In today’s cyberworld bloggers and their blogs are one of the most influential websites. Some people start blogging because they want to share their different view about some things, some people (or companies) blog to make better contact with their clients.
There are many advantages of having a blog. What if you feel you could be a valuable blogger?

How to start a blog?

First and the most important one: decide what you want to blog about. If you want to blog about your grandma’s cake recipes, your emotional deviations or your political views – do it. Only remember that Internet is NOT an anonymous place so be aware of consequences whatever you will blog about. (In case your grandma’s has a huge master-plan to open her company or sell her recipes to Dr O’etker and become a multimillionaire).

Host or not to host? That is a question

Because your blogger career beginnings can be hard (read: unprofitable) , you may decide to host your blog on free hosting provider. Most of them have some serious limitations like not offering php e-mail option or SMTP Server. Also, those kind of hosts can insert their pop-ads on your blog (which is a really annoying thing your your visitors). However, you can find some good hosting companies for your basic needs. I would recommend you Zymic (which doesn’t insert the ads on your blog but unfortunately doesn’t offer option of direct sending e-mail from your web) and Xtreemhost. For the up-to-date list of free hosting providers check here.

If you have some pocket money wordpress hosting is a very tempting option, mainly because it offers much more flexibility and freedom to do/create what you want. It offers you also your domain name (if you would like to call your blog my-angry-grandmas-recipes.com) and cost you little.

A rose by any other name would smell as sweet

Ok, too much romantic movies.
Back to black. Your domain name? You must give yourself a little time to create a really good name for your blog. If it’s going to be blog for your company – decision should be obvious. However, if you are just willing to start blog but you haven’t decided yet what exactly your articles are going to be focus on.. find some domain which doesn’t limit your creative possibilities.

Installing WordPress

You don’t need to be a geek to have a blog – WordPress is one of those genius software which does everything for you. You don’t need to know PHP or install any Apache alike server on your computer. You can post, edit your posts directly from your website. The installation WordPress on your host takes about 5 minutes, and it’s really easy thing to do. You can find all the instructions on the WordPress page.
However, if you prefer using different PHP scripts for creating the blog, I suggest you checking Hot Scripts with PHP Scripts section.

Be different or be forgotten (or other version: Be distinct or be extinct)

If you are excited about all this blogging thing, remember: in the beginning it’s really possible that the only visitors of your blog will be your friends and family. But don’t give up and consequently create your own style of presenting your information and opinions.

• Write, write and once more write.

• You may take inspiration of your favourite bloggers but do not copy them.
  Serve your visitors an interesting twist of possibly the same information. Only in this way you can surpass your master.
• Be consequent with your style. If you start writing about new private villas for Paris Hilton Chihuahua dogs AND you see people reading it and being interested in that subject, DO NOT dramatically change your style and interest just because you stopped being friend with the pink. If suddenly your visitors start seeing your posts being written about politics or finance – they may abandon your blog and look for another P. Hilton follower. (In this situation the smartest idea would be having a two separate blogs).
• Write often – if only you feel you have something to say to the world – write it. You will never get traffic to your website if you will be writting once in the blue moon.

Good luck!
And you? Do you have a blog? If yes, what do you write about? I encourage you to share your comments.