What is a blog and how do you build one?

A blog is a type of website that is updated with various types of content on a regular basis. Blogs can be used for just about any purpose or subject. Companies use blogs to communicate with customers, individuals use blogs to share their opinions or expertise or just about anything else you can think of. Blogs can contain text, images, video and links to other sites. Blogs are frequently used as extensions of websites and like this one even have blogs running on the site. A blog website is typically defined by the features it contains and not its content.

These features include the following:

Updates are usually displayed with the most recent post at the top.
Content is updated on a regular basis
Readers can leave comments
Readers can subscribe to updates through RSS feeds
Pinging search engines and directories each time you add an update

The most important ingredient you need when creating a blog is passion for whatever subject matter you want to discuss.  If you want to make money select a topic that interests you because you need to update your site frequently to keep your traffic levels up. 


Choosing a Blogging Platform
The first choice you will need to make is which blogging platform to use. The most popular blog platforms are Blogger and Wordpress.  If you are a beginner and uncertain if you're in it for the long term Blogger is a good place get started. It's easy to use, provides hosting and is free. It gives you a chance to learn without any cost. However, if your intent is to make money as blogger you need to consider a non-hosted site using Wordpress.org or Movable Type. These platforms provide greater flexibility, control and a more professional appearance. The downside is you need to buy a domain name and provide hosting.


Selecting a Domain Name
If you decide to host your own site you will need a domain name. Finding a good domain name can be difficult but try to keep the name short and easy for people to remember. It's a good idea to create a domain name using a keyword about your site. For example, if your blog is about fishing your domain name may end up something like "lakefishing.com' or "fishingnet.com" I register my domain names with GoDaddy they have good domain checker and offer competitive pricing. 


Choosing a Host
Reliability and support are important for any hosting company. That doesn’t mean you need to spend a lot of money either. This site is partnered with HostGator and I have found them to be reliable, affordable and they have an exceptional support team. You should also consider