Some of my friends blog to promote their books, but my blogs are for my own pleasure. I haven't signed up to get paid for advertising, and I don't do anything with keywords. I have a small following, and occasionally someone will stumble upon one of the blogs while searching for something.

I guess my answer is that I love to write, and I'm a born communicator. I enjoy blogging.

That's how I feel. I love to write and I write little stories all the time. As I write them, I share them with people who might be interested. But I just like to write..

I always thought I was too boring to interest anyone with my life, but quite a few people were always wanting to see what I was making and it was easier to post it once on a blog instead of emailing photos to everyone all the time. So I started a blog that is about my crafts/quilting and our pets and life in the country and my friends seem to appreciate it and I've made lots of new friends there too. Occasionally I post a tutorial on how to make something, that seems to please the crafty people a lot.

Here is a link that might be useful: My blog- FlossieBlossoms

Flamingo, I don't know how you could think you are boring! You are very talented, and I've seen your blog before- you have a knack for this. Alisande's blog is very nice too. I'm going to take some time this afternoon to peruse them both.

I just don't feel that I have anything to say that would interest anyone... kind of like how you said you felt, Flamingo, but in my case it's probably true! LOL! I'm also a little intimidated by my friend's blog- hers is so funny, I'm always laughing right out loud at it. She puts a lot into it.

But I suppose I can try it and see how it goes.

I have a photo-a-day blog, I started because I am a member of a photo website and others were going to start one to challenge themselves to take more and better photos. I signed up (in 2006) and I've just kept going. I have a small following, people seem to like my photos so I'll keep at it for now.

Here is a link that might be useful: My blog

Your blog is beautiful, Casey!

How does one pick the right site to start a blog on?

I blog because my coworkers, family and friends encouraged me to do it after I shared my idea. My idea was inspired by another site (foundmagazine.com) It's fun and I consider it a hobby. When I read blogs, I ALWAYS read "About Me" because it really gives some interesting info and it usually explains why someone blogs. I have quite a few that I read daily.

Here is a link that might be useful: Read it to the Class blog

How does one pick the right site to start a blog on?

I looked at some of my friends' blogs and chose looks I liked. At the time, I picked Blogspot and Wordpress. Other sites have probably jumped into it now, too.

If you aren't sure what you want to write about, you might think about a theme for yours. Flamingo showcases her creations, for example. I'm familiar with many rug hooking blogs and food blogs. Paula_PA has an excellent cookbook blog. I had a lot of fun with my song blog several years ago, although in the interval since I last posted in it some of the music videos have been removed from YouTube, so not all of the links still work.

After losing contact with two of my great nieces, we found each other again.

Their mother had died and they asked a lot of questions about our family. I decided to start a blog, but realized it was not what I wanted for that purpose.

Years ago I built two web sites with Angelfire, so I went back and took another look there. Fortunately now they have expanded and offer free, easy to learn ways to build web sites and HTML knowledge is not necessary.

I chose to do that and I have put in all the family information I have, back to grandparents and great grandparents, plus have answered their questions.

They can add to it or ask more questions.

You might want to consider a web site rather than a blog, depending on what your purpose is.

Go to Angelfire.com if you are interested.

I have no financial or other interests in Angelfire.

Sue

I want to start a family blog. As we travel, I write emails to family and friends letting them know where we are and what we are seeing and doing. I have done this mostly for our grandson...it makes a good family reading together time (so I have been told) and then our travel companions and home-bound family members from all over the US have looked forward to our adventurs. I don't proclaim to be a gifted writer...but for those feel like reading it, it would be there. Leaving in a couple of weeks,so I am aiming to get it done before then. Adventures in Mexico...comming up! Nanny

I have a couple I kind of do it hit or miss. I like blogspot for a nice good basic blog it is super easy to use and has some nice templates etc. I also use tripod for website with blog. One is strictly tech related and pc help links etc.

I started my blog just for a fun thing to do. I still have a lot to learn though. I didn't know about the blogs that have been mentioned so will be visiting them soon! :)

Here is a link that might be useful: Country Reflections

I just had a few minutes here... I will be back to look over the blogs soon. But what are the pros and cons of websites vs blogs?

I blogged for 2 years about working at home. I did it for two reasons. The first reason was that I was always being asked about working at home, so I decided to refer them to my blog to read about it, and the second reason was to make money from the blog.

Shows how much I know. How do you make money from a blog? (I expect that's for the more professional bloggers...)

I don't blog, I journal on my bike trips. My journals are here:

http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/giantcycle99

at blogs, you read the newest entry first, where at crazyguy you read it as it happens, which to me means, the newest is at the bottom.

Moni

I made money on my blog with advertising that was geared to be of interest to my readers.

About the pros and cons of Blogs and Web sites. In my case, I wasn't relating any day-by-day activities. It was a "collection" I guess you could call it of facts about family members, some still living, some passed on. I included birth dates and death dates; humorous stories and sad stories, and pictures.

Like some others, I also enjoy writing. I included the URL for the previous two sites I had made earlier, where I posted little stories about my life.

I am the last surviving member of my immediate family, so if I don't pass these things on they will be forgotten.

I won't post the web site's address, because the info there is only important to my family.

One of the benefits of a web site or blog is that it jogs your own memory. One thought brings on another, and another.

Try it, you might like it!

Sue

Thanks for all the great information, and fantastic sites to view. I'm still enjoying going through them all. Lots to think about!

But what are the pros and cons of websites vs blogs?

One could say that a blog is a website. But since it's part of something bigger, I'm guessing you're talking about a freestanding website of one's own.

For one thing, blogs are free; you don't have to pay a fee to maintain your URL. People with personal (or commercial) websites often include a blog as part of the whole. I guess it really depends on what you want to do. If all you want is write about something (your life, your dog, your earring collection, whatever) and maybe post some pictures, a blog is perfect. If you want to make a more elaborate presentation, such as an author would do with a page for a book list, another page for book excerpts, other pages for other things, it would be worth investing in a website.

My son's ham radio website

My friend Crystal's Catholic convert blog

I LOVE to read blogs! I love to listen Um...read about other peoples lives, interest, and what they are doing. I feel connected somehow with the people I read about. I am homebound mostly and it is a nice way to read the good "news". LOL I am too busy reading peoples blogs for me to ever start one of my own. Plus, I live a way too boring life to ever start blogging.

I do too, thistledew. I have read about how being a "lurker" is akin to being a "pepping tom"....which HAS made me make more of an effort to respond to threads than before. I just enjoy hearing about other ideas and things people are willing to share with me. I am somewhat homebound, unless we are traveling in our motor home. Shopping or medical appointments aren't very interesting (or we hope not). However, when we travel, I like to share my observations with family and interested friends, and thus my desire to write in a blog format. I think!
Nanny
Nanny

A blog is more of a diary and can be updated regularly, daily or even more often. It can be interactive, allowing readers to leave messages for the writer.

A website is more or less permanent, not changing much, and is often used as a point of contact for a business. It's more static than a blog.

Susan, just to clarify a point in case I didn't make it clear in my post above, Angelfire.com has both free and paid sites. All three of mine are free.

Sue