Blogs and blogging for beginners      
A blog is a website that anyone can add text to when they visit it.

Here's how to do it.

Each item in the blog is called a post

Under each post there is a link that says 0 comments or a number followed by comments.

Click on this link and page will appear with any comments left by anyone else and a box that you can write your own comments in.

Write your comment.

You can either comment anonymously by clicking in the circle by Anonymous.

A dot will appear in the circle, you then click on PUBLISH YOUR COMMENT and that's it done.

Or you can include your name and website if you have one, by clicking in the circle by Name/URL

A dot will appear in the circle, and a space for your name and URL of your website if you have one, fill the space, you then click on PUBLISH YOUR COMMENT and that's it done.

If you join blogger.com you can post under your preferred identity, this prevents any malicious person from pretending to be you and making it appear that you have said something you haven't.

Alternatively you can email your comment to me, please make it clear that it is a comment for the blog by clicking here.

Blogs and blogging for beginners part 2 getting your blogger dashboard

First I should point out this is free and doesn’t cost you anything.

This is my second posting on the subject and is for those of you who wish to get into the driving seat and start your own blog, or wish to join blogger to prevent other people maliciously using their identity.

Before joining blogger you will need to work out what name you want to use for yourself as this will appear as when you post on other blogs, you also need to decide on what email address you want to use. This is very important if you wish to hide your true identity and you may need to get a hotmail or other free email address before you start.

The name you use for yourself is the one that appears in your blogger profile and doesn’t need to be the same as the name of your blog, indeed you can have a number of blogs all using your chosen name.

I have 2 blogs http://thanetonline.blogspot.com/, which is my main blog and http://michaelsbookshop.blogspot.com/, which I occasionally play with, but is pointless.

You then go to blogger.com and sign up following the instructions which are all fairly straightforward.

After having done this when you go to blogger.com and sign on you go to your own blogger dashboard where you can do various things.
One final thing in the sign in box your username is your email address.