What's the best place for creating a blog?

[D.B. Harrop]

Hi, everyone!! I'm so grateful to be able to ask your advice, as I have no idea where to start and what site to go with. There are so many options out there, and I have never blogged so feel a little lost! I have been told by my publicist that I need to start a blog, as my book, Leather Apron, is coming out this month! :-D 

What site/sites would you suggest? There are so many expert bloggers on here and I could really benefit from your input and suggestions!

Thank you all so much! I greatly appreciate it!! 

[P.G. Shriver]

I love your blog! I'm still trying to figure out how to insert pictures into mine! I like my background, but it is a template. Blogspot is pretty easy, and I am familiar with HTML coding, but just haven't had the time I need to sit down and "play." Yours is really nice. I like the paper bits in the background!

http://pgshriver.blogspot.com/

P.G.

[Jennifer Kitchens]

Thanks!  Pictures aren't too hard, I'm sure you'll get it quick - you can use them as backgrounds, or link to them as buttons.  I think there are widgets too for just adding pictures.  Your site is cute!

I followed you back!

Clean Romance Reviews

[P.G. Shriver]

Oh, and I followed it! LOL

http://pgshriver.blogspot.com/

P.G.

[Penny Freeman]

Hey, Jennifer! I like your blog, have subscribed, and have put your button here:  http://amindwandering.blogspot.com/p/blog-buttons.html.  Hope to see you around!

Penny Freeman

[Enjil Washington]

Ditto! I feel so lost, I joined on to Book Bloggs yesterday and I have like 20 email's asking me to follow.  I'm not sure how to respond yet as I am a first time author and I want to promote my book.  Question? Is this like facebook and twitter? 

[P.G. Shriver]

It seems a little more complicated than Facebook and Twitter. I'm fairly new to it, too, but once you pick it up, it's easy. Click the name of the person asking, locate their blog (blogspot.com), find the "join this site" link and click it, then go back to the original post they made and reply to it that you are following them. Leave your blog address so they can follow yours.

Here's mine http://pgshriver.blogspot.com/

Click the link, locate the join this site, and then let me know and I will follow yours! :))

P.G.

[Mary (BookHounds)]

I have used both Wordpress and Blogger and I ended up sticking with Blogger because it is easier to use.  I paid for a designer to do my blog but there are so many free and professional templates available that it is easy to find one you like and isn't all cookie cutter.  I think most authors tend to gravitate towards wordpress.  An author would have to chime in for the reasons though.  

Enjil -- this site started out with mostly bloggers (bookBLOGS.ning) so that is probably why you are seeing the requests. We try to follow each other back to build up our numbers, which leads to more books to review, which makes authors want us to review their books....well, you get the idea.  

Mary 

BookHounds

[Darla Broadwater]

I use Weebly as well, and I think it's great!  I am not a professional blogger, but I do try to post entries onto my author's website bi-weekly or so.

[Barbara J Shelton]

Hi, Now I have a blogger question on another concern.  I have two blogs, one on Blogger, the second on Wordpress.  I like them both equally as well...but I need more experience to make it the way I want.  I don't know how to format my blogs to be able to have giveaways and the comments to draw the winner from.  I have done reviews, articles, prayers, a little of this and a little of that...and have started a good following.  But - I want to be able to do more.  I humbly ask for help from anyone who knows how to do this and explain it to me. These are my blog addresses:  http://barbjan10-barbjansblogblogspot.blogspot.com/ and http://barbjan10.wordpress.com/  I have been inactive for over a month because I was away.  Now, I am back and ready to begin blogging again, but differently...and I need help to build an inviting, appealing, and active sites.  Thank you and you can also contact me on Facebook or at my email [e-mail].

Also, I just joined Book Blogs and am looking forward to writing many reviews and giveaways.  Thanks for any and all help.

[Mary (BookHounds)]

Barbara -- Check out these free templates for your blogger blog, you have to a bit of searching here since Lena is taking a break.  She did my adult blog.  I think if you use a different format on that one it will be easier for you.

http://lenatoewsdesigns.blogspot.com/

There are also tips on how to do widgets like ratings and stuff there as well.  

Another place to check out is Parajunkee's Book Blogging 101 -- I know it is directed at book bloggers but she also answers a lot of the questions any blogger might have.  She hasn't updated her links in awhile, but she does blog weekly on the topic....so do a google search like the one HERE

[Jennifer Kitchens]

Hello and welcome back to blogging.  Looking at your site, I would suggest having less sidebars.  3 sidebars is a lot.  I would also change your margins so that your blog posts take up a larger section of your blog - I hardly knew they were there when I first visited the site.  (btw, I visited the blogspot site)

As for doing giveaways, you can use a widget like Rafflecopter - just sign up at their site, design your giveaway on their site, then copy/paste onto your site.  Or you can just have people leave comments and use a random generator to pick a winning comment.  Either way works.  

Good luck!

Clean Romance Reviews

[Leona Olson]

Good question and some good answers. I think it will take me forever to get it all straight. I keep trying to add to my blog and find something new to do all the time. Does any one know how to add something like stars, roses, martini glasses and so forth to rate a book? I have seen some nice "stars". I am on blogspot.

Thanks,

Leona

mnleona.blogspot.com