Ever since I started this whole “Free Designs!” thingy, I have people fooled into thinking I’m some sort of blogging expert. I get emailed questions and design requests DAILY. Which is why I’m so damn behind that some of these people will have great-great-great-grandchildren before I ever get to their site. [Note: But not YOU! YOUR site is totally NEXT! I swear!]

The most common email outside of “Make my site pretty!” that I get is “I want a blog! Help me!”. So - I’ve decided to post my reply in order to help the masses achieve what I have achieved: A level of addiction to the internet that is unhealthy and possibly requires severe shock thereapy for treatment.

FIRST: If I can do it? You can do it.

Y’all? I may have designed a few web pages in MS Frontpage, and I knew a couple of HTML tags by heart, but I truly had NO FREAKIN’ CLUE about web pages or blogs before January 2004 (the birth of this blog). And look at me now! I’m designing sites for OTHER people for chrissakes. I have had SKINS on my site! And javascript! And pretty pictures! It was a long time coming, and it took a lot of research and drugs, but I did it. And so can you.

SECOND: You do NOT install Movable Type or Wordpress on YOUR computer like you do other software.

Sometime in, like 2001 or 2002 or so, I saw that Linda used something called Movable Type for her site. So, I downloaded it, unzipped it, and couldn’t find the “install” file. When I read the “readme” file it said stuff about servers (huh?) and perl (what?) and uploaded (where?) and .cgi files (why?) and I gave up.

Years later? I found out you “install” it on your server/host that has the correct specifications. (I recommend Total Choice - they’re FOUR DOLLARS a month. CHEAP!) And by “install” I mean “edit a bunch of .cgi files and set up a SQL database”. Which, if none of that makes sense? There are many people who will set it up for you. Including me, if I can.

THIRD: If you want a really pretty site done by a designer? Blogger is easier to work with. But for purposes of blogging? Typepad is better.

I tried Blogger first…MANY MANY MANY moons ago. And it was ugly. And I couldn’t upload photos. So I gave up on blogging all together. Now, I know NOW they offer more templates and you can use some free hosting thingy to upload photos, and for the price (FREE) then I guess it’s okay. And now? I have realized Blogger is one of the easiest platforms to design for. So, even though it doesnt offer a lot of power for blogging (categories, different archive templates, photoblogs) it can be made pretty VERY easily.

Then? Many many many moons later? I discovered that Amalah used Typepad. I checked it out and LOVED IT. I signed up for the 15 dollar/month package because it gave me photoblogs and access to the templates to edit my design. I messed around with the designs FOREVER using their templates and changeable attributes. Everyday my blog looked different and there are many of my blogfriends that can attest to that. It gives you a LOT of freedoms you dont get with blogger AND you get to upload a LOT of photos and make cool photoblogs and what not. I LOVE TYPEPAD.

Of course, I kept wanting more from my blog. So? I ventured into what Typepad calls “Advanced Templates” and HOLY SHIT did I screw things up. I didn’t know what a stylesheet was, I didnt know what the stupid placeholders were in the templates, and at some point…the font on my blog was 24pt and PURPLE and I didnt know how to fix it.

Edited to Add: NOW? There are a LOT of restrictions to designing for Typepad, though. Especially since they have hidden a lot of the code, even in the advanced templates.

Luckily? Typepad is forgiving and at ANY point you can go back to the templates they provide and still be able to change banners and background colors and what not. So, if you have no interest in doing MAJOR redesigns and tinkering? You can stop with Typepad. IT IS ALL YOU REALLY NEED!

FOURTH: Chances are? You’ll want more later. WE ALL DO.

Everyone seems to eventually want to host their OWN blog at their OWN domain using Movable Type or Wordpress. (Keep in mind, though, you can still use your OWN domain at Typepad). MT has a free license, so you can do this pretty cheaply. But Wordpress is ALL free, and it’s pretty cool too.

This is the key, if you start with Typepad, like I recommend, you can ALWAYS import your Typepad entries into a Movable Type blog…and Typepad is easy and fun so it gets you HOOKED on blogging so when MT gives you fits later, your foundation is still there and you don’t give up. And if you don’t care about doing your own design? There are a billion people out there who will offer to do it for you. There is no NEED to start out full force unless you know FOR SURE you’ll stick with it.

FIFTH: Use the internet for help. That’s what it’s there for.

When you are researching for designs, or looking for scripts, or wanting to switch services, there are GOBS of message boards and resources to answer your questions. Whenever I have a MT question, I post on their message boards, and within hours, SOMEONE has answered it for me.

Here are some of my favorite resources:

Scripty Goddess
I used to use this site as a way to make Movable Type do cool things, like my hide/show comments script and whatnot. She has switched her focus to Wordpress, but it’s still a great resource and all of her MT stuff is still accessible.

Istock Photo
This is a great resource for royalty free graphics and photos for designs. “Royalty Free” pretty much means you pay a couple of bucks for the download, and as long as you don’t make money off that image, you can use it for your sites. They have a HUGE collection. Dreamstime is decent, but not quite as much available.

Typenow and Tack-o-rama
These are both GREAT resources for free fonts. I use them both.

W3 Schools is a great place to help you learn .CSS and .HTML. I still check back there frequently when I need help.

SIXTH: Imitation is the highest form of flattery. Or at least that’s how I justify it.

There is NOTHING on my blog that I created on my own. I discovered blogrolls from EVERY BLOGGER IN THE WORLD. I got the idea for the “On my mind” section from Dooce. I have a “Reading” section thanks to Amalah. My random photos script was an idea I stole from The Mommy Blog. And I even stole my “powered by Krispy Kreme” button from Kym (I asked first, I promise).

If you see something you like? Ask the person, or ask someone how to do it. If THEY did it? You probably can too. And hopefully they’ll be flattered. Or more than LIKELY, they stole the idea from someone ELSE.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST: Email me.

My email address is misszootATgmailDOTcom. USE IT. Sometimes? I respond immediately. Other times? I respond days or weeks later, but I try to ALWAYS respond. I have installed Movable Type for many people because it only takes me five minutes. I’ve answered many questions (about blogging, don’t ask me about cars) and I’ve fixed many problems. I LIKE TO HELP. I love blogging, it has been a major outlet for me, and I would love to give you the same thing. You won’t bother me. Especially if you tell me I’m pretty.

SPECIAL NOTE ABOUT COMMENTS ON THIS ENTRY

If you stumble upon this entry in the future while searching for info online, chances are the comments will be closed. I close comments and trackbacks on all my entries to stop spammers from bombarding my site with links to porn and gambling. YOU CAN STILL EMAIL ME at misszootATgmailDOTcom. Just remember to tell me I’m pretty. Thanks.