A Blogger's Tool Kit

To publish a basic blog, you will need a blog host, an image host, and some kind of metrics (hit counter) to keep you in touch with your traffic.

1.1: Blog Host

There are many blog hosts on the 'Net that offer solid blogging resources. However, I recommend Blogger as a host. Blogger has all of the essentials, such as RSS feed, mutliple blogs per account, templates, email posting, and WYSIWYG post editing. Blogger also offers in-blog search and connections to other blogs (at the top of the blog page).

Most recently, Blogger has upgraded the system to dynamic content (like how Squidoo lenses are made) and labels, or tags, for posts.

Blogger also has hosting for in-post pics. This makes putting graphics in entries very easy and the images will load faster because they don't have to be taken from another host.

There are free blog hosts that offer more, such as post categorizing. However, Blogger is a stable, proven host. Also, for advanced users, you can put your blog in your own domain.

For a more advanced blog host, Wordpress can't be beat. It has all the features of Blogger plus the ability to make static paces and a better tagging system.

1.2: Image Host

If you want images for your blog, you have to get an image host. I prefer Photobucket. This image host is blogger freindly, and actually allows posts to be made to the major blog hosts from the Photobucket website. Of course, Photobucket formats image tags for easy placement in your blog. PB has a very useful online editor for those who want to tweak photos on the fly.

1.3: Metrics

"Metrics" is just a fancy way of saying "measurement." In this case, it means looking for something to track a blog's traffic and subscriptions. Two useful hit counters for blogs are Blogpatrol and whos.amung.us.

The essential tools are used to build and track your blog. Now its time to promote your work and protect the content.

2.1: Technorati

Technorati tracks blogs, categorizing posts and blogs by the use of tags.

A blogger who can master Technorati's descriptive tags can move a lot of traffic to his or her blog. Beginning bloggers can easily incorporate Technorati tags in blog templates. Advanced users should fully explore Technorati's tag features by changing and adding tags.

Embed tags in your blog to be listed in Technorati's blog directory. Embed tags in your posts to get attention to what your are doing.

2.2: Creative Commons

Protect your work by letting others know exactly what they can do with it by posting a Creative Common License. You can modify your license and display it with a graphic on your blog.

2.3: Squidoo

You're looking a Squidoo lens. Create a lens based upon your blog's topic, create static pages to compliment your blog, and even display your blog's feed on Squidoo.

2.4: Add This

Add This is an efficient, easy to use social bookmark and feed button. It takes up little space but allows readers to add the blog to many different venues. I have replaced my standard Blogger sharing module with Add This.