(08-02-10)+The+Blog+-+A+Step+By+Step+Users+Guide-Written+by+Kieron+Edwards+(WC659)+NC

__** The Blog **__

__ A Step by Step Users Guide __ toc

__ Introduction __
As imaginary company Rolling Solutions wants to extend the ways in which it communicates with its staff. Using a specialist channel of communication like the ‘blog’ could be one way. This is a step-by-step guide on how to step up and use a simple blog.

First of all choose a website to host your blog. There are many to choose from however the most popular sites seem to be the one I am using as an example: [|www.blogger.com] or wordpress.org.



**Step One**
Click //‘Create a blog’.//



**Step Two**
‘Create a Google Account’. If you do not have a //‘Google Account’// you must create one: To do this fill in the details on the page. Take care to create a strong password. Decide if you want like to be on the mailing list and accept the terms and conditions. If you do have an account with Google, log in.



**Step Three**
Once the account has been created or you have logged into your existing account you must //‘Sign up for Blogger’.// You must decide on a //‘Display name'// (the name people will see signed on the posts you make). You must also read and accept the //‘Terms of service//’; this policy defines how you can use //‘Blog’.// Then click //‘Continue’.//



**Step Four**
You must then //‘Name your blog’.// To do this you must think of a //‘Blog title’// this will appear on your published blog, your //‘dashboard’// and your profile. Next you must choose a //‘Blog address’// or //‘URL’//. This is the location of the file on the internet that you and visitors use to access your blog. Be aware that there has already been large number of blogs created so you will have to think of an original one (This took me about 6 tries). I chose [|http://grumble-grumble-grumble.blogspot.com]. Then click ‘Continue’.



**Step Five**
You must now //‘Choose a template’.// There are a number to choose from, this is to begin the process of personalising your blog. Once chosen, these settings can be altered again one the blog has been set up. Click //‘Continue’.//



**Step Six**
//‘Your blog has been created!’// You can now //‘blog’// away to your heart’s content by clicking //‘Start Blogging'.// The word //‘blog’// which is a shortened version of the phrase //‘web log’//. On your //‘web log’// as well as adding text it is possible to add hyperlinks to websites and other //‘blogs’//, pictures and videos. There are options to add these extras on the //‘posting'// page.



**Step Seven**
Writing your blog: using the //‘Posting'// page. It is simple enough creating a basic blog for general use, now the difficult part, thinking of something to write about. It’s best to stay in and around a specific subject to keep people interested enough to come back and read your posts over and over again. It is easy to post, write in the text box provided, add a title and //‘publish pos//t', simple as that. There are many options on the page for altering and editing your blog the main tabs are //‘Settings’//, //‘Layout’//' and //‘Monetise’//' (which is for adding adverts to your blog to make money).



**Step Eight**
Adding posts. As you can see the posts are listed in reverse chronological order. As more posts are added they move down the page, eventually disappearing from the page, they are not lost however and are instead archived and kept so they can still be viewed.



**Step Nine**
Organising your blog, using the //‘Dashboard’.// Once created, a blog can be completely customised. This is done using the ‘Dashboard’. This page can be found as a link on the page where you write the blog. Using the various options you can add pictures of yourself, ‘edit your profile’ and decide what information about yourself you wish to be displayed to the outside world, change the layout again (if you wish) and edit the posts (delete or re-write them).

There you have it, step by step, how to create and use a blog.


 * Word Count = 702 / Written by Kieron Edwards / 8 February 2010**