Blogging for Beginners - A Guide

Exactly what is a "blog"? A blog, shortened from "weblog", is basically an online journal where you can digitally put down your ideas, thoughts, opinions and practically anything that you want people to read. Blogging is very popular all over the world and basically there are no rules when it comes to blogging. Bloggers have the freedom to express themselves how ever way they want, and the best thing about blogging, is that most blogging sites are free.
Blogs come in many different styles, formats, and settings, depending on user preferences. Many blogging sites, offer built in features such as hyperlinks, pictures, mp3's, videos, etc. Some bloggers choose to make their blogs more audio friendly, by using spoken word entries. This is called audio blogging. There are also video logs.
Blogging is really for everyone. Overall, it can be lots of fun, very simple and easy to do. Basically, a blog will contain these features at a minimum:
archive- list of older articles,
title- where you label your post,
body- the content of your post,
blogroll- other sites can be linked back to your blog,
comments- this allow readers to post comments on your blog.
Unlike other websites that are made up of numerous individual pages, blogs are usually made up of only a few templates making it easier for blog users to create new pages. This can be very helpful for beginners, since they can start blogging right away once they've set up their account. One of the appeals of blogging is that it creates a community of people sharing similar ideas, thoughts, and comments with each other.
The most popular blog type by far is the personal journal. This is the kind that is usually used by first time bloggers. Individuals who want to document the daily struggle of their everyday lives, rants, poems, writings, ideas, and opinions find that blogging offers them a medium in which to express themselves.
Blogging is not just limited to personal usage. There are a lot of blogs online that follow a particular theme such as: sports, politics, philosophy, social commentary, mobile technology, web design, pets, etc. These blogs focus on their specific themes. This way blogging becomes a way where people can share their knowledge and opinions about a variety of themes and topics.
There are a lot of other things you can do with a blog. Some bloggers use their blogs as a means to advertise and earn money. Some authors advertise their books or products on their blogs while other bloggers use their blogs to shed light on currents issues, news, family issues, personal thoughts and discoveries, events or catastrophes.
A lot of entrepreneurs benefit from blogging by promoting their products and businesses on their own blogs. With millions and millions of people logging onto the net each and everyday, blogging has become a lucrative move. Some bloggers who run online businesses promote their merchandise online. Others profit through advertisements placed on their blogs.
Blogs can also play an important part in education. Professors can use blogging to document the lessons that they have previously discussed and taught. This is one way students who missed class can easily catch up with their assignments.
Want to learn more about blogging in general or a topic in particular? Blogs varying in topics, themes, and set-ups, and can be found in blog directories. First time users who want to get an idea of what the blogging world is all about can browse through a number of blogs using these kinds of directories. In this way people can get an idea of what these blogging communities, and blogging in general, are all about.
Want to find out more about blogging? Go to Yahoo, MSN Live or Google and search for blogging directories. You'll get a list of a lot of blogging sites that are available on the net. In this way you can find exactly what you are looking for and are interested in. After that you can decide whether or not you want to enter the world of blogging to share yourself with the world.

10 Blogging Mistakes To Avoid

Do you blog the right and correct way? Whether it is a yes or a no, it does make a huge difference. On my last visit to Johnchow.com, I noticed an article that catch my attention. "10 Blogging Mistakes to Avoid". And I'm should ask the attention of every single blogger : Do not practise It!. Wrong way blogging will get your blog killed! Don't believe? Try it and see.
Blogging Mistake #1 - You Don't Get Your Blog Updated
Nothing kill a blog faster than lack of updates! If you are serious in blogging, do show commitment to keep your blog updated. A non-updated blog is a dead blog!
Blogging Mistake #2 - Blogging = Money
If the only reason you're blogging is to get rich, you'll fail. Blogger like John Chow makes money because he doesn't blog for money. He really write good posts in his blog. Start filling your blog with really quality posts and put aside your money-minded thinking.
Blogging Mistake #3 - Rushing a Post
There is always mistakes in your post. So take some time double/triple checks your post before you hit the "Publish" button to make sure your post is error-free. Doing this wouldn't kill you, but not doing this will get your blog killed! Please don't rush to get your post published, there is always cons than pros.
Blogging Mistake #4 - Not Being Personal
A blog is not a CNN or News.com. People read your blog to get your opinion and your point of view. Give it to them!
Blogging Mistake #5 - Being a Copycat
What's make your blog unique and difference from others? Is your blog unique or just another copycat? There are thousands of blogs about Agloco. I am not definitely the first person writing about Agloco. You can write the same thing as the other blog, but putting your point of view will differentiate your blog and other blog. That's makes your blog unique. Giving your own opinion is what blogging is all about. The most unique thing about your blog is you.
Blogging Mistake #6 - Not replying to Comments
Do reply to your readers comments as soon as possible. A blog is a two way communication tool, remember it!
Blogging Mistake #7 - Not giving a Full Feed RSS
Unless you make 10+ posts per day, then you have no excuse for not offering feed RSS to your reader. I am using FeedBurner by the way.
Blogging Mistake #8 - Not Reaching Out to Other Bloggers
The best and yet the economic way to get your blog noticed is by saying hi to other blogs in your niche. The best way is to comment on other blogs and make sure you put down your blog's link. Other alternatives includes linking to them, sending trackbacks and adding yourself to their MyBlogLog Community.
Blogging Mistake #9 - Writing for Google Instead of People
You can have the most perfectly written Google optimized page in the world and still not ranked number 1 because Google follows people. And people won't read a page written for a search engine because it makes no sense. I do keep an eye on my keywords and key phases when I'm writing a post, but I also keep in mind that the readers come first, Google comes second.
Blogging Mistake #10 - Not Reading John Chow dot com
He is a great blogging source. Not reading John Chow dot com is definitely the biggest mistake that a blogger can make.

Get Paid To Blog - Blogging For Money

You can blog for money. Anyone with basic writing skills can be blogging for dollars within hours. What you first must know how to set up a blog and then learn how to get traffic. Most people fail at generating traffic.
Social networks, link swapping and article directories are just a few ways to generate traffic to your blog but this is often not enough. These are common practices but it helps to have a few other tricks up your sleeve. Where most people fail on a new blog and give up within weeks is promoting their own content and blog which can be done also with article marketing. There are so many ways to promote a blog but finding the best methods of promotion when starting out can be difficult.
Finding a place to set up a free blog is not difficult just do a search. For under one hundred dollars you could have your own web site and blog with a domain for a year and if you are serious about blogging for money this is the best route. If you are wanting to be a success you need to write at least 3 to 7 posts a week and it depends on the subject the more popular the more posts. You could have a blog on bad girls, cheerleaders, food, money, investing or even a sports blog.
Get paid to blog is you goal to making money. There are affiliate networks you can join for free that would share revenue with you when you make a sale. You could spend precious energy and time scouring the internet on ways to make money online. Blogging for money by writing great content is one of the easiest ways to make cash on the internet.
Most people think that the Internet is a gold mine waiting to be cashed in and yes it is but you have to have the right information and tools. Blogging for dollars is the best way to start out making money online spending no or very little money. Web 2.0 is a great way to make money blogging.
Blogging for money does not require any specialized skill most people can learn blogging in a few hours having the right information. A free blog can be set up in minutes you just need to know what people are searching for to be a success and get paid to blog.