Online journals
The Basics of Blogging

These free sites will open your eyes to the world of Web logs.

REVIEWED BY KELLY QUIGLEY

Blogging Roundup:

• Blogger.com
• Search.Blogger.com
• Technorati.com
  
  Welcome to the blogoshphere! Blogs—short for Web logs—are online journals that can have many uses, from informing clients and prospects about the latest real estate market conditions, to discussing current events with family and friends. An estimated 20 million already are in existence, and that number is quickly growing. Whatever your audience, blogs are an affordable and effective way to build an online community and spark discussion with those who visit the Web site. If you’re new to blogging, don’t be intimidated; these free sites will help you become quickly acquainted with the world of Web logs:
  
• Blogger.com. Of the many Web sites that let you create your own blog for free, this is perhaps the easiest to use. Even if you’ve never seen a blog before, you’ll be able to create your very own in a matter of minutes. Blogging rookies should start out by clicking on the blue “Take a Tour” link on the home page. There, you’ll learn What’s a Blog?, then find out how to use a blog to Publish Your Thoughts, Get Feedback from your blog visitors, Post Photos, and more. But there’s no better way to learn about blogs than to build one. To do that, just Create an Account for free by choosing a username, password, and inputting your e-mail address. Once you’ve signed up, you’ll be asked to name your blog—which may take some creativity if the catchy name you want is already taken—and choose a design template. Then all you have to do is write out your thoughts, post it to your blog at the click of a button, and then let people know about it to drive traffic to your blog! This easy-to-use site is affiliated with Google, which hosts your blog for free.
  
• Search.Blogger.com. Say you’re more interested in reading other peoples’ blogs than maintaining your own. This simple search tool, also operated by Google, will zero in on any topic you’d like. For example, search “real estate” and you’ll get a list of blogs all over the world that are focused on the industry. For fun, type in the name of your community to see where it’s mentioned in the world of Web logs.
  
• Technorati.com. Keeping its finger on the pulse of the blogosphere, Technorati is a good destination for those who are interested in learning about the hot topics being discussed online. Click on the Popular tab to read about the most-discussed News, Books, Movies, and Blogs. Or use the Blog Finder to search for topics relevant to your business, from Marketing to Technology. A more sophisticated search tool allows you to Search the Live Web for blogs that contain certain words or phrases. You can Join Technorati by entering your e-mail address, a username, and password in order to receive “Watchlist” e-mails about blogs that contains your keywords.

Learn More

Blogging for Profit
This recent REALTOR® Magazine article explains how to use blogs as a real estate marketing tool.

NAR’s Web Wizard Report: Web Logs" />
This simple technology with an unusual name is hitting the mainstream and taking the Web by storm. Here’s how to get a blog to work for you.

Center for REALTOR® Technology Blog
Receive and contribute timely information on technology and real estate.

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The NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® and REALTOR® Magazine Online are not responsible for any Web site, its content, products and services, or its provider. Nothing in the Web Reviews shall constitute NAR's or REALTOR® Magazine Online's endorsement of the Web sites or their content. NAR and REALTOR® Magazine Online believe the information contained in the Web Reviews were correct and accurate as of the time they were prepared, but do not warrant or guarantee the accuracy or completeness of that information and are not responsible for changes in the Web sites after the review. Members should conduct their own independent review of the Web sites prior to any use of the Web sites, their content, products, or services to determine their suitability for the members’ intended purposes.

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