Thinking Of Starting A Blog

[Silliest of Yaks]

I am writing here to solicit tips from people who have established blogs and have advice for a beginner. How to pick a site, format, etc. My web design experience is limited to some HTML in high school in the late 90's. If anyone has links to sites with good advice I'd love that too. I haven't a clue how this is supposed to work.

I had a livejournal back in the day but now I'm thinking about a more professional-y blog. I haven't a clue what I am doing, though, and don't really know where to start. I know that members here can set up blogs which I would consider, but since I would love to appeal to a wider audience (since Celiac-related issues are only a fraction of what I hope to be writing about) I am leaning toward a more traditional route. Thoughts, anyone?

I just have so much to say and think about right now when it comes to health issues and life transitions. I'm known among friends and family for being introspective, reasonably positive, and very open about my experiences. I can't help but think it could be cathartic for me, and possibly useful to others if I am willing to openly and honestly reflect on my attempts to get a grip on my life and health as a 25-yr-old newlywed on disability. I am certainly not alone. And when I say open, I mean that to the full extent. Where if I want to talk about GI issues and/or mental health in gritty detail (but with a sense of humor) I can. I may want to keep it anonymous for that reason.

Bloggers, got any thoughts, tips, or encouragement?

Thanks

[Lisa]

https://www.celiac.com/gluten-free/index.php?autocom=blog

Here is the blog section on this site.

[Sweetfudge]

i personally really like blogger (.com). i have a food related blog and a general life one as well. it's pretty easy to use.

you can take a look at mine by checking out my profile

[Silliest of Yaks]

i personally really like blogger (.com). i have a food related blog and a general life one as well. it's pretty easy to use.

you can take a look at mine by checking out my profile

Thanks for the tip - I'll check it out

Thanks Momma Goose, too!

[home-based-mom]

I use blogger.com because the format is easy enough for even me to figure out.

So-called "serious" bloggers use Wordpress.org and have their own domain name that they pay to host. That way they have total control over everything as long as they "pay the rent" aka hosting fees and domain renewal. Google owns blogger.com and it seems to be in a perpetual state of beta development, meaning there can be problems although I have never had any.

Wordpress allows for much more creativity and individuality than blogger.com, but my slide rule generation brain hasn't yet been able to figure out how to use it.

[lizard00]

Blogger.com is incredible easy to use. You can also get into adsense (through google) if you want to try making a few extra bucks.

You can also write reviews and get paid (you get more money the higher trafficked your blog is). Check out www.snapbomb.com or www.ihype.com

For what it's worth, Karina (The gluten free goddess) uses blogger.com and she is incredibly successful!

[Sweetfudge]

any luck on the blog, silliest?

[glutenada]

Another blogger user. I have several blogs there and just started a new one devoted to living life gluten-free (view my profile to see it).

I agree with the others - easy easy easy to set up and super easy to use. And I've personally *never* had an issue of any kind with the system. Of course, now that I've said that... lol.

I'm happy to help if you need some assistance!

[Live2BWell]

Another blogger user. I have several blogs there and just started a new one devoted to living life gluten-free (view my profile to see it).

I agree with the others - easy easy easy to set up and super easy to use. And I've personally *never* had an issue of any kind with the system. Of course, now that I've said that... lol.

I'm happy to help if you need some assistance!

I have a website/domain and am going to be adding a blog through Open Original Shared Link

I am very happy with them. It's pretty inexpensive, you get great freebie add ons, and they offer 24/7 technical support

[C.S. Blogsmith]

As you might have guessed by my name, I have never heard of such a thing as a blog

I would love to give you tips, help, advise, assistance--whatever. I have two blogs that I have designed with almost zero html knowlege (links on my "about me" page). Blogger (blogspot) is arguably the best free blog service there is. If you are willing to pay, there are better ones, but after a certain amount of internet research, I have learned some tricks for customizing and making a blog look good without the cost. I have also learned a few tricks about making it more readable (reader friendly) if that is of interest to you.

C.S.