We Are THAT Family: WFMW: Tips on Starting a Blog

Tuesday

WFMW: Tips on Starting a Blog

Please mark your calendars for the March 3 & 10 temporary move of WFMW. While I'm in Kenya with the Compassion Bloggers, Shannon of Rocks in My Dryer will be welcoming you all back to her place as she hosts WFMW for two weeks! There will NOT be a special theme for March 3, link any tip you'd like!

I don't know the exact percentages (because my fourth grade daughter surpassed my math skills about two months ago), BUT, I do know that nearly half of my blog readers are just that, readers. Not bloggers (and I love y'all. Deeply. You know I do).

Since starting my blog, I've been honored to help a couple of friends start their own. {High fives all around}

I'm emailed this question on a regular basis: "How do I start a blog?" (and if you've answered my own simplistic blog-related questions in the past two years, do not comment on this post. Dignity, please). Google can walk you thru the initial process of setting up your blog.

Here are my next 10 basic tips:

Come up with a unique name or two (there are a lot of blogs out there!)
Start on Wordpress if you want to grow it into something---->yes, I use Blogger and get weekly emails asking when I'm moving. (Sometime in 2010). (I think Blogger is easy for first time users unless you have big plans for your blog).
Buy the domain/ URL for your blog name-it's around $10 a year (I use Go Daddy).
Put Sitemeter on your blog, so you can track who's reading you and how people find your blog. (Other great tools: Google Analytics, Stat Counter)
Join Twitter (absolutely the best way I've gotten to know many of my readers).
Burn an RSS feed so others can subscribe to what you're saying (I use Feedburner).
Choose a free template before you invest money on a designer.
Keep a notepad with you to jot down ideas.
Participate in the blogging community---join carnivals, leave comments, get to know people!
Have fun! Don't put pressure on yourself. Blog for yourself, don't be like everyone else. Blogs don't gain hundreds (or thousands) of readers overnight. It's a lot of work--if you want it to be.

What did I forget??

And now, the not-so-fun-part: please, Please, PLEASE-link only helpful tips to WFMW. Please refrain from linking cute pictures of your children and throwing up a WFMW button. (No offense to your cute kids). I've been getting a lot of complaints from tip-seekers. I want to keep WFMW what it was intended for, even at the risk of making some of you mad. Now, I'll go bite my nails and hope that you don't hate me!

Thank you for joining me for WFMW! {You can read the guidelines here.}

Have a Works-For-Me Wednesday tip you'd like to share? I'd love for you to join us! Please note that the links will close on Thursday, in order to keep away the spammers!
Was your link deleted? Click here.

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38 comments:

Jen@balancing beauty and bedlam said...: How do I start a blog, and how much money do you make, if you don't mind me asking.....LOL

I always laugh when I get that....can't wait to see you in two short days. :); February 2, 2010 at 10:22 PM
TidyMom said...: Great tips/advice Kristen!!

and thanks for the reminder that WFMW is about TIPS!!!

~TidyMom; February 2, 2010 at 10:25 PM
Liz@HoosierHomemade said...: Great advice! I started on Wordpress about a year ago, so glad I did!
And thanks for the reminder about WFMW tips!
~Liz; February 2, 2010 at 10:32 PM
Pauline Wiles said...: Love your tip "blog for yourself". If you're not enjoying it, it can very quickly lose its appeal!; February 2, 2010 at 10:45 PM
Anonymous said...: Thanks for the reminder! I love learning new things and reading wonderful tips. ;); February 2, 2010 at 10:46 PM
amber @ classichousewife said...: Great tips!! I didn't do a blogging tip, but I did include a link to a series I did for beginning bloggers about a year ago.
I forgot there was a theme until I had my toddler tip all written up!!; February 2, 2010 at 10:53 PM
Marianne said...: I have already started the blog almost two years ago. Wish I had given it a bit more thought when I started, could have saved me a whole lot of hassle later on.
I hope my entry falls in the tip category! It sure works for me.
Thank you for hosting this lovely party every week!; February 2, 2010 at 11:43 PM
Hillary @ The Other Mama said...: I hear you loud and clear on the Blogger vs WP debate. I have been wanting to switch for...oh, I don't know... a YEAR and just haven't gotten around to it.
2010. That's my year, too! Looking forward to meeting you at Blissdom! We can be Blogger dorks together.:); February 2, 2010 at 11:54 PM
Kathleen@so much to say, so little time said...: I'm really glad to hear that Word Press is the way to go for site expansion...b/c that solidifies what I've done.; February 3, 2010 at 6:09 AM
Martianne said...: Thanks for the tips. I actually started one on blogger and one on wordpress just to get used to both paltforms to see which I liked. They both have merit, but, I think, in the end, I will go with wordpress as I get more into all this. Next time, after you've experienced your switchover, I'd love tips on making the switch. :); February 3, 2010 at 6:53 AM
Sarah @ Mum In Bloom said...: Thank you for these useful tips. I'll be looking at everyone's linked blogging tips above as well. Facebook, and chat sites took up too much of my time but blogging gave me back some control as to how much time I want to spend on the computer. It's also a great way to record my recipes as I cook so much but could never remember what I cooked :op I love reading WFMW.; February 3, 2010 at 7:28 AM
UnfinishedMom said...: Oh wow! I didn't know you were on Blogger! Oh that's sooo good to know. Would you mind if I emailed a few questions?; February 3, 2010 at 7:30 AM
No I wasn't Sleeping said...: I use blogger, too. But I have been curious about wordpress.
What are the benefits that are making you want to switch.
Will it let you publish posts in whatever order you want?
Thats my biggest peeve right now with blogger. Unless I just don't know what I am doing.
Enitrely possible.
Also, when do you announce what the theme is for WFMW? I thought I was a careful reader, but clearly, I am missing something.; February 3, 2010 at 8:55 AM
Unknown said...: Great suggestions - I too am still a blogspot blogger - I am scared of change!!!!

Cant believe you have 141 links and only 12 comments.

Saving this post to share with some of my non-bloggy (or not-yet-bloggy!) friends.

Hi from N Ireland - hope life is treating you and yours well.; February 3, 2010 at 8:59 AM
The Halbert Home said...: I appreciate your comment about not linking to pictures of your kids with a WFMW tip. It is frustrating to click thinking you're getting a tip and get random family posts.; February 3, 2010 at 9:03 AM
Milehimama @ Mama Says said...: I have a blog on Blogger and I have one on WP. I love WP!

More advice: Don't blog what you think other people want. Be authentic. Blog what interests you, not what you think you can make money from.

Don't expect to be rolling in the dough. Write quality content, be a member of the community, find you niche and money will come. You can't fake good content.

And never, ever steal someone's entire blog post (it happens!) Blog posts ARE copyrighted. You don't want someone ripping your post off, do you?; February 3, 2010 at 9:06 AM
heidi @ wonder woman wannabe said...: I'm genuinely curious to know why you say that you NEED wordpress if you want to 'make something' out of your blog? I've been seeing a lot of folks make the move too, but WHY is this considered the 'big girl' format in which to feel you've 'arrived' in the blog world- What's so wrong with blogger??? :); February 3, 2010 at 9:13 AM
Kristen said...: Hi Heidi,
I don't mean any offense to Blogger. Really. It's been very good to me. I really have been against moving for a very long time. But recently, I've been having problems with Blogger and would like to be self-hosted. Some of the best and biggest blogs are on Blogger, so I should probably rephrase the "if you're going to make something of your blog part." I mean that I'm hounded to switch. A.Lot. But just recently, I decided I'd like to have pages on my blog, get it organized with SEO and some other things that Wordpress does really well.; February 3, 2010 at 9:23 AM
Lisa@BlessedwithGrace said...: Great list for the beginner blogger. You did good, keeping it simple.; February 3, 2010 at 9:23 AM
Kristen said...: Teaching Money to Kids--Yes, I believe you can do that in Wordpress, plus the other things I mentioned above.

Also-I sorta goofed on the theme this time. They are listed under the WFMW tab under my header, but I usually send out a reminder the Monday before. I forgot. It's just a suggestion though.; February 3, 2010 at 9:28 AM
Katie said...: Thank you for the blogging tips!! I am a new blogger and am not blogging to make money. I'm not a great writer and my grammar skills stink, but I am having a blast with my blog. This WFMW post is a little intimidating to me though. I want to leave a tip, but I am scared of being critiqued! lol I keep asking myself, is this "post worthy". Maybe I'll sit this one out...; February 3, 2010 at 10:35 AM
Kristen said...: Katie-there are SO many who could learn from YOU. Please don't feel like what you have to say isn't worth hearing!; February 3, 2010 at 11:04 AM
Doug said...: I think there's one important tip you missed: Know, at least generally, what your blog is about ... or at least what you want it to be about.

Over the years, I've blogged professionally (internal company business, teaching support/trainers how to use the software I was writing), my kids have blogged for classes (not sure I liked the assignments, but ... ), and I only recently started my own personal blog.

Other than that, I can only say that I wish this list was on WFMW about 2 weeks ago, when I was struggling with the decision to start a blog!

Thanks, though!; February 3, 2010 at 11:23 AM
Jami said...: I am confused by some of these links? Is the theme optional? I am having a hard time finding any wisdom I could share...; February 3, 2010 at 11:58 AM
Becca @ My Crazy Good Life said...: Ooh! I can't wait to sit down and browse all of these!!; February 3, 2010 at 12:29 PM
SwapSavers said...: Great Tips! I use Ning.com which is REALLY easy and does not require much computer knowledge. It is for social networks but you could use just the blog section of it and not have members. It is also free if you don't do any extras.; February 3, 2010 at 12:51 PM
Jenn @ Beautiful Calling said...: I just switched from Blogger to WP because my husband was hounding me. LOL. I'm still working out the tags/catagories and such from the switch but I am pretty happy. It's nice to know that I have control of it all.

I completely agree with getting a domain. Cheap and makes you easier to find. Getting it right away means that when you link back, leave comments etc. will always work. If you do the change later, you may have to go back and correct links in posts!

But I think Blogger was easier to use. The widgets and everything so much simpler in blogger. WP is not as user-friendly to those who don't know what they are doing (like me!) but that is my humble opinion!; February 3, 2010 at 1:09 PM
The Davidson Den said...: Thanks for hosting such a great weekly carnival. I've enjoyed it so much. Also, I'm so excited for you with your Compassion trip coming up!! Be blessed!; February 3, 2010 at 3:39 PM
Unknown said...: Great tips Kristen! I even mentioned you in my blog post as you gave me advice when I started out and I have never forgotten it! Thanks! :); February 3, 2010 at 3:47 PM
Unknown said...: What an incredible post!! I found some things I didn't know, confirmed some I did know and met some new people along the way! Thanks so much!!; February 3, 2010 at 7:52 PM
silly eagle books said...: Wish I had read this when I first started my blog... :) Thanks for the great into and for hosting this event--I love it!; February 3, 2010 at 8:59 PM
Shelley said...: Very timely post! I'm in the process of starting a blog---and I'm soaking up every word you print. Thanks so much!; February 3, 2010 at 9:52 PM
Anonymous said...: ACK! So many of these links aren't about blogging. I guess you tried to give people the hint about only posting tips. Read the title folks. It says: Tips on Starting a Blog.; February 3, 2010 at 11:22 PM
For the Love of Naps - Sarah said...: This was so awesome and so helpful! The wordpress/ blogger thing stresses me out. I am comfortable...ugh. What to do?; February 4, 2010 at 3:50 AM
bridget {bake at 350} said...: So sorry I forgot about the theme this week! :)

Love all of your tips. I really need to get better about #8. I keep putting notebooks in my purse and then losing them...not good. Is it bad that I *like* Blogger? I feel like a bad person, but it's been good to me so far. :); February 4, 2010 at 10:05 PM
Unknown said...: I am on Blogger and imagine the switch from Blogger to WP is not seamless or simple.

Is Blogger really that behind? Don't you think they will have to step it up a little knowing WP is their competition? Surely there are significant changes and improvements to Blogger on the horizon.

What is it about WP that really sells you on their format? I've seen Blogger formats where they have changed their layout to one that is more like a website with multiple pages. So that is possible. And can't you just buy your domain name at Go Daddy (so you can omit the {dot} blogspot {dot} com) and just point it to your blog so the name is easier?

I just feel like I am too far into Blogger to switch over (as I imagine I would lose all of my blog archives/history).

Is SEO really easier with WP? And if so, specifically why is it easier or better?

Sorry if this comes across as really forward, I just have specific questions that I want answers to. Obviously, I would like for my blog to go somewhere.

I look forward to everyones take on this.; February 6, 2010 at 11:50 AM
Unknown said...: Thanks for the tips! I do have one question, I'm still a baby in the blogger world, but, having used both blogger and wordpress I am torn between the two. Wordpress does have more "room to grow" as you said but, being linked with Google, Blogger just works seamless with so many other programs that it is hard to let go of it. Also I found that, in addition to my annual fee to GoDaddy, I also have to pay Wordpress to map my custom domain to them. This turns my cheapskate stomach.

Am I missing something? Why do they need to charge?; February 10, 2010 at 5:17 PM
Kristen said...: Hi Sarah,
You have valid points, I don't think you HAVE to move. It really comes down to personal preference. Blogger/google has been good to me :D; February 14, 2010 at 9:39 PM

We Are THAT Family

Tuesday

WFMW: Tips on Starting a Blog

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