Yesterday I received messages from three different people asking about starting a blog or setting up a website to share their stories. I’ll be glad to help if I can.
When I started blogging several years ago, I used Blogger, a free service that is still widely used. Blogger was bought by Google a few years ago and continues to provide good blog creation tools and hosting at no cost. It’s relatively easy to get started at their website www.blogger.com.
Although I still occasionally use Blogger, about 3 years ago I started working with WordPress software because it offered more options and control, enabling me to try out more features and share them with my Communications students in class and online. (I teach Communication Arts at Franciscan University of Steubenville in Ohio.)
Vicki’s Voice uses WordPress blogging software. Although we’re running WordPress on our own server, you can start a blog/site with most of the features we’re using at the WordPress.com website. This site is relatively simple to use to create a blog, and provides hosting at no cost for most blogs. People or companies wanting more complex features or more server space can pay for premium features as they need them. But for most personal blogs, the free service should be fine.
There are other blogging tools and services on the Web, but these are the two I’ve used. I’m especially impressed with the “community” of people who use WordPress and their willingness to help other people with questions about the program and blogging in general.
I used the term “relatively” easy to get started with Blogger or WordPress.com. I’ve been using computers for many years now and, frankly, I’m not sure how easy people will find these services. If you try them out, please let me know about your experience. And I’ll try to respond to questions as well as I can.
The most important thing to remember about a blog isn’t technical at all. It’s that whatever you share – words, pictures – be yourself. Tell your stories. Let us get to know you.
Jim
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Hi Jim,
Thanks for the info. I think I’ll take a stab at WordPress. I used to be pretty good with computers and applications, but the dementia has taken its toll in my ability to organize and plan well. Hopefully the layout will help with that. We’ll see. Again, thanks for your quick response and willingness to help.
Peace,
Bruce
Very useful, thankyou.
I saw my carer friend yesterday and she hopes to start her blog in May after her husband is back at home to be cared for (appropriate homecare assistance being in place) and she will not be visiting him in the Nursing Home every day. They appreciate your continued prayers. Thankyou.
Some visitors to Vicki's Voice blog asked about starting their own blogs. My intro response: http://bit.ly/bUoDBp #dementia #communication
RT @iJimCoyle: Some visitors to Vicki's Voice blog asked about starting their own blogs. My intro response: http://bit.ly/bUoDBp #dementia #communication
RT @TopsyRT: Starting Your Own Blog http://bit.ly/bUoDBp Jim just added Topsy retweet buttons to http://vickis.voice.tv