Catch the Blogging Bug!

More than 8,500 moms are doing it! Blogging, that is. At least that's the tally according to Technorati, a San Francisco company that tracks blog traffic.

What could all of these moms possibly have to talk about? Who has time to be a blogging mom? And most important, who has time to read all of this stuff?

It turns out that moms have quite a bit to talk about, whether they're about to give birth to their first, send one off to kindergarten, or take their oldest off to college. In this modern age where there's not a Dr. Spock and often no extended family to share the trials and tribulations of motherhood, the Internet gives blogging moms a community of their very own—a place to share information, meet compatriots, and swap war stories.

What is a blog?

A blog, short for web log, is a series of diary-like entries written by an everyday person. They are found on the Internet and utilize text, images, videos, audio, and links to sites related to the blog's topic. Unlike online newspapers or commerce sites, blogs are created to engage people in two-way communication and create an interactive space where reader insights and comments are welcomed.

Some of the most popular sites for mom bloggers house multiple bloggers. For example, on bloggingmommies.com, nearly 500 moms and 100 dads blog on a single site.

Following and contributing to a blog

It's easy to follow a favorite blogger, just subscribe to their feed, often referred to as Real Simple Syndication (RSS) feed. By subscribing to the feed, each time the blogger creates a new entry on their blogspace, it's sent to subscribers via their blog readers. To stay up-to-date, sign up for feeds to be delivered by the search engine Web sites like Yahoo or Google, or go to blog-specific sites like Bloglines.com.

Contributing to a favorite blog can be intimidating at first, but after subscribing to their feed and keeping up on content and getting familiar with the blogger's style, sharing your own thoughts and advice is easy. Many blogging sites require people to create a membership profile, including the creation of a name, login, and password. There usually aren't any costs involved, so posting on a blog can begin immediately after registration. Commenting on a post requires a simple click of a "comment" button found after the last post.

How to Start a Blog

It's simple to start your own blog, too! There are numerous sites for amateur bloggers to visit before starting, including Blogher.com or bloggingmommies.com. To branch out on your own, find useful tools to get started from blog services like WordPress.com.

Like your kids, you need to mind your manners. Follow my etiquette tips when beginning a blog:

• Monitor content. Assume that blogs get read, saved, and passed around to anyone with Internet access, so keep the content clean and free of comments you wouldn't want shared with the public. Also, be sure to check grammar and spelling to ensure the content is error-free.
• Put in the time. Blogging is a two-way street and readers appreciate comments and responses to postings. A blog is about cultivating a community and a conversation on a daily basis.
• Apologize. Mistakes are inevitable when blogging, but be sure to correct and date them if brought to attention by a reader. Blogs are living documents that are not set in stone, so corrections can be made at any time.
• Build relationships. Link to bloggers you like and enjoy reading. Send a friendly note regarding the link to their site and enjoy the benefits of forging new friendships.

Check out some top blogs!

• MotherLoad— The Mom Advice Blog. This site provides tips for cleaning and organizing.
• Blogher— A collection of women bloggers on every topic imaginable.
• The Parenting Post— Parenting magazine features a handful of interesting bloggers on topics interesting young parents.
• Busymom.net—Better parenting through coffee: A quirky blog by a mom of three that tracks her daily struggles and successes of motherhood in a humorous format.
• Mommybuzz—Myspace for moms. Put up your profile and start blogging.

Good luck in your future blogging endeavors!

Best,
Robin Raskin

Reprinted with permission from Robinraskin.com