How to start blogging

With the popularity of blogs and blogging on the rise in the past few years, many people may be wondering – how do I start blogging and create my own blog for others to read?

The question of how to start can have many answers, some simple, some more complex. The first thing that needs to be done is an assessment of your Internet skills. Are you the type of person who could build your own website (whether with code or a program), or are you more the type of person who has trouble using email? With the many blogging solutions out there, it is important to choose a service that will allow you to get started with the least amount of effort.

The simplest way to start blogging is to sign up at one of the free blogging sites that are available. There are several – with the most popular being Blogger.com and Livejournal.com. Blogger has been around since 1999, and most people who are thinking about writing a blog for the first time choose this option because of the ease of use and compatibility. Livejournal is another option, but can be limited unless you choose to purchase a more extensive package (a pay-per-month version).

You will need to sign up for a username and password at your chosen blogging site, and then they will ask you a bit about yourself for your profile. Use as little information or as much as you like, but remember that these profiles are usually public. Don't put in any private or legal information – such as phone numbers or Social Security numbers. You may also be able to choose a picture to represent yourself on the blogging site (such as the avatars on Blogger or Myspace).

Once you have signed up for the site, most of the free blog sites will then allow you to choose or customize what your blog will look like. You'll be able to pick from templates provided for your use. Then it is up to you to enter information for your first blog. Many free sites make it easy to do this without downloading any extra programs or additional software – everything can be entered through your regular Internet browser. Have fun with your new blog!

If you want to know how do I start blogging, the best solution is to go to the blogging sites and see what they have to offer. Tutorials, as well as looking at other blogs can help you to get started on your way to creating the blog of your dreams.