Blogging 101 - Getting Started and Staying Going

1) Blogging experience

I've been blogging since January 13, 2007.

2) Starting a blog

Q. Was it difficult to get started?

A. No, it's not hard to get started. The difficult thing is to have a focus and to keep going. If you're going to have a blog, you want to maintain it. It's possible to get blog going for free in five minutes on some of the blogging sites.

3) Amount of technical knowledge needed

Q: Do you have to be a real computer whiz to blog?

A: Absolutely not. If you can send an email, you can blog. There is a bit of a learning curve, but truly, it's not overly difficult and it's pretty intuitive. The technical side is the least challenging part of blogging in my experience.

4) Blogging frequency

Q: Do you blog every day?

A: It's important to blog regularly to get and keep readers.

5) Focus

Q: Do you need to have a particular subject in your blog?

A: Current conventional wisdom is that one finds a niche. This can be thematic as well as a particular subject. For instance, my theme is "connection," which allows me a wide choice of subjects. You have to have something that fits your style and matches your passion, because you have to keep this going over time, or fold it up.

6) Audience

Q: Do you have a target "audience" when you blog?

A: Yes, I write for people with a similar sensibility to myself and this tends to cut across demographics. Some blogs are clearly written for a demographic of a certain age or gender group or profession. Your audience depends on your mission, your writing style, and who you are.

7) Benefits

Q: What is your favorite thing about blogging?

A: Folks blog for all kinds of reasons. Some use their blogs as a marketing tool, others as an on-line diary (web-log = blog) without a lock, others for for friends and family, and so on. Mine has been a tool for connection both online and off-line.

The most important thing you can do before you begin you blog is to understand what your purpose and mission is. Everything follows fromthat decision.

8) Blogging for money or love?

It is possible to make money from your blog, but that's a different kettle of words simmering on a
different fire.

Visit Janet Grace Riehl's blog "Riehl Life: Village Wisdom for the 21st Century" at http://www.riehlife.com for more thoughts and information about making connections through the arts, across cultures, generations, and within the family. You can also read sample poems and other background information from "Sightlines: A Poet's Diary" on Janet's website.