Blogging For Newbies

It seems hard to believe that less than a year ago, I scarcely knew what a blog was.  Now here I am a blogging maniac at 50 years old!  When I was younger I used to keep journals about my life and the delightful ways my children kept me entertained.  Now, as I approach senior citizen status, (I can’t believe I’m saying this), I find myself blogging about life in general.  Blogging has become a new hobby of mine that I am very passionate about.  It is also a fascinating way to learn intricate details about other people.  So pull up a chair, won’t you?  And let me pour you a cup of Satsuma Tea.  I’d like to encourage anybody who has never tried blogging, to go ahead and take the plunge and learn to share what matters most to you.  Don’t know what to blog about?  Don’t worry.  It’ll come to you.  Most people are passionate about something.  Religion, politics, family matters, music, travel, entertainment, sports, shopping, tea parties?  The list goes on and on.  You can even start a blog to compliment your business, or to keep in contact with customers.  So many ways to use a blog, and benefit from it.  So here are just a few tips to get you started.

The first thing you may be interested in knowing is that you can blog for free!  There are several different blogsites you can use.  Some are actually for private family use only, if you’d prefer to keep your entries within a smaller circle of readers.  You may also want to know that you can actually make money blogging, by allowing advertisers to post their ads on your blog.  (I currently do not allow advertisements on either of my blogs.  So I cannot speak of how well this works.  I have heard from others that it can take a LONG time to earn any significant amount of money.  But it’s good to know that it is an option for bloggers).

My two favorite blogsites are Blogspot and WordPress.  To start a blog on either site you will need to register by filling out some basic information.  You may wish to add a profile page by adding a few personal details about yourself that explain the kind of person you are, and give a hint as to what type of blogger you will be.  You can upload a photograph of yourself from your own computer to add to your profile page. 

Now you are ready to create a page design.  Sounds tricky, doesn’t it?  Don’t worry!  WordPress and Blogspot have made it so easy for you!  They have several pre-selected themes for you to choose from, with different layouts.  Links on the left, links on the right?  One column, two, or even three? Want to blog about food?  There are dozens of pictures, colors and themes to choose from.  They have done all the work for you.  So just pick something now.  You can always go back and change it later.  Or customize it with your own photos.  Let the blogging experience be fun, not a nightmare.  So just start out slow and know that things can be changed and perfected later.  It’s really okay if you don’t understand everything yet.  Just play around with it.  Take your time.  Take a week or a month.  Ask questions.  The support staff at WordPress has been very helpful to me.  But for the most part, I have to confess, the whole process through both WordPress and Blogspot is very user friendly and self explanatory.  You really can’t goof it up.  You can only make it better.  So don’t be afraid to go ahead and dive in! Believe me, if this ole techno-challenged boomer can figure it out, anyone can.

Once you have your blog design selected you are ready for your first post.  Hit the “New Post” button and you’re on your way. The programs work just like any other word processor with spell check and other options to make your writings look tidy.  You can also link to a website, upload a photo, add a video, poll, sound effects, etc.  There is no special skills or software needed to perform these functions.  They are all included here at WordPress, or on Blogspot. They give you all the tools needed, so that you can just concentrate on being creative with your writing and photo sharing. Go ahead and write your little story.  These are called ”posts”.  Blogging is not intended to be a book.  It’s just a ”snippet” or short story.  When you string them together they can become like a journal or online magazine. 

 To help search engines find what you’ve written you need to find the categories, tags, and/or labels buttons.  Here you will be able to add keywords from your blog, and the subject matter that it deals with. It may take a while for search engines to find you initially, but this step is critical if you wish to expand your readership beyond a small circle. When you are happy with your first post, hit the “publish” button and viola…you are now an official online blogger!  How cool is that?

Add followers. Obviously there really isn’t any point in blogging if no one is ever going to read it.  A word of caution here, be careful what you blog about.  You really don’t want to write nasty stuff about your mother in law, or your next door neighbor.  Keep it clean and interesting, but not overly personal.  Remember the u-tube divorcee who spilled dirty secrets all over the internet about her ex-husband?  While there may be an appetite for that by some internet users, it is highly inappropriate to use the internet as a means of trying to seek revenge by destroying the reputation of someone you once were in love with. So how do you find readers or followers?  Well, how bout if I save that for another day?  There are dozens of tricks you can use to increase readership.   And quite honestly, I am still learning this for myself.  But truly the subject matter here deserves a post of it’s own.  Let’s talk about it next week.  Won’t you join me for tea then?

Have a blessed day,

Tea Lady Darla

If Walls Could Talk….

Well, apparently I must think I’ve got quite a lot to say, since one blog is no longer enough for this ole gal.  Tea On Tuesday has been, and will continue to be, the place where I share my heartfelt thoughts with family and friends over a hot cup of Tea.  “If Walls Could Talk” will be geared to different subject matter more relevent to the many contacts I have in Redmond through business and church, with a twist of Pastor Steve’s exhortation to “engage the culture in which we live”. You will find crafty ideas, Redmond business spotlights, suggested places to go, fun things to do, political polls, people I know, and, (once in a while), personal opinions on current events. Oh yeah.  You don’t want to miss this.  Darla attempts to have tact about subjects she feels passionate about.

This month features some fun holiday suggestions for places to go and things to do in Redmond. (Don’t miss my little post about  “THE HEN’S TOOTH” ).   I hope you will stop by and check out my fun new blog at www.letterladydarla.blogspot.com . And let me know what you think. 

Thanks,

Tea Lady Darla

Turning A New Leaf

Yowsers!  According to my calender we are almost half way through the month of January already. I haven’t had Tea On Tuesday in a while.  In fact, my son tells me I should rename my blog “Tea Twice A Year”. Guilty as charged.  But I do promise to make every attempt to keep up better in 09.  My goal is to write every other week.  I don’t know why my kids have to be so honest anyway.  Did I teach them that? Well…at least they could pretend to be nice when they have something to tell me. They won’t even do that. “Gee mom, you’re legs look enoromous in that dress.” I guess I should thank them for that little tip.  I haven’t worn a dress since.

Well, 2009 is upon us.  And I’m not too thrilled with how it’s begun.  My husband and I are total newshounds.  But frankly I’m just sick too death of the circus we call politics in this country.  As much as I try to keep up with whose who in politics….who the new senator of Illinois is, or the governor of Minnesota, (Franken…are you people serious?!), I just can hardly stomach it all.  Yesterday I had the misfortune of hearing Gov. Blagojavich’s pitiful response to his impeachment.  I’ve never heard anything so absurd in my whole life. I do think it would make an excellent piece in the sequel to An American Carol.  But other than that it was good for little more than using the tape it was filmed on as toilet tissue.  (I am a nice tea lady, and that’s as brutally honest as I can be.  Hopefully it’s not too late for my children to learn a thing or two about being polite from me).

I’m not even gonna get started on this whole Wall Street bailout business. I am just so saddened by it all.  There is so much corruption in this country.  I guess it’s true what they say, “Ignorance is bliss”, cause I liked America a whole lot better before I knew about all this.  There is very little I feel I can say or do to change things about the big picture overall, (except to pray for God’s mercy on judgement day). I am, however responsible for my own actions, and trying to make life a better place for those around me.

The other day while wandering through town, I reached in my pocket and found a little note that had been placed there several weeks ago.  I hadn’t seen it until that moment. It read, “You are a great servant to your family.  You lead by example; keeping things up and cooking viddles all the time.  Coming to your warm home is always a repreive from our busy full life.  I love you.” It was signed by my son-in-law.  That little note really touched my heart.  You know I may not be a great person in the eyes of the world.  But if my kids are able to see me serving them and leading by example, than I feel like my life has been a tremendous success! Maybe that’s why God has blessed me with the most awesome amazing family in the world! Life just doesn’t get any better than this folks! How I wish are American leaders could learn to serve their country, and lead by example. I dare say this country might be in a better place if that were the case.

In 2009 I pray that there will be change…in our government, in our homes and in our hearts. It’s time to pray for forgiveness and mercy. It’s time to turn over a new leaf in this chapter of our lives. It starts with each one of us.  May we all lead by example and have servant hearts. 

Blessings to all,

Tea Lady Darla