Blogging Ministry

I found this link @ Church Communications Pro. They have provided a number of free video tutorials for those starting out and/or using the WordPress blogging platform. They offer a ton of valuable and essential information:

1. The Basics in Using WordPress

2. How to install WordPress

3. How to customize a theme

4. 7 Steps to Optimizing WordPress

5. ….and much more…

They also offer a number WordPress themes, some are free, along with a number of impressive offerings at a minimal cost.          *Top

"How People Blogging Are Changing the World and How You Can Join Them"

By Bob Walsh (Berkeley, CA: Apress, 2007, 351 pages)

An excellent book on why one should blog and how to get started. Bob suggests that one starts by reading lots of blogs and become initially engaged in the blogoshere by leaving comments.

Next he gives suggestions about getting started publishing a blog with Blogger, Windows Live, and TypePad and evaluates which blogging platform might be best for you considering your goals and what type of blog you wish to publish.

<<Read the rest of this review on my BOOK Reviews blog>>

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I recently posted a review on the Windows Live Writer -a new desktop editor for blogging. I found this link on DailyBlogTips -a list of all the best desktop editors for blogging–called "Desktop Blogging Clients".

It not only lists Windows Live Writer but many others that may be useful in publishing on a desktop rather than the on-line blogging site editor.            *Top

By Lisa Sabin-Wilson (Hoboken,NJ: Wiley Publishing, Inc., 2008, 384 pages)

Brand new for 2008, an essential book for those using WordPress in publishing a blog. The writer introduces one to the basic WordPress blogging program. Then follows with three major sections, first covering the Wordpress hosted service, next how to set up a ’self-hosted’ blog with the WordPress.org program, and finally, a section covering the WordPress MU program used in setting up and hosting entire blogging communities.

This is a great book for all those starting out with WordPress and explains in  detail everything one needs to know to properly administer and publish on a blog using the program. For those who have been around a while, it outlines procedures for adding plugins and widgets to a WordPress site.

Then, for the more advanced blogger, the book gives tips and procedures for making a blog unique and shows how to design your own Template. In easy to understand fashion, the writer presents all the basic code needed to make changes in your present template and the necessary info. and know how needed in setting up a new one.

Wordpress For Dummies joins WordPress Complete as the most up to date quintessential works for those using WordPress blogging programs.            *Top

Among the many confusing terms that you run into when you are just starting out in the blogosphere is "RSS". Yet this term is of prime importance to understand if you are going to expand the influence of your blogging ministry.

What is RSS? Simply defined it stands for : Really Simple Syndication

But what does that mean to you and for your blog? Simply put, it is the device that others can use to subscribe to your future blog articles and comment threads. It is also the means by which you can subscribe to other blogs and current news content.

But what is it all about and how does it work? Here are a couple of really good elementary articles about RSS and how to get it to work for you:

Here’s the Wikipedia article

About.com: Internet for Beginners

What is RSS: A Guide

FeedBurner: Feeds 101

Help with Feeds

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"A comprehensive, step-by-step guide on how to set up, customize, and market your blog using WordPress"

By Hasin Hayder (Birmingham, UK: Packt Pub. Ltd., 2006, 289 pages)

This really is the most ‘complete’ book on the WordPress blogging platform. It has chapters on all the elementary stuff for beginners, how to get started and how to use all the basic aspects of the program. It also offers plenty to keep those that have been around a while busy.

<–Read the Rest @ my BOOK Review Blog–> *Top

By Molly Holzschlag and Porter Glendinning (Indianapolis, Indiana: Sams Pub., 2004, 554 pgs.)

See review posted on: The Blogging Ministry/ Movable Type blog.

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Terapad is a new blogging/website platform and host. There are no manuals and very few sources to consult for info. I started a new blog there in order to see how it works and evaluate the new program in the context of a tool for ministry.

Terapad is loaded with features and potential, however it lacks variety in the basic templates that are currently available. Read my evaluation which is posted on my new Terapad site and take a look.             *Top

I signed up and started a TypePad blog today. See my evaluation posted on the new blog. It was actually very easy and the results were quite stunning. I used the same settings and template that I used with the MovableType program. The TypePad program was much easier to set up. *Top

by Maria Langer and Miraz Jordan, (Berkeley: Peachpit Press, 2006, 294 pgs)

A great book for Wordpress users. The best current resource out there for everything WordPress.  See the review at my WordPress.com site.            *Top