Book Excerpt

Not sure if “Blogging for Dummies, 2nd Edition” is for you? Why not check out the book’s table of contents and read a free chapter!

Chapter 1:  Discovering Blog Basics

Unless you live under a rock, you’ve heard the word blog used sometime in the last couple of years—journalists, in particular, are fascinated by this new type of Web site. And bloggers, in turn, are showing up as commentators and experts in news stories and on television. At the same time, you might have a son or daughter who has a blog, or perhaps you’ve been told about a blog your company is starting. What exactly is it that all these people mean when they say they have a blog? And how can such different organizations be using the same technology to communicate?

Don’t be too hard on yourself if you aren’t exactly sure what a blog is. The word blog is actually a mashup of two other words—Web and log—so if it sounds made up, that’s because it is. A blog is a chronologically ordered series of Web site updates, written and organized much like a traditional diary right down to the informal style of writing that characterizes personal communication.

In this chapter, you find out just what makes a blog bloggy and why so many people are jumping on board with this trend. (Hint: It’s isn’t just that we’re all narcissists!) You get some ideas that you can use to start your own blog and become part of the blogoshere (the community of blogs and bloggers around the world).

No matter what your teenager tells you, there is absolutely no requirement that you must write your blog while wearing your pajamas. Also, you are allowed to use a spellchecker.

Read more: Download the PDF of Chapter 1 (859 KB).

Table of Contents

Introduction.

Part I: Getting Started with Blogs.

Chapter 1: Discovering Blog Basics.

Chapter 2: Starting a Blog.

Chapter 3: Entering the Blogosphere.

Part II: Setting Up Your Blog.

Chapter 4: Choosing Blog Software.

Chapter 5: Dropping Code into Your Skill Set.

Chapter 6: Hosting Your Blog.

Chapter 7: Customizing Your Blog.

Part III: Fitting In and Feeling Good.

Chapter 8: Finding Your Niche.

Chapter 9: Creating Great Content.

Chapter 10: Handling Spam and Comments.

Part IV: Adding Bells and Whistles.

Chapter 11: Reaching Out with RSS.

Chapter 12: Building the Sidebars.

Chapter 13: Making the Most of Photos.

Chapter 14: Saying It Better with Podcasts.

Part V: Marketing and Promoting Your Blog.

Chapter 15: Measuring Blog Presence.

Chapter 16: Making Mad Mad Money.

Chapter 17: Blogging for Companies.

Part VI: The Part of Tens.

Chapter 18: Ten Ways of Growing Community.

Chapter 19: Ten Cool Tricks for MakingYour Blog Shine.

Chapter 20: Ten Blogs You Should Know.

Appendix: Glossary.

Index.

Read more: Download the detailed Table of Contents as a PDF (87 KB).