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Blogging
by Heather Hales, senior editor
A blog
is a website in which journal entries are posted on a regular
basis and displayed in reverse chronological order. The term
blog is a shortened form of weblog or web log. Authoring a blog,
maintaining a blog or adding an article to an existing blog
is called "blogging". Individual articles on a blog
are called "blog posts," "posts" or "entries".
A person who posts these entries is called a "blogger".
A blog comprises hypertext, images, and links (to other webpages
and to video, audio and other files). Blogs use a conversational
style of documentation. Often blogs focus on a particular "area
of interest", such as Washington, D.C.'s political goings-on.
Some blogs discuss personal experiences.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
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Blogging
is a phenomenon that is sweeping the world. Weblogs first began
in the late 1990's but really gained popularity in 2000 when
political writers began blogging their opinions. As the Iraq
war began Iraqi blogs popped up, allowing individuals to read
personal accounts of what was happening in Iraq. Blogging really
took off because people found that political blogs were more
"real" than stories in the Washington Post or New
York Times. The more people began to read them, the more people
wanted to share their own opinions.
Why Blog?
Today, anyone can
blog, about whatever topic they feel inspired by. Why blog,
you may be asking yourself?
- keep in touch
with family
- you have a talent
or skill you want to share with the world
- a new way to
journal
- you have opinions
you want to share
- good old fashioned
self absorption
Ann, of Roseville, CA, blogs to keep her missionary
brother updated on her family's life. She finds that it
is much easier to post pictures of her children than to
email them to her brother.
I share pictures of my kids and our family's
adventures. I typically make an entry 1-2 times each week.
It's been a great way to help close the miles between our
families and some friends, says Kathleen Gordon-Ross of
the Topeka, KS stake.
Types of Blogs
There are two types
of blogs, public and private.
Public blogs are
read by anyone who happens upon your blog. They are open to
anyone and are searchable via search engines. Most public blogs
have an option for people share comments about the posts. The
comments are similar in fashion to when someone posts on a message
board thread. You may find that the same people read and comment
on a small ring of blogs, thus creating an online community.
Private blogs are
just that, private. They are intended for a specific audience
and you can control who gets the URL. Private blogs are only
viewable if someone has sent you the link, they are not searchable
via search engines.
Blog Safety
When publicly blogging
about your life or family there are some safety measures to
keep in mind.
- Don't use your
full name
- Be very wary
of using your children's names or images
- Do not disclose
your home address or phone number
Blogging publicly
exposes a lot about you to strangers all over the Internet.
You should be very careful how detailed and personal you get;
it is amazing how easily you can be tracked down with only a
little bit of information.
Why Read Blogs?
Probably
for the same reason that we read US, People or any celebrity
gossip magazine; because we want to know about other people's
lives. As you search for blogs you will find people from all
walks of life whose stories can make you laugh, cry, empathize
and more. You may get attached to a particular blog because
of the witty stories or even the writing style. Once you enter
the blogging community- either as a reader or a writer- it is
hard not to get hooked, there are so many fascinating individuals
out in the world.
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Start Your
Own Blog
You don't need to know
html or be very tech savy to have your own blog. Below is
a list of places that will give you your own blog. Most of
the sites below will format your blog for you using creative
and unique templates. All you will need to do is type your
own posts, your blog host will do the rest.
Blogs have given gurus of all kinds the perfect medium for providing tutorials of all kinds, and these blogs are no exception.
TIPS FOR NEW BLOGGERS provides a dummies guide, tips, tricks, help for all new bloggers on Web templates, Blog templates, designs, widgets, layout, JavaScript, HTML codes, SEO, Google AdSense, gadgets, diagnostic tools, and how to monetize Blogger or Blogspot blogs.
BLOGGING BASICS 101 - Where there are no stupid questions. Intended for beginning bloggers with basic questions, two bloggers, Chilihead and Shannon, share what they've learned the heard way about blogging in a simple and informative question and answer format.
Blogs We Read
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