Blogging For Dummies (PDF)

If you want to give yourself a Web presence without spending a lotof time or money, a blog is your answer and this is your guide.Blogs (Web logs) are short, diary-like entries on a Web site thathas a chronological, journal format. Fun or informative, but notformal, blogs are easy to set up, maintain, and update. You canshare your personal, stream-of-consciousness musings or yourexpertise on any subject ranging from your family vacation to worldpeace. This guide helps beginners (even technophobes) get startedfast, with the essential info on:

* The elements of blogs, such as entries, sidebars, categories,comments, and index pages
* The different types of hosting services, from free to fee andfrom "turn key" services that are easy-to-use to DIYprograms
* Details on two popular, free "social community"hosted Web services that are ideal for casual bloggers--MSNSpaces and Yahoo! 360
* The scoop on Blogger, a popular free hosted service that hassome community tools like the social networks, but is basicallyblog-intensive
* DIY blogging, covering three of the most powerful and flexibleblog programs--Movable Type, WordPress, and RadioUserland
* Hooking into RSS feeds to distribute your blog entries beyondyour site
* Choosing a newsreader
* Ways to raise the visibility of your blog and make money fromblogging
Complete with step-by-step instructions and lots of screenshots, this guide walks you through everything from setting up yourblog and posting your first entry to adding photos, audio, andmore. It includes the URLs of lots of sample sites to see to giveyou an idea of blog possibilities. In addition to the essentialhow-to, it fills you in on:

* The blogosphere, blog culture and etiquette, snarks,macrologues, and more
* Moblogs that let you post entries remotely using your portablecomputer, PDA, or cell phone
* Buying a domain through a registrar such as Network Solutions,Register.com, or Go Daddy
* MP3 blogs, vlogs (videoblogs), photoblogging, audioblogging,podcasting, and more
You know you have something to say, whether it's heavystuff or just your thought for the day. Make your opinions known.Get your photos shown. With Blogging For Dummies,you'll soon be blogging with the best of 'em.