Blog tutorial

Blog tutorial

Norbert DeAmato

For a word document of this tutorial: click here.

This tutorial is for those who want to blog for a hobby, and want to create a blog site that is quick and easy to develop. It is NOT for those who are interested in creating a blog to make money. The site we will use to create a blog requires a google account, which is free. 

You Tube tutorial Online

Blogger Tutorial for Beginners - Introduction - Part 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMqsqSe5Oys

Is a blog a webpage?
Definition of blog from the Merriam Webster dictionary:

A blog is a website that contains online personal reflections, comments, and often hyperlinks, videos, and photographs provided by the writer.

Where as many web pages we visit contain static information about a company, person or place, a blog is typically written in an informal or conversational style and is updated regularly.

First: WHY

Why do you want to start a blog; what is it you want to share that you think others will be interested in reading about? You will need to have a concept of what your blog will be about.

Second: select a blogging platform

You need to choose a blogging platform (tool) for you to build your blog.

A blogging platform is the software used to manage your blog. It allows you to create blog pages, add content, images, video and everything else that you would need to do when updating your blog.

There are platforms that you need to pay for and free platforms.

The pay for platforms usually will have more flexibility in design and may even provide assistance to help build your site. Some of these also require more technical knowledge.

Free platforms may not have all the customization or support as pay platforms, but they usually do not require technical knowledge, and are FREE

This tutorial will use sites and templates that are free.

Some of the main blogging platforms are:

• Pay platforms:

WordPress is the most popular and customizable in the world.

Other pay platforms are: Ghost, Drupal, Joomla.  These require more technical knowledge.

• Free platforms:

WordPress also has a free platform.

Blogger is one of the most popular free platforms. It is from Google. Requires a Google      account.

Third: Pick a Domain Name & Web Host

 Since a blog is a webpage, you will need a domain name and web hosting site.

Domain Name: This is your website address, for example:

www.somervillema.gov is the Domain name for the city of Somerville website.

Try to choose a name that is short and catchy for your blog and will be easily remembered. It should also express what you are blogging about. i.e. My hobby blog.com.

.

Once you choose a domain name you may want to register the same name on Facebook, twitter and other social media platforms. This is where you can promote your blog.

NOTE: You will need to choose a name that is not being used by someone else, on any of these platforms.

Web Hosting: This is where your blog is stored online. There are many hosting companies. Some you need to pay for and others are free.

Blogger does not charge for hosting your blog site; and also, their blogging platform is free

With Blogger, you sign in using your gmail account. And your blog will be connected to your gmail account.

Fourth:  Design Your Blog

 Depending on the blogging platform selected; you will use their tools to design your blog.

In the design/create phase, you may also want something to take pictures with (a camera or smart phone) and a pc/laptop to work on.

You will need to choose a TITLE for your blog page. This is the domain name. You will need to select a theme from one of the templates.

To add a Title and description of the blog,

• go to "layout" on left side of dashboard
• Select edit in the Header section (page header gadget)
• Add a Blog Title
• Add a Blog Description
• Add an Image if you want
• Select Placement of the image
• Select Save on the bottom of the pop up window
• select "Save setting" in upper right hand section
• Select "Save Arrangement" in the upper left side of page
• Publish the pages
• publish the post

On the main page (Home page), you should also create the following pages: an ABOUT and a CONTENT page. The ABOUT page is where you describe yourself and the CONTENT page is where you define what the bog is about.

To add content to the Home Page, you create a post. Each post is "posted" to the main page. The latest post will be listed at the top. Older post will be below it in descending date order.

1. Go to Post
2. new post
3. give post a title
4. write text
5. save
6. publish

Add new post to the Home page.

1. Go to Post
2. new post
3. give post a title
4. write text
5. save
6. publish

Add PAGES/TABS

1. click page button
2. new page
1. PAGE title: xxxx
2. Add text
3. Publish
3. Add another new page
1. PAGE title: xxxx
2. Add text
3. Publish
4. switch back to panel
5. click layout
6. add a gadget
7. select pages gadget
8. check all HOME and pages
9. save
10. save arrangement
11.   Post/publish
12. View blog
13. Go to tool gadget on right side, select it to edit
14. Back to configure page list,
15.  Select all you want to show, list the order, save
16. Publish

Change arrangement of Pages

• go to Layout
• eidt Pages

How to Edit Blog Title ?
To Edit title of your blog :

1. In the left menu, click Settings and then Basic.
2. Next to "Title," click Edit.
3. Enter a new name for the blog.
4. Click Save changes.

How to find the name of your blog:

• go to settings
• edit Title

How to add or change description:

• go to settings
• edit Description

How to find the url for the Blog:

• go to settings
• it will be under Blog address.

How to create/edit  "About Me"

• go to layout
• Edit Pages gadget

How to add a comment box:

• go to settings on left side of dashboard
• select post, comments and sharing
• In Comments section:
• set Comment location to: pop up window
• set who can comment to: Anyone
• set comment Moderation to: Always
• select "Save setting" in upper right hand section
• Publish the pages
• Publish the post

Add pictures embedded into page:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xq5lv-UikNg

• go to the page,
• select the icon next to the Link
• now you have options as to what and where to get a picture from
• then select upload
• once uploaded, you can resize it
• you can also link it to another site, and have the link pe in a new window
• you can add a caption by clicking on the picture, select add caption
• start writing 
• you can drag the picture to relocate its position

Add pictures linked to google drive:

• in google drive, select the document you want to be opened from your blog
• left mouse click on the figure with a + on it's left side
•   
• Select the "Get sharable Link" text on the upper right hand of the pop up window, this will open a new popup window
• Select the "Copy Link" on the left side of the pop up
• select Done
• go back to Blogger
• Highlight (select) the text you want to open this link
• Select "Link" on the horizontal menu bar
• 
• paste the link into the web address box under the "To what URL should this link go?"
• select "open this link in a new window"
• select OK
• publish pages

                     

Fifth: Launch Your Blog