-Searching for the Best Domain Names

 .com .net .info .org .us

The right domain name is extremely important to have yet few folks spend a lot of time coming up with the best Internet address possible for their blog or ministry site.

Remember, you have to live with the domain address and your target audience needs to be able to find you. Another aspect rarely thought about is the fact that the Internet is ‘international’ and whether you intend to reach out to the world or not folks from all around the globe will visit your site. The name should reflect well on who you are and what you intend to be doing in this international forum.

I know of one Christian who has a real popular blog site who is nevertheless considering a domain change because his address contains the word ‘naked’ as in ‘naked truth’ but ends up being blocked by some search engines as a potential porno site. The name is innovative and is easy to remember and creates attention—all of the things that you might want in a name except sometimes it gets the wrong type of attention.

-New Blogger Template Designer

Blogger has offered the same old Templates for years, even after the Google takeover. While custom templates have always been available, the offering from the official Blogger site has always been extremely limited especially when it’s compared to TypePad or WordPress.

Now there’s a new template designer tool from Blogger which offers a far greater variety and makes a way for greater creativity and uniqueness—take a look:

*Top

Book Review: “Google Blogger for Dummies”

By Susan Gunelius (Hoboken,NJ: Wiley Publishing, Inc., 2009, 362 pages)

The coming of this book is long overdue—a definitive manual on using Blogger. This is bound to become the essential book for those using the Blogger program whether one is starting out in the blogosphere or has been around a while. There is something for everyone in this volume—if you now use Blogger or intend to in the future.

How to Set Up a Blogger Blog

I found that 'Blogger Help' site is the best at helping one to start a Blogger blog with the least trouble:

https://support.google.com/blogger/

Book Review: "Clear Blogging:"

“How People Blogging Are Changing the World and How You Can Join Them”

By Bob Walsh (Berkeley, CA: Apress, 2007, 351 pages)

 An excellent book on why one should blog and how to get started. Bob gives suggestions about getting started publishing a blog with Blogger, Windows Live, and TypePad and evaluates which blogging platform might be best for you considering your goals and what type of blog you wish to publish. <Read the rest of the review>

Book Review: "Publishing a Blog with Blogger"

By Elizabeth Castro (Berkeley,CA: Peachpit Press, Visual QuickProject Guide, 2005, 127 pgs.)

This is the most complete guide on Blogger that I have found so far. It starts at the beginning and takes you through how to start a blog, how to write a post, how to use the editor, post pictures and format a new Blogger blog.

It is written in an easy and interesting style. Visual examples are given on each page to help explain every exercise.

Book Review: "Teach Yourself: Blogging"

By Nat McBride and Jamie Cason (London UK: Hodder Education, 2006, 198 pgs.)

Great book for helping one to get started with Blogger. The book has detailed instructions on how to sign up with Blogger, how to set up a blog, how to post, and how to improve. Well worth the small price of the book. 

"The Everything Blogging Book" -Chapter 10: Starting with Blogger

By Aliza Sherman Risdahl (Avon, MA: Adams Media/F+W Pub. Co., 2006, 305 pages)

In chapter 9 the author evaluates various hosts and blogging programs including Blogger, LiveJournal, and TypePad. A very helpful chapter in comparing the different and similar features that all the hosts and blogging programs offer.

In Chapter 10, pages 124-129 it takes you though the specifics of signing up and setting up a new blog at Blogger. Very helpful info. as a guideline and easier to access than constantly clicking on the Blogger help button.

I would recommend using this book and the "Blogging for Dummies"book to help in setting up and getting started with Blogger. 

"Blogging For Dummies" -Chapter 6: Blogger

by Brad Hill (Indianapolis, Indiana: Wiley Publishing. Inc., 2006, 368 pgs.)

There is a complete chapter (Chapter 6 pg. 85-112) is this book about getting started with Blogger. The info. represents the 'old' program but most all of it is still valid and helpful for the current 'New' Blogger.

Hill goes through how to set up your site and explores the editor settings for posting an article. Then he talks about templates and how to change the look of your Blogger site. It is much easier to use this book than clicking back and forth for info. on the help site.

Getting Started with Blogger -An Evaluation

There are a number of very good reasons to use Blogger.

1. The Cost: 0, zip, nada.

2. It is fast and easy. Using the basic default settings you can get started in less than 30 minutes. Even if you are particular like me and you want to view a bunch of template possibilities, it should only take an hour or so. It took me less than an hour to set up this site the way that it is. *note: This info. & site features the 'New' Blogger program.