Philip Alves

Step-by-step video on using Blogger

philipalves — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 04:05:42 +0000

Here’s a step-by-step video tutorial on how to blog using a blogger.com account.

The folks at Blogger put it together and it’s been viewed more than 2 million times, so it’s gotta be good.

Step-by-step video on using WordPress

philipalves — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 03:58:34 +0000

Here’s a step-by-step video tutorial on how to blog using a wordpress.com account.

It’s long and has not one car chase in it — it’s a little dull is what I’m saying — but it looks like it’s full of good information on how to set up a new WordPress blog and then what to do with it. Even covers some advanced topics if you’re keen.

Free blog options abound – here are 17

philipalves — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 03:32:34 +0000

There are lots of free blog providers out there, and lots more reviews.

Which to use to build your online “brand” can become a daunting choice, especially when you’re new to this sort of thing.

Don’t limit yourself. Try ’em all – they’re free, after all. You’ll find something that works for you.

So what are the free options? In no particular order, here are some of the big players:

WordPress – where the blog you’re reading lives
Blogger – a Google offering
LiveJournal
Blog.com
Tumblr
Microsoft Windows Live Spaces
My Opera
Ning

And some others to consider:

InsaneJournal
Blogetery — based on WordPress
Blogsome — based on WordPress
Weebly
Xanga.com
thoughts.com
typolis
Vox.com
blog.ca

By no means an exhaustive list, but not a bad place to start on your blog hunt.

Most, if not all, offer lots of theme or skin options to suit just about any taste. Again, poke around. You’ll eventually find a look that works for you.

My two cents…

For the beat writers at the CCC, I’d recommend using WordPress. I know it well and it just works. TorontoObserver.ca is based on it. I even used it to get kapiTal Magazine, my beat project, online in 2006 (sadly, the WordPress version died a horrible death after that).