Blogging questions!

[ShinySilver]

Hi, I've had a hunt around but can't find anything that answers my questions so thought I'd start a new thread.

I'm interested in starting a blog about my work but have no idea where to start! Or rather, I think I might know where to start but could do with some advice and understanding hand-holding!

The way I think it goes is like this:

I join a blog-site after thinking of a good name.

I write posts about my work and take photos of it.

I post these as often as I want but the more often the better?

I check out other blogs to get involved in the blogging community more (it feels like if you're not a blogger then you can't comment on other blogs. Is that right?).

I link my blog to my website (when I've finished building it *ahem*) and anywhere else my work is featured (like Flickr, Etsy?)

I am a blogger!

Is any of the right?
Is any of it in the right order?!

I could really do with some helpful advice here but all comments gratefully received!

Michelle

[creativeclare]

I haven`t got a clue with either but will be closely following this thread to pick up some tips.

I suspect I need to join the world of blogdom!

Clare

[ShinySilver]

I'm so glad it's not just me!

[claireybear]

I'd like to start a blog too!

So I will join the spectators . . .

Just one more question - does a blog have to be about one specific topic eg crafts or can it be a combination of lots of different things? Im guessing it shouldnt really matter as everyone is different, but Im not familiar with blog etiquette!

[claireybear]

Oooh just thought - can anyone recommend a good blogging site for a beginner?

[craftyjan]

ive got a blog but i only link it to the forums i belong to as i dont have a website or anything else i post comments occassionally and put photos of my latest projects i do go on other blogs so i suppose im a blogger im new to computers and blogs so i cant help you much you can have a look at mine theres alink to make your own i think watch out my music starts straight away so you can always turn your sound down if i can do it anyone can i dont browse blogs just tend to look at peoples that have one on my forums to see what they are doing and leave comments hope you get the answers you want

[wyattbean]

Your ideas seam about right to me....but I'm no expert. I find my biggest problem is just finding the time to keep my blog and my website updated. It also seams you need time to link in with the blogging community and obviously the more links you have the more others will look in on you. Having said that it is really nice to link up with other like minded folk and exchange ideas.....

Sue

[jamesjj]

I shall recommend to have a shared host and start with Joomla or Wordpress. At very beginning I was so confused about anything blogging but now it takes an hour or so to start a new project.

[Ifor-Jones]

Well this will be an interesting thread, because I think there will be more of us "onlookers" than those answering the questions. However there are a lot of bloggers on here I am sure, so they will dive in soon and let us all know what we should be up to.

[Craftmatters]

I have a blog (see below, lol!) & I basically try & do just as you suggest in your original email.

The thing I find really hard is finding the time to link to & comment on other people's blogs.... & there are SO MANY out there

Let me know when you get going & I will be sure to come & look.

[craftyfoxni]

i have a blog and i found it easy to get going = go on have a look and tell me what you all think , i'm very pleased as i did it all my self (am a very big technophobe) now just have to get the hang of linking it to the forum and other blogs - any help would be great

[jamesjj]

I join a blog-site after thinking of a good name.

I am sure you are talking about having a blog with wordpress or blogspot so i am recommending to start a blog with your own domain and own hosting. Rather than having blog with popular blog providers, use their script instead. I think that is damn sure now.

I write posts about my work and take photos of it.

I post these as often as I want but the more often the better?

Do it twice a week.

I check out other blogs to get involved in the blogging community more (it feels like if you're not a blogger then you can't comment on other blogs. Is that right?).

Now you are talking about commenting on other blogs with "do follow" ON.
Use a true human name rather than your blog names in the title of comment.

I link my blog to my website (when I've finished building it *ahem*) and anywhere else my work is featured (like Flickr, Etsy?)

There is not Flickr and Etsy only, there are more than 50(Social Bookmarking sites now) sites to publish your listing for getting traffic.

Let me know if am missing something.

[swirlyarts]

Yep you are on the right lines!! I use blogspot for my personal blog and cuteable is wordpress. Blogspot is more intuitive to use and I struggled with wordpress at first. Yep get writing and then put it in your signature here. Link to your flickr, website, etsy, dawanda and anything else that you are on. Go to other peoples blogs and comment on their stuff - chances are that they will come back to you and comment. Put your blog into your shop announcement on Etsy and on your profile in Flickr. Then join lots of groups on flickr and post your pictures.
Erm I think that's it for the moment!

[ethel&edna]

I use blogger and it's fine. It takes you through the whole process step by step. I have no website of my own but have link to my Flickr, groups and swaps I'm involved with and (if I ever get it sorted)etsy - one day...

The more you comment on other peopless blogs the more they will come back and check yours out. Doing giveaways and tutorials is also a good way of increasing traffic through your blog.

There are little gizmos like the UK Crafty Blogs button on mine which give you some idea of how many people are visiting. Your can also sign up to the likes of Technorati who can provide all sorts of stats on your blog.

For getting regular updates of other peoples' blogs you can sign up with Bloglines or similar. You then subscribe to the blogs you like and get updated each time they make a post.

I vary with how often I post. Sometimes once or twice a week. Yesterday three times in one day!!!!

Phew! Will that do?? hth

[ShinySilver]

Wow! Thanks for all the helpful replies! And it's good to know that I'm not the only one who doesn't know enough about blogging - I did have the feeling everyone else did it except for poor little me . . . !

I'm a bit pushed for time right now but I'm going to read through the posts more carefully, do some blog-looking, and then just go for it and hope it works!

I'll post the link when it's up and running and then you can tell me what I'm doing wrong!

Any other blog-newbies going to start one based on the info given here?