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Blogging For Dummies®
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Blogging For Dummies®
by Amy Lupold Bair
Blogging For Dummies, 7th Edition
Cover
Introduction
About This Book
Foolish Assumptions
Icons Used in This Book
Beyond the Book
Where to Go from Here
Part 1: Getting Started with Blogging
Chapter 1: Discovering Blog Basics
Making Yourself Comfortable with Blogs
Starting a Blog
Choosing What to Blog About
Creating a Successful Blog
Designing for Success
Chapter 2: Entering the Blogosphere
Assessing Your Involvement
What Happens When You Publish?
Blogging Ethically
Keeping Your Job While Blogging
Blogging without Embarrassing Your Mother or Losing Friends
Protecting Your Privacy and Reputation
Creating Your Brand
Chapter 3: Choosing and Hosting Blog Software
Having Your Own Domain Name
Finding Web Hosting
Deciding on the Right Blogging Software
Understanding Hosted Blog Software
Understanding Blog Software That You Install on Your Own Server
Part 2: Setting Up Your Blog
Chapter 4: Starting a Blogger Blog
Starting a Blog with Blogger
Writing a Post
Publishing Your Post
Viewing Your Blog Post
Selecting the Dashboard Settings
Customizing Your Blog
Chapter 5: Starting a WordPress Blog
Choosing between WordPress.com and WordPress.org
Starting a WordPress.com Blog
Writing a Post
Customizing Your WordPress.com Blog
Installing WordPress
Getting Familiar with Settings
Creating a Post
Customizing Your Design
Finding Out More about WordPress
Chapter 6: Creating a Squarespace Blog
Creating a Squarespace Account
Adding Blog Content
Customizing and Connecting
Chapter 7: Considering Other Blogging Platforms
Blogging with Wix
Writing with Weebly
Checking Out Additional Platforms
Part 3: Fitting In and Feeling Good
Chapter 8: Finding Your Niche
Deciding What Belongs on Your Blog
Learning from the Pros
Reaching Out to Other Bloggers
Chapter 9: Creating Great Content
Knowing Your Audience
Writing Well and Frequently
Drawing in Readers
Serving the Reader
Overcoming Writer’s Block
Chapter 10: Building Community with Comments
Getting Interaction Going with Comments
Managing Comments
Recognizing Spam Comments
Fighting Spam with Software
Dealing with Coverage on Other Blogs
Chapter 11: Blogging Anonymously
Deciding How Much Anonymity You Need
Going Anonymous
Approaching Content Cautiously
Stepping Up Security
Resources
Part 4: Going Beyond Words
Chapter 12: Working with Photos
Keeping It Simple
Getting Equipped
Choosing Visuals for Your Blog
Editing Photos
Chapter 13: Starting a Podcast
Deciding to Podcast
Planning Your Podcast
Assessing the Tools
Dressing Up Your Podcast with Music and Sound Effects
Publishing Your Podcast
Promoting Your Podcast
Chapter 14: Diving into Vlogging
Defining Vlogging
Setting the Stage
Editing Your Vlog
Promoting Your Vlog
Chapter 15: Leveraging Community with Forums
Deciding Whether Forums Will Work for You
Researching Software Options
Choosing between Free and Commercial Forum Software
Getting Finicky about Features
Installing Forum Software
Cultivating Community Standards
Part 5: Marketing and Promoting Your Blog
Chapter 16: Making Your Blog Easy to Find
Diving into SEO
Branding Your Blog
Reaching Out with RSS
Making the Most of RSS
Chapter 17: Getting to Know Social Networking
Thinking Strategically
Getting Familiar with Social Networks
Sharing It All
Chapter 18: Joining the Big Four Social Networks
Joining Facebook
Understanding Twitter
Getting Started with Twitter
Getting Started with LinkedIn
Connecting through Instagram
Chapter 19: Measuring Blog Presence
Exploring the Power of Statistics
Knowing What the Statistics Mean
Getting Web Stats
Part 6: Getting Business-y with It
Chapter 20: Making Mad Mad Money
Finding Out How Advertising Works
Joining an Ad Network
Putting Ads on Your Blog
Getting Paid to Post
Making the Most of Affiliate Marketing
Seeking Sponsorships
Accepting Gifts, Not Obligations
Viewing Your Blog as an Influential Platform
Chapter 21: Blogging for Companies
Putting Blogs to Work for Your Business
Planning for Business Blog Success
Delivering with Technology
Advertising on Blogs
Leveraging LinkedIn
Part 7: The Part of Tens
Chapter 22: Ten Ways to Grow Community
Write Often
Listen and Respond to Readers
Visit and Participate
Guest Blog and Invite Guest Bloggers
Communicate via Email and Newsletters
Get Social
Involve Your Readers
Connect Offline
Go Mobile
Diversify
Chapter 23: Ten Things All Bloggers Should Do
Discover Your Voice
Stoke Your Muse
Survey Your Readers
Find Your Tribe
Know Your Traffic Sources
Set Goals
Define Success
Create a Monetization Plan … or Not
Prepare to Grow
Know When You're Done
Index
About the Author
Advertisement Page
Connect with Dummies
End User License Agreement
Search in book...
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Prev
Previous Chapter
Title Page
Next
Next Chapter
Introduction
Blogging For Dummies®
To view this book's Cheat Sheet, simply go to
www.dummies.com
and search for “Blogging For Dummies Cheat Sheet” in the Search box.
Table of Contents
Cover
Introduction
About This Book
Foolish Assumptions
Icons Used in This Book
Beyond the Book
Where to Go from Here
Part 1: Getting Started with Blogging
Chapter 1: Discovering Blog Basics
Making Yourself Comfortable with Blogs
Starting a Blog
Choosing What to Blog About
Creating a Successful Blog
Designing for Success
Chapter 2: Entering the Blogosphere
Assessing Your Involvement
What Happens When You Publish?
Blogging Ethically
Keeping Your Job While Blogging
Blogging without Embarrassing Your Mother or Losing Friends
Protecting Your Privacy and Reputation
Creating Your Brand
Chapter 3: Choosing and Hosting Blog Software
Having Your Own Domain Name
Finding Web Hosting
Deciding on the Right Blogging Software
Understanding Hosted Blog Software
Understanding Blog Software That You Install on Your Own Server
Part 2: Setting Up Your Blog
Chapter 4: Starting a Blogger Blog
Starting a Blog with Blogger
Writing a Post
Publishing Your Post
Viewing Your Blog Post
Selecting the Dashboard Settings
Customizing Your Blog
Chapter 5: Starting a WordPress Blog
Choosing between WordPress.com and WordPress.org
Starting a WordPress.com Blog
Writing a Post
Customizing Your WordPress.com Blog
Installing WordPress
Getting Familiar with Settings
Creating a Post
Customizing Your Design
Finding Out More about WordPress
Chapter 6: Creating a Squarespace Blog
Creating a Squarespace Account
Adding Blog Content
Customizing and Connecting
Chapter 7: Considering Other Blogging Platforms
Blogging with Wix
Writing with Weebly
Checking Out Additional Platforms
Part 3: Fitting In and Feeling Good
Chapter 8: Finding Your Niche
Deciding What Belongs on Your Blog
Learning from the Pros
Reaching Out to Other Bloggers
Chapter 9: Creating Great Content
Knowing Your Audience
Writing Well and Frequently
Drawing in Readers
Serving the Reader
Overcoming Writer’s Block
Chapter 10: Building Community with Comments
Getting Interaction Going with Comments
Managing Comments
Recognizing Spam Comments
Fighting Spam with Software
Dealing with Coverage on Other Blogs
Chapter 11: Blogging Anonymously
Deciding How Much Anonymity You Need
Going Anonymous
Approaching Content Cautiously
Stepping Up Security
Resources
Part 4: Going Beyond Words
Chapter 12: Working with Photos
Keeping It Simple
Getting Equipped
Choosing Visuals for Your Blog
Editing Photos
Chapter 13: Starting a Podcast
Deciding to Podcast
Planning Your Podcast
Assessing the Tools
Dressing Up Your Podcast with Music and Sound Effects
Publishing Your Podcast
Promoting Your Podcast
Chapter 14: Diving into Vlogging
Defining Vlogging
Setting the Stage
Editing Your Vlog
Promoting Your Vlog
Chapter 15: Leveraging Community with Forums
Deciding Whether Forums Will Work for You
Researching Software Options
Choosing between Free and Commercial Forum Software
Getting Finicky about Features
Installing Forum Software
Cultivating Community Standards
Part 5: Marketing and Promoting Your Blog
Chapter 16: Making Your Blog Easy to Find
Diving into SEO
Branding Your Blog
Reaching Out with RSS
Making the Most of RSS
Chapter 17: Getting to Know Social Networking
Thinking Strategically
Getting Familiar with Social Networks
Sharing It All
Chapter 18: Joining the Big Four Social Networks
Joining Facebook
Understanding Twitter
Getting Started with Twitter
Getting Started with LinkedIn
Connecting through Instagram
Chapter 19: Measuring Blog Presence
Exploring the Power of Statistics
Knowing What the Statistics Mean
Getting Web Stats
Part 6: Getting Business-y with It
Chapter 20: Making Mad Mad Money
Finding Out How Advertising Works
Joining an Ad Network
Putting Ads on Your Blog
Getting Paid to Post
Making the Most of Affiliate Marketing
Seeking Sponsorships
Accepting Gifts, Not Obligations
Viewing Your Blog as an Influential Platform
Chapter 21: Blogging for Companies
Putting Blogs to Work for Your Business
Planning for Business Blog Success
Delivering with Technology
Advertising on Blogs
Leveraging LinkedIn
Part 7: The Part of Tens
Chapter 22: Ten Ways to Grow Community
Write Often
Listen and Respond to Readers
Visit and Participate
Guest Blog and Invite Guest Bloggers
Communicate via Email and Newsletters
Get Social
Involve Your Readers
Connect Offline
Go Mobile
Diversify
Chapter 23: Ten Things All Bloggers Should Do
Discover Your Voice
Stoke Your Muse
Survey Your Readers
Find Your Tribe
Know Your Traffic Sources
Set Goals
Define Success
Create a Monetization Plan … or Not
Prepare to Grow
Know When You're Done
Index
About the Author
Advertisement Page
Connect with Dummies
End User License Agreement
List of Tables
Chapter 5
TABLE 5-1 WordPress.com versus WordPress
Chapter 10
TABLE 10-1 Comment Moderation Options
List of Illustrations
Chapter 1
FIGURE 1-1: The Bloggess blogs about her life — hilariously.
FIGURE 1-2: Jennifer Leal uses her blog, Savor the Thyme, to raise awareness abo...
FIGURE 1-3: The Castle Run is the pixie-dust-filled online home of one very devo...
FIGURE 1-4: TechCrunch is your source for satisfying your gadget news appetite.
FIGURE 1-5: Southwest Airlines uses a blog and community page to connect with co...
FIGURE 1-6: Postpartum Progress developed from the blog owner’s personal struggl...
FIGURE 1-7: The Craft Blog by Trimcraft combines a blog with an online store and...
FIGURE 1-8: The Craft Blog by Trimcraft creates an online community through the ...
FIGURE 1-9: The Mama Maven is written by blogger Nancy Horn.
FIGURE 1-10: A categorized archive.
FIGURE 1-11: Social media buttons.
FIGURE 1-12: A link to the author biography page.
FIGURE 1-13: A link to an RSS feed.
FIGURE 1-14: You can publish a blog by simply filling in a few form fields and c...
Chapter 2
FIGURE 2-1: Disclosing paid partnerships is not just the right thing to do; it’s...
FIGURE 2-2: When she has new information to add to a blog post, Amy Oztan adds a...
FIGURE 2-3: Sometimes the best way to handle a blog mistake is to address it hea...
FIGURE 2-4: The carefully branded homepage of Teachmama makes clear the site’s f...
FIGURE 2-5: Carol Cain rebranded as Girl Gone Travel after first blogging succes...
Chapter 3
FIGURE 3-1: Think creatively to find a blog name and domain that is perfect for ...
FIGURE 3-2: Bust a Name can help you brainstorm name possibilities for your doma...
FIGURE 3-3: Check the web host for package comparison charts to help make your d...
FIGURE 3-4: The Finer Things in Life organizes blog posts by category or by topi...
FIGURE 3-5: Use WordPress.com to get a free but powerful blog.
Chapter 4
FIGURE 4-1: Creating a Google account is the first step to blogging on Blogger.
FIGURE 4-2: Choosing a display name on Blogger gets you started as a blogger.
FIGURE 4-3: Once you select Create New Blog, you can begin writing your very own...
FIGURE 4-4: If you have an existing Google account, sign in to create your Blogg...
FIGURE 4-5: Choose a name for your new Blogger blog.
FIGURE 4-6: Use Google to find a custom domain name for your blog.
FIGURE 4-7: Use the Blogger Dashboard to get started writing blog posts for any ...
FIGURE 4-8: Posting to your blog is as easy as using a web-based email service.
FIGURE 4-9: Use the Link icon to create clickable text in your blog post.
FIGURE 4-10: Selecting an image you have uploaded allows you to size and align i...
FIGURE 4-11: The Blogger Settings area allows you to edit a variety of aspects o...
FIGURE 4-12: You can preview the Blogger themes when you start a new blog.
FIGURE 4-13: Select a new background image within the Blogger Theme Designer.
FIGURE 4-14: Select new colors for many elements with the Blogger Theme Designer...
FIGURE 4-15: Use the Layout page in Blogger to customize your blog layout.
Chapter 5
FIGURE 5-1: WordPress.org is the open source release of the WordPress platform.
FIGURE 5-2: Visit WordPress.com to create your WordPress.com blog.
FIGURE 5-3: Consider using your existing Google account to create your free Word...
FIGURE 5-4: Create the domain name for your WordPress.com blog.
FIGURE 5-5: Select your domain name from the options provided.
FIGURE 5-6: WordPress.com offers both free and paid versions.
FIGURE 5-7: Select Launch Site in order for the public to be able to view your n...
FIGURE 5-8: Use the Settings section of your dashboard to customize aspects of y...
FIGURE 5-9: Selecting the Write button takes you to the blog post creation page....
FIGURE 5-10: Selecting the Blog Posts menu item allows you to create a new post....
FIGURE 5-11: WordPress.com uses customizable blocks to offer bloggers options wi...
FIGURE 5-12: Select post options and hit Publish to share your work with the wor...
FIGURE 5-13: The Customize menu option allows you to change the look and feel of...
FIGURE 5-14: Options to customize your blog will vary according to the theme you...
FIGURE 5-15: Web hosts make installing WordPress on your blog simple and easy.
FIGURE 5-16: After you extract the WordPress files to your hard drive, you shoul...
FIGURE 5-17: This FileZilla interface, which has the hard drive on the left and ...
FIGURE 5-18: phpMyAdmin is a tool that you can use to manage and create database...
FIGURE 5-19: Provide the database information to the WordPress installer.
FIGURE 5-20: Prepare to spend a lot of time with the WordPress Dashboard.
FIGURE 5-21: Adding a new post using WordPress.
Chapter 6
FIGURE 6-1: To create your Squarespace account, click Get Started.
FIGURE 6-2: Squarespace begins by suggesting the best template for your site.
FIGURE 6-3: After you have selected a design template, create your free account....
FIGURE 6-4: Squarespace allows you to dive right in with the creation of your ne...
FIGURE 6-5: Get started with your new Squarespace blog by checking out the home ...
FIGURE 6-6: The Add Post menu item allows you to add content to your blog.
FIGURE 6-7: There are multiple options for your new blog post within the post cr...
FIGURE 6-8: The block menus within your blog post allow you to add non-text cont...
FIGURE 6-9: Use the Connect Account menu to select which social media accounts t...
Chapter 7
FIGURE 7-1: You can take your Wix blog to the next level with its Premium Plans....
FIGURE 7-2: New Wix users can create an account using an existing social media a...
FIGURE 7-3: Wix uses a series of questions to help bloggers customize their site...
FIGURE 7-4: Hovering over a section of your Wix blog allows you to edit and cust...
FIGURE 7-5: Weebly offers both free and paid options.
FIGURE 7-6: It is easy to dive right in to editing your blog on Weebly.
Chapter 8
FIGURE 8-1: Felicia Carter’s Go Grow Go is a memoir of a mother raising two chil...
FIGURE 8-2: Jacks & Kate walks readers step-by-step through craft projects such ...
FIGURE 8-3: Little Tech Girl is a perfect example of turning a passion for techn...
FIGURE 8-4: Truthdig, winner of four Webby Awards, challenges conventional polit...
FIGURE 8-5: Savings Lifestyle reaches the large deal-seeking audience.
FIGURE 8-6: The Nester provides design inspiration and insights to her loyal aud...
FIGURE 8-7: Comet Camper is a super-niche blog focusing on people who want to li...
FIGURE 8-8: Mama’s Geeky includes posts about technology, Disney travel, and act...
Chapter 9
FIGURE 9-1: Use Twingly to find your competitors’ blogs.
FIGURE 9-2: From Hip to Housewife clearly shows readers the type of content they...
FIGURE 9-3: Heather of Home-Ec 101 allowed herself to be vulnerable with her rea...
FIGURE 9-4: Erin from A Parenting Production invites her readers into her toughe...
FIGURE 9-5: A Google Calendar is a wonderful option to create a free content cal...
FIGURE 9-6: Begin the creation of your Google Calendar content calendar by selec...
FIGURE 9-7: Once you have created your calendar, give it an easy to remember nam...
FIGURE 9-8: You can customize your free Google Calendar settings to meet your ne...
FIGURE 9-9: See what searches are popular in Google Trends.
FIGURE 9-10: “8 Reasons to Visit Walt Disney World This Summer” is an example of...
Chapter 10
FIGURE 10-1: Wordpress.com includes comment content guidelines in the blogger Te...
FIGURE 10-2: Pistol Packin’ Dad displays a very clear blog comment policy for it...
FIGURE 10-3: A spam comment disguised as a real comment.
FIGURE 10-4: On my blog, Resourceful Mommy, the visual CAPTCHA is designed to le...
Chapter 12
FIGURE 12-1: Use Google Photos to quickly import, edit, and share photos.
FIGURE 12-2: When you post photos on Flickr, your friends and other Flickr membe...
FIGURE 12-3: Photos are an invaluable addition to a food blog.
FIGURE 12-4: Picmonkey allows users to add creative features beyond standard pho...
Chapter 13
FIGURE 13-1: The I Simply Am podcast page provides readers with an additional wa...
FIGURE 13-2: Audacity is a popular audio-editing software program.
FIGURE 13-3: Search Creative Commons for licensed content to use in your podcast...
FIGURE 13-4: Magnatune is one of the only record labels that specifically allow ...
Chapter 14
FIGURE 14-1: YouTube is a highly popular — and free — vlogging platform.
FIGURE 14-2: Windows Movie Maker is one example of a video editing program that ...
Chapter 15
FIGURE 15-1: Lipstick Alley provided a solution to an overwhelming comment conve...
FIGURE 15-2: Threaded comments display conversations so that they appear to be v...
Chapter 16
FIGURE 16-1: Utilize the “alt text” field when uploading images to help search e...
FIGURE 16-2: The Centsible Life shows potential readers what they can expect fro...
FIGURE 16-3: Web feeds aren’t very pretty to look at.
Chapter 17
FIGURE 17-1: The Sisters’ Hood Facebook page utilizes the same fonts and images ...
FIGURE 17-2: The Sisters’ Hood blog is easily recognizable to social media fans ...
FIGURE 17-3: The visual branding of The Sisters’ Hood Twitter account matches pe...
FIGURE 17-4: Blog Facebook Pages provide a space for conversation beyond blog co...
FIGURE 17-5: Facebook allows you to communicate with millions of potential reade...
FIGURE 17-6: Last.fm shares what music you play and recommends music that you ma...
FIGURE 17-7: Use Shareaholic as a shortcut to getting more traffic to your blog....
Chapter 18
FIGURE 18-1: Creating a Facebook account is free and easy.
FIGURE 18-2: Social media icons lead readers to your social media pages and acco...
FIGURE 18-3: You can post a tweet on Twitter very quickly.
Chapter 19
FIGURE 19-1: Author Amy Lupold Bair uses StatCounter to track Resourceful Mommy’...
FIGURE 19-2: Track where your visitors live by using a stat program such as Stat...
FIGURE 19-3: StatCounter breaks down page loads for a given day.
FIGURE 19-4: Keep tabs on how much of your traffic is new and how much is repeat...
Chapter 20
FIGURE 20-1: Contextual advertising puts blogging tool ads next to a post on the...
Chapter 21
FIGURE 21-1: Maggie Whitley Designs combines an online store with a popular blog...
Chapter 22
FIGURE 22-1: Support other members of your blog community to build your own audi...
FIGURE 22-2: Survey Monkey offers a free tool where you can poll your readers to...
Guide
Cover
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