How To: Start Your Own Blog

As someone who has created and maintained multiple blogs in the past, I often get asked by friends and family how someone would go about starting a blog. So let me walk you through the basics of a blog’s creation.

First, there are two types of blogs. Those that are hosted by services such as blogger.com and those that are hosted and owned by you. One gives you all the features you need to start your blog (and fast), but you are expected to abide by their terms of service, the other one gives you total control.

Remember, when you choose a free service like Blogger, your blog is in someone else’s hands. If they decide to delete it, they can, no questions asked. However, they have a good reason for being able to do this… they own your blog. Everything you write is hosted on their servers with no guarantee that it will always be there. In short, you get what you pay for.

If the following paragraphs confuse you, don’t run away. If you are serious about blogging, you are going to need your own domain. You will also need someone to host that domain, and yes that does cost money (as little as $4/month).

I use Godaddy.com for both of these services. They will allow you to choose a domain, register it, get hosting for it… all in one purchase. I might add that Godaddy is not your only option, there are literally thousands of companies out there that will register and host your new domain name. A simple Google search will turn up more than enough options.

So let me break it down for you.

Free services such as blogger.com:

PROS - Fast and simple to use. You could be blogging in as little as 15 minutes. Not very technical.

CONS - Complete control is not yours. If blogger.com doesn’t offer it, you don’t get it. Your domain name looks like millions of other people’s.

Having your own domain (yourname.com):

PROS - You have complete control, everything belongs to you. If there is a new script you would like to try, you can. You can have an original name that really seperates you from the rest of the blogging world. You will have a personalized e-mail address.

CONS - It takes time to setup (you can be blogging about 48 hours from the setup). You have to learn a little (oh no! not that?!). It cost money.