How to Create Your Own Blog
Several times a week I am asked two questions:
What is a blog?
How can I make my own blog?
So, I thought I would take a break from the deadly serious subject of surviving despite HIV and tackle another tough subject: blogging, and how to do it.
What is a blog?
Let’s start with a definition. The term blog was created by combining the two terms “web” and “log.” Somewhere along the line, someone simplified these into the single word, blog. A blog is a journal of sorts that stores and displays (usually in reverse chronology) a person’s blog posts (articles). Most blogs are articles around a certain subject. For instance, my blog hivlongevity.com was created to discuss how I’ve survived all of these years despite being HIV+. As you can see, not all of my articles are specific to this, but most all of them relate back to the subject in some form or fashion.
You will find that almost all blogs out there have a way for readers and subscribers to comment on a specific post. In this way there is often an open dialog between author and readers. Therein lies the magic of a blog!
Should you create a blog?
Do you have a story to tell? Or, do you have lots of things to say that you think others would dig reading? You first might consider sticking to simple social media avenues like twitter and facebook. But, if you, like me, feel compelled to post long diatribes on a routine basis then maybe a blog is for you. First and foremost, will you be able to keep up with a blog? Many authorities in the blogging world recommend posting a blog article AT LEAST once per week. Most say that you should even do more than that (think two or three per week at a minimum).
If you think you have something to share. And, that you’ll be able to share that weekly (or more often). And, (perhaps most importantly) that others will be interested in what you have to say/share … Then a blog may be just the thing for you.
Before moving forward and creating a blog, I would recommend going out and reading other people’s blogs. Find ones that you like and read them on a regular basis. Note what they do that you like, and what they do that bugs you. This way you will be more prepared to provide a good blog for your future fans.
How is a blog created?
One of the first things you need to decide is if you want to host or be hosted. What that mostly means is how your URL will look. When I created hivlongevity.com I decided to host it myself, which gives me the unique URL and a little bit more control (including deciding not to have ads on my blog). If I had gone the hosted route, my blog URL might have been something like: hivlongevity.wordpress.com
If you can afford to pay for a URL and site, and have the additional time needed to manage and administer your own site, I would recommend hosting it yourself. In addition to not having some providers ads on your blog, you also get the unique name, and to me it feels more like your personal site.
That said, a free hosted blog site can be a good way to get started and learn the ropes. Just remember that if your idea/blog takes off and you decide to host it yourself later that you will not necessarily take your subscribers with you!
Creating a hosted blog is extremely easy. You simply go sign-up at a service like:
If you plan to do the hosting yourself, then I recommend using a provider like http://godaddy.com or someone similar. GoDaddy has a very easy process and you can stand up a server with preinstalled blog software using your very own domain name.
I purposely didn’t go into deep detail here, because there are lots of sites that have already done this. If you are new to domain creation and blog install, I would recommend visiting one or more of the following sites:
Another great resource (as usual) is http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blog
How to attract readers to your new blog
Once you have the blog in place and have done a post or two, start by bouncing it off your friends with emails and status post on your favorite social media sites. With a little bit of feedback, you should be able to adjust and work up to a mighty masterpiece.
When you feel that your blog is ready for the general population, you can freely advertise it by going to other (similar) blogs and replying to blog articles as comments. You will notice that most blog comments allow you to put your web site URL in there … Insert your blog URL
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. Before you know it, you will start to have a following and it will grow by word of mouth.
Deeper marketing and publicity ideas are easily found on blogs around the web.
Most of all; make sure that you are having fun with your blog.
Now … Start writing!
Your friend and fellow blogger,
Vaughn
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Posted by Vaughn Ripley
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My memoir, Survivor: One Man's Battle with HIV, Hemophilia, and Hepatitis C is available at bookstores and online. You can buy your copy here.

And, be sure to checkout all of my books here.
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