 1

Foolish Assumptions 2

Icons Used in This Book 3

Beyond the Book 3

Where to Go from Here 3

Part 1: Getting Started with Blogging 5

Chapter 1: Discovering Blog Basics 7

Making Yourself Comfortable with Blogs 8

How people use blogs 9

Recognizing a blog 16

Blog anatomy: Dissecting a typical blog 17

Starting a Blog 21

Choosing What to Blog About 23

Creating a Successful Blog 24

Setting goals 25

Writing well 25

Creating a calendar 26

Building community with comments 27

Designing for Success 28

Understanding themes 29

Knowing content types 30

Thinking about audience 30

Chapter 2: Entering the Blogosphere 33

Assessing Your Involvement 34

What level of commitment are you willing to make to blogging? 35

Do you like writing? How's your typing? 35

What will the blog be about? Is your blog personal or professional? 35

Do you think that your new blog might lead to new career opportunities? 36

How comfortable are you with sharing? 36

What Happens When You Publish? 36

Blogging Ethically 38

Telling the truth 39

Making mistakes 41

Handling dialogue 43

Keeping Your Job While Blogging 44

Blogging without Embarrassing Your Mother or Losing Friends 45

Understanding what's at stake 46

Protecting others in your life 46

Protecting Your Privacy and Reputation 47

Creating Your Brand 48

Communicating who you are 48

Hitting reboot 49

Chapter 3: Choosing and Hosting Blog Software 51

Having Your Own Domain Name 51

Picking a domain name 52

Registering a domain 54

Finding Web Hosting 57

Doing your research 58

Subscribing to web hosting 59

Deciding on the Right Blogging Software 61

Budgeting for software 63

Making sure you get the basics 63

Upgrading with bells and whistles 65

Understanding Hosted Blog Software 66

Reaping the benefits 67

Living with the limitations 68

Choosing hosted software 69

Understanding Blog Software That You Install on Your Own Server 72

Reaping the benefits 72

Living with the limitations 73

Choosing non-hosted blogging software 74

Installing blog software 77

Part 2: Setting Up Your Blog 79

Chapter 4: Starting a Blogger Blog 81

Starting a Blog with Blogger 81

Creating an account 82

Naming your blog 84

Using the Dashboard 86

Writing a Post 87

Adding a link 88

Spell-checking your text 89

Including an image 90

Publishing Your Post 92

Previewing your post 92

Configuring post settings 93

Launching your post 94

Viewing Your Blog Post 94

Selecting the Dashboard Settings 95

Making basic changes 96

Making comment changes 97

Making email changes 98

Customizing Your Blog 98

Choosing a new theme 99

Using the Theme Designer 100

Editing page elements 103

Chapter 5: Starting a WordPress Blog 107

Choosing between WordPress.com and WordPress.org 108

Starting a WordPress.com Blog 110

Creating an account 110

Using the dashboard 114

Changing site settings 114

Writing a Post 115

Customizing Your WordPress.com Blog 118 Selecting a new theme 118&...