How to Start a Blog: A Step-by-Step Guide

To start a blog is very simple. It’s just a piece of cake. First of all, you need to have Google account such as Gmail account. To create a Gmail account, just simply go to the following address:

http://mail.google.com


Click “Create an Account” button located just below the “Sign in” box. Follow the instruction provided carefully and completely. Keep in mind your Gmail username and password. Then go to Blogger website to create your blog at the following address:

http://www.blogger.com

Or,

http://www.blogspot.com

Then, key-in your username with your Gmail address and password with your Gmail password then press “Sign in” button.

Example:

Username (E-mail): bizstra@gmail.com

Password: **********


If you succeed, you will see a page name “Dashboard” will appear. Below “Manage Blogs” you will see some buttons such “New Post”, “Edit Posts”, “Settings”, “Layout”, and “Monetize”. I will explain one by one of these button functions.

1. “New Post” is used to create a post or to write something to your blog such as opinion, news and others that will appear in your blog front page and in its archive. You can use WYSIWYG/Word-like function by clicking “Compose” tab or HTML by clicking “Edit HTML” tab to compose your posts. Click “Publish Post” button after finishing your composition/writing a post to enable the post publishable in your blog.
2. “Edit Posts” is used when you need to edit your previous posts. If you click this tab, all your previous posts will be listed and then you can select which one you need to edit.
3. “Settings” is used to give a title to your blog as well as its description, language and so on. “Settings” is also used to manage blog format, comment, archive, site feed and so on. You can have a look at this setting later on gradually.
4. “Layout” is used to manage you blog appearance and position of your post, widgets, and so on. Here you can also edit title and other properties, and add or delete widgets. I’d like to suggest you to try several widgets into your blog. Don’t worry about that. If you don’t like it, you can simply remove it in this “Layout”. Here, you can also change fonts and colors, edit template HTML or pick other templates for your blog.
5. “Monetize” is used to make money from your blog by publishing advertisement with Google Adsense. If you click monetize, it will direct you to Google Adsense setting. Follow the instruction carefully and completely. Google will need time to approve your application for this Adsense. But don’t worry at the meantime; you can still generate income from your blog in some other means such as putting your client ads, following affiliate programs like amazon, and other ads provided by many parties like clickbanks and many more.

Reminder: Any change you made for your blog should be followed by clicking “Save” button in order to give an effect to your blog.

Now, you have your own blog. Keep trying to enrich your blog contents, its appearance and its functionality by changing for example better template, adding or editing widgets, composing new posts, and managing the layout of your blog.

Good luck!

Tips: Those who understand BAHASA please click this link for instruction how to create a blog:
- Cara Membuat Blog