Yours truly is gearing up to launch a blog. I'm currently working iwth a search engine optimization company that has highly recommended that I do this.

Sooooo, my question is to you, what are some of your favorite blogs and why? It obviously has to do with content you're interested in, but what about design, or anything else to do with the blog?

Thanks for you help. I appreciate it!

Dotsie, do you know what service you will be using? Such as Wordpress? Michelle (actually Dan) set up my blog using Wordpress, then I took over. It is easy for me to navigate. There are many themes to choose from. What else exactly are you asking? About the service, platform, or ease of use? Or what we like to visit? Have you seen any designs you like?

But, did'nt you use to blog before, Dotsie?

I visit www.asksistermarymartha.blogspot.com because she reminds me of a nun in my school. But mostly, because she makes me laugh.

I do my own, no help needed from anyone and the feedback I have received is people who read it like the content, the stuff I talk about. I keep the content of my blog different everyday and interesting enough to grab the readers of it so they feel involved.

I will visit a blog if the content changes often. It's no fun visiting and seeing the same thing over and over. Then, for me, it's simply a website.

Although I don't do it, pictures are wonderful and help you know the person in a different way than writing.

Know your purpose.

Just a few of my opinion notes.

I rarely visit any anyone's blog. And when I do, it's work-related. Usually a colleague who writes and speaks on particular subjects.

I've toyed with an idea of a blog. But seriously to me, it requires expressing oneself well and also sharing new discoveries in life and from the Internet. I will occasionally browse someone's personal cycling blog. The most useful one's are creative and full of links to useful resources. Creative and dynamically changing content is key.

Besides, blog technology is just now an easier way to update and change content by several people (who have access) for an organization.

I rarely visit blogs either. I seem to stumble across some relevant ones through google searches, and value the content they have. But I have never read a blog on a continuing basis.

I think it's because I have to choose where to spend my computer time, since I have so much to do. And I prefer the give/take of the forums over just reading someone's blog.

That being said, if done well, they can be an excellent asset for links to your site, and if done right, can also bring in money from things like Google AdSense.

K

I rarely visit blogs. I read Chatty's and Saundra's. That's all.
And I go to those because of the link here. I think blogs are fine but there are only so many hours in the day.

Hummmm, why are they called blogs? What does that mean in the writing game anyway. I always thought a 'blog' was a dangerous muddy place in the English countryside.

I think you mean a bog, Chatty. And in actuality, bogs are generally safe, if you know what you are doing. I took a science class at a national park one summer, and one of my favorite parts was walking on top of the bog. It was phenomenal how much you could see of bog life - animal and plant.

A blog is on online "web log", like a journal or diary.

There are a handful of blogs I read regularly, usually because they deal with writing, or because they're a nice break to put a smile or laugh in my day. (That's why I do mine; to give folks a lift.) There's one I read because it's done by a young woman who must live with her husband in Mexico until he can get American citizenship, and it's interesting to see what life is like there under those circumstances. One I read because it was a young mother I met online who kept a blog to follow the growth of her premature baby--it was uplifting and exciting to see that he was going to live. Good blogs are like an outreach program that touches the reader.

Oh for heavens sake Anno, I did mean BOG! Dah, Sherlock Holmes would roll over in his grave hearing his favorite mystery fan referring to a BOG as a blog! Forgive me, could my memmo-paused mind be coming back???

I am just happy that I am not the only one with a memo-pausing brain. Thank god I have good company in this land of mental lapses.

Lynn, it will be wordpress. I was speaking in terms of topics that interest you.

Lola, I blogged for another site, but no longer do that. I've been advised to blog to drive more traffic to the sites. Always somethin'.

chatty and Anno, thanks for sharing your professional blooging expertise.

Amy, I was once foloowing a blog about a guy whose wife was deathly ill. He was a faithful man and it was inspiring. I fell away from it. Wonder if she's still living.

I also read my son's blog. It's another way to feel connected to him.

orchid and Kathy, I don't reas too many on a regular basis, but definetly freguent a few that ahve to do with baby boomers.

I follow a few blogs because they automatically send me e-mail notifications when the blogs are updated. Without the notifications, I would forget to go back to them. Does Wordpress have that function, or is it something you have to install separately?

I have a blog, I don't think I know much about getting anyone else to read it, or how to get anyone else to read it because I think I pretty much started it for myself, my thoughts on art and how I feel about expressing myself at this particular point in my life. And I'm on blogspot.com. It lets you add 10 email addresses to send it to automatically, but I always wonder if that's a huge imposition on people and if they'd be too polite to say "omg, would you quit sending me that? we know you, we know what you're thinking and we don't have to hear you every day!"
I follow several and they are usually about art, different techniques and styles, they have lots of pictures, lots of reflection on life, some are young mothers, some are artists, some are just women making their way trying to get a self styled business up and going. And I know that my interests are fairly narrow at the moment - it's mostly art directed, but that's what I'm feeding myself at the moment.

Kate

I'm not liking wordpress so much anymore. It is a pain to figure out how to add features, such as what you just asked, Lefty. I mean, if I wanted to notify others of new blog posts, I'm sure there is that feature, but I'd have to learn how to add it, not just on Wordpress, but also via my "parent" site. Yikes! I did not set up Wordpress myself. Boeschel Creative did it for me, as she did my main site too. While I love having a blog, I'm not so good at implementing new features. You have to understand the language, and sometimes the applications (features to add) come with tutorials, and that tells you something: if you need a tutorial to add, then it can't be easy. On the other hand, Wordpress offers so many more options and features than other standard blogs, if you know how to use them. Another thing is figuring out how to drive traffic to your site and blog.

I am proud to have 10 followers to my blog. I planned to blog daily but not only is my time limited, but so is what I have to blog about without ticking off the entire planet. I do blog every week usually and am guarded as to what I say. Well sort of!!!LOL...NOT!

chatty, how were the fireworks in Vegas? I bet they were wild.

I read your blog but for some reason, can't reply.

Also want you to know that I respond to some of your emails, but never hear back. I think it's because I get caught in your spam filter. Every now and then, after replying to one of your emails, I get a message that says something about spam, but I don't always get that.

I rarely send you emails Dots, as they are normally just jokes and I know how busy you are. I do send the diabetes notifications however for your family. Thanks for reading my blog and am not sure why you can't get a comment to work.

Oh and the Vegas fireworks were pretty spectacular if I must say so myself, but then I ran indoors and watched the ones in New York and then Boston. They were truly breathtaking, and those colors were unbelievable. This was a very nice 4th of July.

I rarely visit blogs. If I find any interesting blogs then I read, especially those which are related to traveling.

__________________
Budget management

chatty, what I wnated you to know is that I send you responses sometimes, but they bounce.

andrewson, my husband loves reading vacation blogs. Whenever we travel, he always tries to find what others have to say about the palce we are venturing off to. It's a great way to learn if a place is everything they say it is.

Cycling world has tons of blogs. I occasionally check ones that cover Canadian and international developments on cycling advocacy/events. Not at all interested in racing world. Some of it covers cycling related art, municipal initiatives, new routes, cycling oriented fashion and funky cycling events.

It is quite different from NABWW, in spirit, content and usually co-ed participants.

i do look at some cycling trip blogs for specific areas of the world..either we've been there already or are thinking of in a dreamy way.

i like seeing Madelaine's blog what new art pieces she has done occasionally and recently.

Jabber, thanks for reading my blog.

Dotsie, I love my blog and just got my new Wordpress blog/website up and running. I built it myself (after taking a class). I'm pretty darn proud, too. I even have an Amazon store.

Now I have to blog more often. www.gotteethguide.com is the same name with a new look.

Congratulations on your blog launch, Saundra.
Have you thought of teaming with a public health nurse or similar in terms of their educational programming. Perhaps as a volunteer.

Would give an extra dimension since this is your passion. For instance, I was shocked to learn about teeth deteoriation when drug addicts are on crystal meth. Their teeth can be awful and damage is permanent! Maybe help educate others in this area too.

Your blog looks incredible. YOu have so much content. I like how it's organized. Very well done.

Thank you, Dotsie. You humble me.

Orchid, you always have the best ideas. I am very public about the fact that I am an informed patient who cares about others, but I do not have a degree in the dental sciences. It has proved difficult to be taken seriously by those with degrees.

"Meth Mouth" is on my list of subjects to blog about. Cocaine also ruins teeth.

Very nice looking blog, Saundra. Are you saying that you used a word press theme? You did a great job of organizing!

Hi PL. Yes, it is a Wordpress theme. I'm glad you think the organization is good. That means the peole who land on my page will have an easy time finding their way around and won't be so quick to leave. That was my goal. Yay! I reached a goal!

Saundra, thanks for pointing out your blog and I particularly enjoyed reading the post about redheads. Every bit of that is true! Trust me, been there, done that. Even if I'm partially gray now. Dentist equal OUCH. Although I will say the one I have has only hurt me once in the 20+ years I've been going to him. He is very sensitive to his patients needs and really does listen!

Love the blog...will be there often!

Red hair and Scottish descent.
Norse people made their way here...must have left their calling card.
several of my family are and were red haired.and absolutly their threshold is lower for pain..also nosebleeds.

I recognised this too in school over many years.













.