Blogs: Find a Blog to Read or Create Your Own
Think of the Internet as your personal publishing house. On it you can choose from a million self-published journals and diaries known as blogs, and keep current on all the topics that interest you, as well as create your own blog, adding your voice to the buzz of the blogosphere.
Expand All Guide SectionsWhat is a Blog?
Blogs began as simple online diaries, updated regularly with new "posts" appearing at the top of the Web site. Despite the numerous mutations they've undergone since then, and the many new uses people have found for them, they've retained this simple structure. Having become "blogs" in 1997, when Web and log were combined and the first two letters unceremoniously chopped off, this unassuming type of site has subsumed a large portion of the Internet, with 76 million blogs worldwide and counting. Arguably the most free form of publication in history, the "blogosphere" is enormous, eclectic, and boundless. Enjoy.
Dulcinea's Insight
- The USC Annenberg Online Journalism Review ponders the meaning of the word blog.
- Video blogs, known as vlogs, have become massively popular and more widespread with the advent of cheap and easy-to-use Web cameras and software. Vlogs, like blogs, run the gamut in terms of topic and form, with interviews, music vlogs, mini-shows, and more.
Dulcinea's Picks
The Weblog Project
will bring you to videos of all sorts of people trying to answer the question "What is a blog?" The founders of this Web site are accepting any video submissions from bloggers on the subject, and then choosing a few to be the stars, all culminating in a free-use, open-source movie. Because the site features a large number of videos, it can be slow to load at times.
PBS
's Learning Now project does a good job of explaining to a tech-unsavvy audience what a blog actually is. Though it targets education professionals, this blog post gives a concise history and introduction to the blogging phenomenon for any interested party.
Guardian Unlimited
brings you this article in which British writer and producer David Cox debates whether blogging is fundamentally different than journalism, and whether it should be.
Evaluating Blog Credibility
Like all Web pages, blogs can range from extremely informative and high quality to mere low-budget advertisement. With so many out there, the ability to skillfully judge a blog's credibility will help you narrow the pack and save you a good deal of time. But the low-cost and at-a-distance nature of Web publishing makes it harder than ever to judge who's behind a blog. This section will equip you with the know-how and tools to evaluate a blog's legitimacy.
Dulcinea's Insight
- Most people have some familiarity with journalistic ethics, but too many assume the same ethics are practiced in the blogosphere. With an evolving mediascape, ethics and good practices are being constantly reevaluated and repurposed. The debate about the relationship between blogs and traditional journalism (and whether the question even matters) is still raging.
- Here are some basic questions to ask yourself about any blog you encounter:
- Who is/are the author(s)?
- Blogging is not a very expensive endeavor (it can even be profitable), so pretty much anyone can write one. The blog you're reading may be written by a professional blogger, a person with a little spare time, a group of friends, or even a company with numerous employees contributing. A credible blogger will make clear which of those they are in their "about" or "policy" page/section. Knowing the source of a blog is essential to understanding the credibility of its information. A drug company's promotional blog is probably not the best place to find objective information about its products; a congressional lobbyist probably isn't the best source for political news.
- Even among unbiased bloggers, the range of expertise and experience is vast. There are seasoned professionals and respected academics in the blogosphere, as well as laymen who want to put in their two cents. Simply having a blog does not give its author any credentials or credibility.
- What affiliations does the blog have?
- Blogs may often be sponsored by, partnered with, or endorsed by other, sometimes larger publications or organizations, educational institutions, or governments. This information should be made available in the "about" section of the blog or through the use of any relevant logos.
- Bloggers, especially those who have a large readership, can make money by selling ad space on their sites. Keep a blog's sponsors in mind when assessing objectivity.
- Excessive ads on a blog often indicate a lack of credibility.
- How often is the blog updated?
- A rarely updated blog is a warning sign of a money-making scheme or some other lack of credibility.
Dulcinea's Picks
Blog Core Values
shares some tips in this post on what to expect from a credible blog.
Stanford's Web Credibility Project
suggests 10 somewhat obvious but true guidelines to increasing your site's credibility, all academically researched.
CyberJournalist.net
has some ethical guidelines it suggests bloggers should follow. "Integrity is the cornerstone of credibility," explains this site focused on the convergence of the Internet and journalism.
The Society of Professional Journalists
' code of ethics spells out in easy-to-read terms the standard of ethics and guidelines that most journalistic professionals and organizations follow.
Blog Directories and Blog Search Tools
No matter how obscure your interests, there's a good chance that there's a blog to fit your needs. But with 71 million blogs and growing, a system of filtering and finding the good ones is a must. The sites and tips featured in this section will show you how to do just that.
Dulcinea's Insight
- The blog world (or blogosphere, as it's often called) is all about interconnections, and bloggers revel in referencing each other. If you find a blog you like, check on the side of the site for a list of the author's favorite blogs, called a blog roll. It's the online equivalent of word of mouth, and the most powerful tool for finding more blogs.
- If you have a specific hobby or subject for which you'd like to find related blogs, simply type it into your preferred search engine and add "blog" (e.g., "gardening blog"). This should get you started with the more popular blogs on that topic.
- Another blogging tool called trackback further enables referencing between blogs. Clicking the trackback link at the bottom of a blog post will show you all the other sites and blogs linking to that post, instantly expanding the world of that topic for you. For more information on trackbacks, including how to use them on your own blog, see the sites featured below.
- Once the domain of individuals, blogs are becoming the tool of a growing number of businesses and organizations, often written by a group of people who blog individually themselves. Often you can find a site's accompanying blog on its sidebar or "about" page.
- Below you'll find sites to help you search or browse the blogosphere, as well as a few of the most popular or unique blogs on the Web today. The blogs in this section are by no means representative of the entire blogosphere, but are intended as a starting point for your journey of discovery. For more blogs on specific topics, take a look at other FindingDulcinea Guides, almost all of which feature blogs on their respective topics.
- Besides chronologically, you can also read posts according to category or 'tag.' Some bloggers will have a 'tag cloud' that shows topics discussed based on frequency. The bigger the font, the more the blogger has written about that 'tag.' Simply click on the word to read all posts on that topic. Here's an example of a category or tag cloud:
- politics news health
- shopping travel education
- music television technology
- parenting finance
Dulcinea's Picks
For blog-focused search tools ...
Technorati
's simple but powerful approach to searching blogs, with filters for language, type of content searched, and "authority" (a measure of how popular a blog is), makes it a quick way for you to find your own favorite corner of the blogosphere.
Blogpulse
's unique tools like "Trend Search" and "Conversation Tracker" let you step back from the blogosphere and look at it from a distance, scientifically tracking the topics of focus online. On this fun site you can not only look at what the blogosphere is up to, but you can search it as well.
For other blog-finding resources ...
Truth Laid Bear
's famous ecosystem has a simple design that instantly shows you which blogs are the most popular. Ranked by how many other sites link to them, the blogs here are also divided into whimsically named rank categories on this very respected and popular blog list.
Bloggies.com
is home to the annual Weblog Awards, featuring such quirky categories as "best kept secret weblog" as well as the more basic "best weblog of the year." Picked by readers, the winners represent the best the blogosphere thinks it has to offer. To see how far the medium has come, take a look back at all past winners from the seven years the awards have been held.
Blog Catalog
lets you avoid all the ugly blogs out there by giving you a mini screenshot of each blog in its directory. Listing about 40,000 user submitted blogs, you can search or browse by category on this simple catalog of blogs.
Best of the Web: Blogs
delivers with straight-to-the-point descriptions of the best blogs for a range of topics (according to Best of the Web's editors). There's no user ranking and no social features here, just lists of blogs for your perusal.
Forbes
magazine's Best of the Web directory of blogs brings you its picks for the cream of the crop in 20 different categories.
The New York Times
' Blogs 101 guide has some interesting lists of favorite blogs, including a design category.
To see which blogs other readers like ...
Digg
's social content site is organized into news, videos, and podcasts. Users submit articles, blog posts, podcasts, or other content to the site for other users to read and vote on, and the top sites are kept in the popular stories section, while the unloved are dumped. Widely used by blogs hoping to increase their readership, this is a good place to find new ones that interest you.
Sphere.com
's toolbar button lets you use any Web site as the starting point for a search for related blogs. Designed specifically for finding blogs based on your interests, this site lets you search by phrase or related site, giving you results sorted by relevance or time.
Delicious
lets you discover new sites and blogs by exploring the favorite sites of your friends, family, or complete strangers. First and foremost a bookmarking site designed to let you access your bookmarks from any computer, Delicious is simple to use and free.
Reddit
's power to connect you to new content comes from its trainable filter, which learns what you like from how you rate different sites and stories. Users who submit well-liked sites are rewarded with "karma," making this site truly social, with popular kids, outcasts, and all.
To learn more about trackback ...
Movable Type
invented trackback technology, and has published this explanation. A bit obscured by technical speak, this guide nonetheless contains all you need to know about using trackback technology with Movable Type blogs.
Cruftbox
's step-by-step explanation on how to use trackbacks on your own blog includes helpful screenshots to show you what each step will look like.
Al-Muhajabah
, author of three Islamic blogs, has posted this concise and straightforward explanation of trackbacks.
For top political blogs ...
Wonkette
brings spunkiness to the beltway with its witty and sometimes hilarious take on Washington politics, media, and scandals.
Andrew Sullivan
is often described as "that British, conservative, gay, catholic, HIV+, anti-republican, mainstream blogger." Incorporating all these seemingly contradictory points of view, this blog defies categorization to bring you a unique take on politics, religion, and spirituality.
Drudge Report
's cluttered and unorganized layout somehow is forgiven by the blogosphere, which has made this blog one of the most well-known and well-read conservative political news sites on the Web.
The Huffington Post
's sheer bulk of content is staggering. Named for its founder, the former conservative and now progressive Arianna Huffington, this site hosts the famous blog of the same name, written by a horde of commentators, as well as countless news and features.
dailykos
points a critical eye towards current news, politics, and the blog world.
Crooks and Liars
takes a break once a day from its informative posts on politics and the news to bring you a classic music video or two on this video-heavy blog.
To read about food ...
Life Begins at 30
is an energetic blog focused mainly on local food, sustainable food, interesting food, and, well ... food. Peppered with beautiful photography of one woman's food and travels, this site will open your eyes to the exotic and the ordinary that socially responsible food has to offer, and waxes beautifully on the issues central to the movement.
The Food Section
is more of a food newspaper than a blog. Whatever is happening in the food world, be it kosher-for-Passover Coca-Cola or a review of a new restaurant, you'll find writer Josh Friedland's opinion about it or a link to a story about it in the news. The site says it has "all the news that's fit to eat."
101 Cookbooks
documents one woman's adventures exploring the recipes in her cookbook collection. Find some new twists to old recipes as well as the thoughts of the author sprinkled into the mix. Also, read about her favorite cookbooks and some upcoming book releases.
Chocolate and Zucchini
is a blog written by a Parisian in English. The "Bloxicon" section translates a lot of the French terminology used on the blog (and that you may find in your own French recipes or at a French restaurant).
For popular blogs about travel ...
TravelBlog
's unlimited photo and video space for their bloggers is impressive. This free travel blog hosting site is home to hundreds of blogs of travelers roaming the world.
The HoboTraveler
's light and contemplative writing is a refreshing break from the usual "sight" heavy travel blogs. Skip quickly past the crowded ads at the top of the page to read about his ongoing 10-year trip to over 76 countries and counting.
Written Road
is a useful resource if you fancy yourself a travel writer of any sort. Part blog, part virtual café, this site gives you a look into the life and mind of travel writer Jen Leo, as well as provides news about events and opportunities.
Google Maps Mania
is an unofficial blog that keeps readers updated on the new and innovative ways that different sites employ Google Maps technology. Click on the "Travel and Tourism" topic filter (in the Mashups and Tools Index on the right of the page) for posts about how this 21st-century tool can help you in your travels.
For music blogs ...
Tim Breihan
, music critic for the Village Voice, brings a fortune of knowledge and wit to this all-genre, always entertaining music blog. At the center of the music blog world, this site's blogroll is a good place to further search for blogs.
Stereogum
's Gum Mix music player brings an indie soundtrack to this blog-cum-online-music magazine.
Paper Thin Walls
is sick of music reviews. In retaliation, it posts three "essential" tracks a day for you to listen to, accompanied by a simple out-of-10 rating. Clicking on the track will let you see a short review and comments if you choose.
For sports blogs ...
DeadSpin.com
is a snarky, widely read sports blog published by Gawker Media. It covers breaking sports news with trademark cynicism and wit.
The Mighty MJD
is a good blog for a sports-induced laugh. Sarcasm-laden posts bring to light the bizarre and humorous side of international sports.
Baseball Musings
is a long-running, comprehensive baseball blog written by former ESPN Baseball Tonight Online host David Pinto. It's updated constantly throughout the day, so there's always an interesting new insight to check back on. Anything baseball-related is fair game; this means everything from in-depth team and player analysis down to clubhouse pranks.
True Hoop
is an award-winning NBA blog written by sportswriter Henry Abbott. Daily posts cover a variety of hoops-related news and rumors. Posts are sortable by topic.
The Fanhouse
is an America Online sports news blog with sub-blogs for the major U.S. sports. The NFL blog's posts are primarily recaps and interpretations of breaking football news, but also include game analysis and general football commentary. It's a very active blog that adds new posts throughout the day, even during the off season.
Dave's Football Blog
gives equal treatment to all varieties of "football" worldwide. Over the course of one week you can read posts covering Japan's Association football league, New Zealand's All-Black's rugby team, the English Premiership, and Gaelic football of the Emerald Isles.
Taco Juice
has an extensive directory of hockey blogs. It's organized to help visitors find team blogs, player blogs, and general hockey blogs.
Tennis-X
's "Tennis Blogger" compiles posts from top tennis blogs around the Web to make keeping on top of the latest news a breeze. Also of interest are Tennis-X's message boards (in the "Talk" section) and the "Dish" section, which centralizes tennis news stories from all over the Web.
For blogs about health ...
WebMD
has a number of blogs about various health issues, written by doctors and registered nurses. Search the alphabetized list of topics to find a blog of interest.
The Health Care Blog
provides widely respected commentary on the world of healthcare and the innovations in the industry. Don't be put off by its drab design and sometimes hard-to-follow organization; there's a good deal of valuable insight in this frequently updated blog.
Health Care Law Blog
reports and muses on the latest developments and news in health care law for doctors and health care providers, fulfilling the age-old wisdom that where you find doctors you'll find lawyers.
For car blogs ...
Classical Drives
is a classic car blog with coverage of auctions, restorations, automotive history, and some cool cars.
Autoblog
is a source for news and quality commentary. It's updated multiple times throughout the day by a team of dedicated bloggers. Interesting posts address the quirky, cutting-edge, and downright fascinating side of automotive news.
The Truth About Cars
' team of car-fanatic writers combines car reviews, editorials on the auto industry and market, and podcasts in this blog.
Jalopnik
's posts unanimously showcase extreme, cool, bizarre, and hilarious cars from around the world, complimented by some truly entertaining writing. More than just a blog on cars, the site includes social commentary on automotive-related issues.
Cars!Cars!Cars!
keeps readers current on wide-ranging auto topics. After reading a few posts commenting on the seemingly dismal state of the American car industry, you'll see why the site's tagline reads: "A Car Blog. Only Angrier."
For blogs about personal finance and investing ...
Calculated Risk
covers topics in personal finance, the economy, and investing. Written by a retired executive with a background in investing and finance, the author often provides links to news articles and occasionally to presentations from industry forums. He also offers responses to current events and the opinions of other professionals.
Make Your Nut
is a blog that promises to share "finance tricks, tips, and pitfalls." It's by homeowners in their thirties who share advice on how to save money on little daily things and how to set long-term goals.
Stockblogs.com
is a directory of investing blogs. You can search by specific topic, so if there is a particular aspect of investing you want to investigate, finding a related blog is easy. Once you select a topic, you can read a brief description of the available blogs.
The Big Picture
's author shares his macro perspective on economy, geopolitics, technology, and digital media in a spirited and punchy blog. The author is a market strategist and fund manager in New York and writes about anything market-, technology-, or news-related that piques his interest. The blog is perceptive, engaging, and highly rated by some top publications.
22 Dollars
is a blog focused on trading and investing ideas as well as world events that relate to the behavior of the market. Down to earth and written in basic English, the blog also posts a box with market quotes so you can stay updated while you read.
Alchemy of Trading
is the blog of a professional stockbroker who writes about his own equity trading practices and the market at large. The best aspect of this blog is the easy-to-read charts he posts in each entry. Also check his "About" page for a glossary of the (somewhat bizarre) terms he uses.
For religion blogs ...
Christdot.org
is an apolitical blog that reports exclusively "Jesus related" news. Daily posts alert readers to anything that is happening in the world of Christianity. The site also has links to book recommendations, news, and polls.
Whispers In The Loggia
meticulously tracks the day-to-day events of the Catholic church. The 23-year-old author, Rocco Palmo, has cultivated an array of insider sources and his blog has 8,000 readers a day, some of whom are Church officials. Palmo says he has reason to believe that the Pope himself reads the blog but even if he doesn't, the blog is a detailed source for lay people curious about the Vatican.
The Velveteen Rabbi
is a blog written by a young female rabbinical student who also holds an MFA in creative writing. She writes about her own experience with her studies and ritualistic Judaism, as well as exploring the relationship between writing and prayer.
Jewishblogging.com
lists many of the available Jewish blogs. You can search through the ample topic list which includes Books, Orthodoxy, Technology, Gay Judaism, and more. You can read all the blogs that interest you and easily register your own blog if you want to be on the site.
Quakerquaker.org
provides a guide to the best Quaker blogs. There is a blogroll on the left of the screen where you can select blogs by topic such as "Simplicity" or "Sexuality" or "Activism." The site does not reference every Quaker blog, but it lists more than a few.
For blogs about technology ...
BoingBoing
is a blog that bills itself as a "directory of wonderful things." Entries tend to cover the off-beat and bizarre with a sci-tech focus, but aren't limited in their scope. You never know what to expect from this blog, but you can assume it will be interesting.
Slashdot
(or /. for short) provides community news with a nerdy tech focus. Stories are organized in categories like Apple, Games, Interviews, and Politics. Each story has an attached discussion in a forum-style comments section. Read book reviews by Slashdot readers or take part in the Slashdot Poll.
Gizmodo
is great site for anyone with a gadget fetish. If a product is cutting edge, cool, and electronic, you'll find someone talking about it here—yesterday. Webcams, lamps, PDAs, fax machines: everything goes. If we hadn't gone to Gizmodo, how would we have learned about the trouser-pressing robot?
Lifehacker
is a technology blog with an emphasis on self-improvement and productivity, offering tips on subjects such as avoiding identity theft and managing personal finances. The best way to navigate through Lifehacker's wealth of information is to visit the archives (linked at the bottom of the left-hand column) and browse by category. If you know what you're looking for you could also try using the search function.
O'Reilly Network
is a leading network of respected technology Web sites. At their homepage, you can access articles, blogs, and podcasts from O'Reilly Net sites. Search an archive of 4,500 tech articles, or browse through their blogs. In the podcast section you can listen to podcasts on a variety of technology subjects. If you're new to podcasts you can learn all about what they are, how they work, and how you can host your own.
Wired.com
allows visitors to access articles in Wired Magazine, Wired News, and Wired Blogs. Wired's witty articles incorporate cultural and political commentary in their coverage of games, space, media, gadgets, the Net, and much more.
For entertainment blogs ...
Popsugar
is the usual celebrity gossip column blog but with a perky, semi-positive twist. Instead of, say, making fun of celebrities in rehab, Popsugar is more likely to wish them well in their efforts to restore mental and physical health. This is one of the few quality "family friendly" entertainment blogs out there.
Who knew?
PostSecret
combines voyeurism and an empathetic community on this simple blog that posts the mailed-in anonymous postcard secrets of people around the country. Sometimes shocking, sometimes touching, almost always artistic, this weekly Sunday blog post is certainly unique.
Paleo-Future
is a blog about the past of the future. Get it? The author brings you clippings, pictures, and musings about the image of the future from past decades.
Tcritic.com
is a review site for the discerning T-shirt connoisseur. Each post features a new and interesting T-shirt design.
Indexed
shows how sometimes the most interesting sites on the Web are the low-tech ones. Each post is simply a pen sketch diagram of some sort. This blog is hilarious, touching, and one of a kind.
Justin.tv
is just one example of the phenomena of vlogs (video Weblogs). Quite simply, Justin has a camera on his head, 24/7. This is his life.
Bad Jocks
, a blog where "COPS meets SportsCenter," focuses its attention exclusively on law-breaking athletes, teams, coaches, and administrators. Check out Bad Jocks for the latest news covering on- and off-the-field crimes like brawls, drug and alcohol abuse, high school and college hazing, steroid use, and more. It's not the prettiest site you'll see, but it certainly is thorough.
Blog Feeds and News Aggregators
As you start surfing the blogosphere, you're bound to amass a growing collection of favorite blogs that update with varying regularity. Keeping up to date with all of them does not need to be an exercise in persistence. The sites in this section will explain the easy ways you can organize and stay current with all your favorite blogs, as well as any news that interests you.
Dulcinea's Insight
- The most common way to keep track of a number of sites and blogs these days is a syndication technology called Really Simple Syndication, or RSS. Many sites that update frequently post RSS "feeds" that you can subscribe to for free. A small program called an RSS reader will keep track of these feeds and instantly notify you of any new content on the sites you choose. So instead of checking all your sites five times a day, you simply click on your RSS reader and see a list of what's new. For more on RSS and how it can help you keep current, see the links in this section.
- RSS readers were designed to make things simpler for you. Overloading them with any and all sites you encounter can defeat the purpose of this time-saving technology.
- RSS can be used to keep current even if you don't know what sites to subscribe to. Special sites called news aggregators do the picking and choosing for you, using RSS feeds to scour the world of news and blogs and bring you the latest on any topic you search for. Check out the sites below for more on news aggregators.
Dulcinea's Picks
For an explanation of RSS, Atom, et al ...
Back in Skinny Jeans
jokingly calls this post "How to explain RSS the Oprah way." It's a very straightforward and comprehensive beginner's guide to the syndication tool. Check out the accompanying graphic for a good look at what RSS will do for you.
To find RSS readers ...
AllRSS
's RSS-readers link (on the left of the page) brings you to a list of many of the readers available for whatever platform you might use, including Windows, Mac, and Web-based readers. If you're looking to syndicate your own blog, take a look at the site's list of RSS editors for more options.
Technometria
has a good list of feed readers as well as other resources and links to help you explore all the uses of RSS.
For news aggregators ...
Feedster
can help you quickly find a variety of current articles or blogs on just about any topic. Monitoring an enormous wealth of RSS feeds, this aggregator is a simple tool for searching out the most up-to-date news.
Netvibes
has been called the ultimate Web site. This fully customizable site allows you to construct it yourself, adding and arranging "modules" that show RSS feeds of whatever you choose. After signing in you may browse other user-created modules and share your own.
Starting a Blog
Blogging was designed to empower every Internet user, so it's natural that you might be wondering how you can start a blog yourself. Creating and updating a blog is easier than it might look. The sites below will take you through the process of creating a blog, whether you're a novice to the Net or a seasoned Web surfer.
Dulcinea's Insight
- Before you choose your blogging tool and hosting site, take a look at what kinds of blogs usually use each one. Some are geared toward personal or amateur sites, while others are more powerful but more complicated and thus ideal for a more advanced blogger or business.
- Choosing which blogging platform and software to use (and there are many) will affect the look and functionality of your blog, as well as how you interact with it. The more popular platforms include Blogger (by Google), Wordpress, MySpace, and Movable Type. For more information on choosing a platform and software, check out the sites described below.
- The assumption of anonymity on the Web can be misleading, and the risk of real-world consequences from blogging is substantial, as this article illustrates. Below we recommend sites that will help you safely take part in the blog phenomenon.
- For another take on the question "why blog?" take a look at this nuanced BBC article.
- Many travel Web sites such as Lonely Planet or Travelpod offer easy-to-use travel blog tools to chronicle your world wanderings.
- Most blog tools allow you to enable your readers to "comment" on your posts, adding their own insightful (or not) opinions at the bottom of your masterpieces. This feature is optional, and should only be turned on if you have a thick skin; blog commenters are notorious for their lack of etiquette.
Dulcinea's Picks
To start a blog ...
Stephen's Web
features this long article on how to create and promote a blog, replete with example sites and down-to-earth advice on all aspects of blogging, including the effective use of audio and video within your blog.
Technometria
brings you these tips on how to start your own blog. Encompassing both stylistic, technical, and content based advice, Professor Phillip J. Windley of Brigham Young University has written this well-rounded quick read for the blogging novice.
Elearnspace
's Blog Guide Book is a comprehensive and rather technical how-to guide for professional blogging. A hefty 80-page download, this long-winded tome will be helpful if you're interested in going the extra mile to become a blogging master. If you're less interested in the complexities of blogging software, skip this one.
To choose a blogging tool ...
Forbes
magazine shares its picks for the better and best blog tools available. Take a look before you decide which post to hitch your horse to.
The USC Annenberg Online Journalism Review
's "Which tool does what?" link at the top of this article brings you to a dizzying comparison chart of the top blogging tools. Read on in the article for a discussion of various tools' merits, and an explanatory glossary of some of the features they offer.
For blogging tools ...
Blogger
will have your blog up and running literally in a matter of minutes. Owned by Google, you can use this free tool with no knowledge of programming or blog technology.
Wordpress
's import feature lets you bring any blogs you already have on other hosting sites and turn them into Wordpress blogs, making this a good upgrade tool as well as a starter kit. With a ton of clever features like a site-visit stats monitor and "widgets," small programs embedded into your blog, Wordpress can provide you with a slick-looking blog.
MySpace
is a social network where you can interact with other users and stay in touch with friends. Beyond social networking, any MySpace page has the option of incorporating a blog. If you're not looking for a unique look and you want to enter the online social fray, this is an easy option.
Six Apart
offers four widely used blogging tools, known as VOX, LiveJournal, TypePad, and Movable Type. Whether you're a part-time personal blogger, a social network junkie, a professional political commentator, or a major corporation, there's something here suited for you.
To blog safely ...
The Electronic Frontier Foundation
's article on safe blogging is a must-read if you plan on publicly blogging, bringing you the technical and legal know-how to enjoy your blog without worrying. Make sure to check out the resource links at the bottom of the page to learn about all the tools and legal protections available to you as a blogger.
CNNMoney
published this short article for a quicker read on safe blogging practices.
BlogSafety
's top tips for teens and parents focus more on real safety than on job security. This online forum is an ongoing discussion about how to stay safe from predators in the blogosphere, and contains further information on all types of Internet safety.
Blogging for Money
The more effort you spend on your blog, the more you might be thinking "I ought to get paid for this." Fortunately, you can—no job application necessary. Explore the sites in this section to learn how you can make money blogging.
Dulcinea's Insight
- To make it easier for readers to keep current with your blog, make it available for syndication through services such as RSS or Atom. For more information on syndication, see the "Blog feeds and news aggregators" section of this guide.
- While adding advertisements or tip jars to your own blog is the quickest way to start making money through blogging, there are also many paid positions available for bloggers with good writing skills. Many companies and publications hire professional bloggers for their Web sites, or even to write internal news for their employees.
Dulcinea's Picks
To increase your blog's popularity and blog for profit ...
Standard Web Standards
muses here on the pros and cons of blogging anonymously.
Zookoda
lets you keep your readers informed even if they don't check your blog obsessively. This free service will help you generate, send, and manage e-mail newsletter summaries of your blog to your (hopefully) expanding reader base.
A List Apart Magazine
shares with you this non-technical, authorly advice to making your blog readable, engaging, and relevant.
Problogger
's massive archives make it more of an encyclopedia on for-profit blogging than the self-proclaimed blog that it is. You'll find posts, tips, interviews, and links on all blog-related topics, with particular emphasis on how to make your blog popular and profitable.
How to Blog for Fun and Profit
, though not always eloquently written, has a great deal of information, advice, and video tutorials on blogging successfully.
To advertise on your blog ...
Google Advertising
lets you easily put ads on your blog. You can earn money both on a per-click basis (getting paid every time a user clicks on an ad) or a per-impression basis (getting paid each time your site is seen). Their step-by-step guide helps lift some of the confusion for first-time users.
Yahoo
's advertising system is similar to Google's, but works only on a per-click basis. Along with ads, Yahoo provides some tools to help increase traffic to your site, making it more popular and more profitable.
To get paid for blogging ...
PayU2Blog
lets you take a more active role in making money. Once your blog is accepted into the system, this company will pay you to write posts on their client companies and products, turning you into an armchair advertiser in no time.
PayPerPost
works almost exactly like PayU2Blog, but also includes money-making opportunities with simpler assignments such as linking to a site or placing a product image in one of your posts.
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