GETTING STARTED

For those just starting or wishing to start blogging I share the story of how this blog was birthed.

It’s taken two months to get to this point.  I’ve poked about Blogger, looked briefly at TypePad but heard more about WordPress and have selected it as my “platform” for blogging.  The next decision was to choose using WordPress.com or “self-host.”   WordPress.com offers hosting and templates and is an easy, quick way to get started and enjoy blogging for free.  I often wondered if that would have been a better choice.  It’s certainly expeditious.  It’s FREE too as is Blogger and some TypePad offerings.

Having a techie’s inclination, a fussiness about look and style, a desire for control and creative interests in customizing my blog, I’ve elected to host my blog on a server provided by SuperGreenHosting.com.  I then downloaded WordPress software from WordPress.org and installed it on my domain, SirLinkedAlot.com.  Just today I upgraded WordPress for the first time and it was only the click of a button.  Lesson Learned:  If you’re not fussy, pick one and get going.  They’re all good and similar.  None are bad.

FIRST OBSTACLES – Platform, “Theme,” Blog Name and Topic

Obstacles are what you see when you’re not looking at your goal.  I have advice for those trying to start or shall I say lessons learned.  Many who have dived in already called from the blogging pool, “Jump in!  Get started.  You’ll find your way in doing, not thinking about doing.”  There words lingered.  I’m in.   They were right.  I wished I’d started long ago.  I’d be wiser now by far.

If you can handle a pad and pen, you can blog.  It’s not the technology that will hold you back.  To not write a letter while trying to choose the “right stationery” and “right writing instrument” would be considered a ridiculous delay, so it could be said of choosing platforms, blog name, theme and topic.

I struggled with platform briefly as mentioned in the previous paragraph and committed two months ago.  The blog name was provided by a creative colleague, Mike Johansson.  The topical theme came easy for me.  It has many threads, all related I believe.  You can write a blog with varied topics and interests.   “Categories” and “tags” will help your readers find the content that interests them.

If you are challenged in finding what you wish to write about, consider what you like to read and talk about.  It’s that simple.  Your writing need not have broad appeal, just appeal to those of shared interests.  Write about what interests you and seek out blogs of similar interest.  Remember the blogosphere is worldwide and your readers are everywhere.   Let your reading inspire your writing.  I’ve read this many times in all the books I’ve read.  Suggested reading:  Arianna Huffington’s book, The Huffington Post Complete Guide to Blogging HuffingtonPost.com and Darren Rowse web material at Problogger.net.

The WordPress “theme” (a composite of templates and files governing the look and feel of your blog, its style) was a struggle even though I’d been advised to simply pick one and get started.  Those words of Karl Heinz Kremer lingered too.  He was right.  I had to browse some first, however.  As Karl Heinz asserted, “Pick one.  You can change it later.”  I’ve chosen This Just In! created by John Crenshaw as my first WP theme.  His theme is supported on his site, WordPress Hacker with tutorials and support forums.  I like that.

I then began the tutorials offered by WordPress.org.  The word “Codex” was a bit intimidating, but I ignored it and found the content well-written and easy to understand.  There is just so much of it!  I explored it, not having a linear mind, and became sometimes intimidated.  I’d get back to it later, another time.  This launch has really honed my procrastination skills!

So here I am now in the blogosphere and launched.  It was really a desire to fully consider too much in detail that delayed my launch.  The learning begins now.  It’s a good start to be followed by improvement.  First things to come – new images for the banners and pages for the tabs with pages supporting them – Blog, Archives and Feed.

The next posting – what topics will the blog entail.