How to Set Up a Blog?

[MissouriBird]

How does one go about setting up a blog that allows regular updates and some photos or some method for creating an on-line travelogue that friends and contacts can check in with, leave messages, etc.?

I know many of you are using some sort of a blog, or other communication tool. What do you use? How does one go about setting it up? what has worked best or what would you do different?

I retire from teaching in May and we leave for an extended trip to Alaska and the West in June.

Thoughts, advice and recommendations are welcomed.

[AsheGuy]

rockhillmanor wrote:
I stay away from anything google.

To each his own but you are missing a lot of good stuff. 🙂

I also worked in the computer business all my life, not that that conveys any particular wisdom.

But Google is no worse than any other site on the web and I think better than most. I use all their stuff, Gmail, Chrome, Picasa, Earth, Docs, Drive, Maps, Remote desktop, Calendar, Android, etc. I've used them since their search engine came out, have added apps as I needed them and would miss them all if I didn't have them. Other competitors have always been behind the Google curve but they do continue to strive for that level of usefulness. And I have never had an issue as the previous poster pointed out. I do get annoyed with them from time to time, but that happens with most software that I use.

Here is a good article about Google that was in our paper today: Five myths about Google

I agree that a personal website is an alternative and use GoDaddy myself for websites, but prefer the ease of using Google's Blogspot over a personal website.

[lasparrot]

I use blogger with Windows Live Writer installed on my laptop. Easy to use and allows for more involved formatting if you desire. I've been using it for almost 5 years and have experienced no problems (touch wood). If you want to keep your blog private you can allow only specified users access. You do need a Google account, but since I use Gmail already this wasn't an issue for me.

Laura

p.s. my husband was in the computer security business and still has an account with Google

[rockhillmanor]

I stay away from anything google.
When blogger said I had to sign up for a google account to access my blog is when I went elsewhere. I was also permanently locked out of my long running blog unless I signed up to google, not.

Since google took over blogger if you set up an account with them your personal info, pics etc., goes EVERYWHERE and you can't stop it. And you can't opt out. I would not post anything personal or post pictures of my family on an account attached to google. Just take the time to read the privacy policy 'before' you hit the I accept button.:(

For friends and family contact I found buying a dot.com is the best, safest and easiest way to post pics etc.

I use godaddy. Just this year I tried a couple of other ones and in minutes found out they were just as bad as google. Cancelled them all and went back to godaddy.

For around 12 bucks you get a personalized dot com name and a free website with all kinds of templates that are easy to use for posting pics,blogging etc. A buck or two more and you get your own email account to share with your family and NO spam of anykind just the emails from your family.

No ads and they don't connect your info and personal info with everything internet like google stuff does.

[AsheGuy]

Google's blogger works for me, see signature. 🙂

[1775]

Blogger - also know as Blogspot - is the easiest to use. Nice user interface with built in editor, the ability to add html if you want (don't have to), and quick ability to add photos. There is included photo storage. You can write ahead of time and schedule the date and time of publication. I tried Wordpress and it was a little more difficult to use and add photos to. Blogger is the way to go. You can even assign your own URL if you have one. My site on Blogger is linked below.

[profdant139]

I really like blogspot, a google product. Check out my blogs -- see links below -- and if I can do it, anyone can do it!

[accsys]

We have found MyTripJournal to be one of the easiest to use. It's free as long as you don't post too many pictures in too short a time. You don't have the control you might have with BlogSpot or some of the others but it is much easier for a novice to set up in the beginning and doesn't have the learning curve of the others..

You can peruse ours (in our signature) if you want to see how ours is used.

[Michael_in_MN]

Wodpress and Blogger are the two big (and free) blog hosting providers. If you are OK with a domain name ending in blogspot.com or worpdress.com, it's really simple to get started.

If you want your own domain name, it get a bit more complicated.

[Pepperoni]

FREE BLOGS

Google is your friend

MissouriBird wrote:
How does one go about setting up a blog that allows regular updates and some photos or some method for creating an on-line travelogue that friends and contacts can check in with, leave messages, etc.?

I know many of you are using some sort of a blog, or other communication tool. What do you use? How does one go about setting it up? what has worked best or what would you do different?

I retire from teaching in May and we leave for an extended trip to Alaska and the West in June.

Thoughts, advice and recommendations are welcomed.